WHAT IS CONSIDERED “BULLYING?”
Any writing or words, physical act or gesture, that is intended to cause harm to one person or a group of people in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, or at school events, and over a period of time.
WHAT DOES SINGING HILLS ELEMENTARY DO TO PREVENT BULLYING AT THE SCHOOL?
SHE is a recognized Positive Behavioral Support and Intervention (PBIS) school. This means that we have clearly defined school rules and expectations for our students regarding student behaviors. ***PBIS is a “prevention-focused alternative to student support that blends socially valuable outcomes, research-based procedures, behavioral science, and a systems approach to reduce problem behavior and improve school climate” [Horner, Sugai, Todd & Lewis-Palmer, 2005]. We maintain a school PBIS team that frequently reviews behaviors and expectations, and examines ways to improve our school.
- Our PBIS motto is PAWS, which means Positive Attitude, Acting Responsibly, Willing To Learn, and Safe Choices. Our staff uses this language often and consistently to impress upon our students the importance of these traits and behaviors. They are applied to all areas of life at Singing Hills (i.e. classrooms, lunchroom, playground, bus, etc.).
- Along with PAWS, we encourage students to regularly practice “The Golden Rule” (treat others as you wish to be treated), and to always problem solve conflicts in a peaceful and respectful manner.
- Formal “mediation” is offered by our school counselor to students who are struggling with getting along with one another.
- Guidance lessons are regularly facilitated by the school counselor for grades 1 – 5. These lessons serve to raise awareness and knowledge of social issues such as friendship, effort, and respect.
- The school counselor is available for 1 on 1 consultation with students struggling with social and/or emotional issues.
HOW DOES SINGING HILLS ELEMENTARY RESPOND TO BULLYING?
The following bullet points explain our school’s practiced and consistent responses and procedures to bullying incidents:
- Bullying reports are immediately (within 24 hours during the school week) reviewed by the principal and/or the school counselor. Please note that this does not necessarily mean we will have resolution of the issue within 24 hours, but we will begin addressing it and will do so as quickly as possible.
- Situations are investigated immediately, in full, and with the utmost discretion.
- Students who report being bullied by others will have the opportunity to discuss additional strategies for managing the problem with the school counselor. Small group counseling is available as well.
- Students responsible for bullying behaviors will also have the opportunity to discuss appropriate behaviors with the school counselor and/or principal.
- Parents of all parties involved will be contacted.
- Parents will receive information about their own child, with regards to what is occurring at school, and how the school is responding to your child. We will not share information about your child with other parents.
- When bullying is reported data is collected, which is then reviewed by the principal, school counselor and at times the PBIS Team. This helps us determine ways to make our school safer, friendlier, and more proactive. At times, this may lead to changes, or an increase, in our PAWS curriculum, modifications of school rules, responsiveness to situations, adult supervision, classroom meetings, behavior plans, or even minor changes in our day to day operations.
- As the very nature of bullying is varied and complex, each situation is reviewed individually by the school, and discipline measures are determined based upon the findings.
- We inform our students that bullying will not be tolerated. What that means, is that the school will always react to incidents of bullying. If the school discovers a student has been bullying another student(s), discipline measures will be taken based upon the level of undesired behavior and discipline history of that student. Parents of the student will always be notified.
- The school collects ALL discipline data on a program called SWIS (School-wide Information System), which is also reviewed by administration and the PBIS Team in order to determine logical and appropriate modifications.
