Stephens Elementary School
Anti-Bullying Policy
At Stephens Elementary School, we believe that it is every person’s right to feel physically and emotionally safe while they are
at our school. Because of this belief, we will do everything possible, both as individuals and as a campus, to create and preserve that environment through proactive anti-bullying education, zero tolerance for bullying behaviors along with well defined and effective consequences for violations.
Bullying, by definition, is any single incident or pattern of behavior directed at another person that results in that person
feeling intimidated or harassed, or results in the physical or emotional injury of the person.
Some examples of bullying are:
1. Pushing, hitting, kicking or throwing things at someone.
2. Stealing or damaging another person’s property.
3. Name calling or teasing.
4. Threatening to hurt someone.
5. Leaving someone out on purpose and without good reason.
6. Spreading rumors about someone.
Any student, who believes they have been bullied, or who has seen another student being bullied, should report the problem
immediately to a teacher or other adult on campus. Furthermore, any Stephens Elementary School employee or parent who witnesses a bullying incident should report it to the campus principal or counselor.
For any violation of the Anti-bullying policy, the following consequences will be applied in sequential order as each violation
occurs. The campus principal may apply more than one disciplinary action, or skip a step, depending on the severity and nature of the violation.
Step 1: Intervention , Warning, and Redirection
The staff member who witnesses/receives the report will ensure that the immediate behavior stops and will reinforce to the student that bullying will not be tolerated. During this meeting with the student, the staff member will redirect the student to come up with a plan to prevent similar behaviors in the future. The staff member will ensure that proper documentation is made with the child’s home room teacher.
Note: It is possible to have more than one step for a student depending on the nature
and severity of the behavior. However, one student should not have many step
ones.
Step 2: Meeting with
Teachers/Principal/Counselor
The student will meet with their teachers, principal and counselor to discuss the problem, solutions to the problem and to reinforce that bullying will not be tolerated. Parents are contacted by phone and the student is made aware of the documentation required on the Bullying, Harassment or Intimidation Reporting Form, Anti-Bullying Contract, and future
consequences if the behavior continues.
Step 3: Formal meeting with parents, Counseling, Level 1
Consequence.
The staff member who witnesses/receives the bullying report, parent, or student will complete the Bullying, Harassment or Intimidation Reporting Form. School staff will notify the parents of the involved student. The parents will be asked to meet with the principal and/or other members of the school support staff, including the student’s teachers, and the school counselor. Previous documentation will be reviewed with parent and student. The student will be required to sign the anti-bullying contract with parent signature as a witness. Corporal punishment form will be signed by parent. Student may begin individual sessions with school counselor and level one consequence will be assigned by principal.
Step 4: Level 2 Consequence
Principal will notify parents and assign Level 2 consequences. The student may serve multiple days of STOP, receive corporal punishment, and/or lose school privileges.
Step 5: Suspension
In cases of severe or repeated bullying, the student may be suspended under District policies.
Step 6: Expulsion
In the event of dangerous bullying (such as serious physical violence or threats), or where repeated efforts to address the problem have failed, the student may be referred to the Disciplinary Review Committee with expulsion being a possible consequence.