What Is Bullying/Harassment Bullying/Harassment? Can Include:

Arlington Public Schools defines bullying/harassment, includ- • Name calling ing bullying/harassment based on an actual or perceived characteristic such as race, national origin, creed, color, • Teasing, making fun of someone religion, ancestry, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender • Spreading rumors and gossip identity and expression, or disability, as the repeated inflic- tion or attempted infliction of injury, discomfort, or humiliation • Insulting someone on a student by one or more students. It is a pattern of ag- gressive, intentional or hostile behavior that occurs repeatedly • Telling or writing lies about someone and over time. Bullying/harassment typically involves an im- balance of power or strength. Bullying/harassment behaviors • Expressing sarcasm, subtle negative comments may include physical, verbal, or nonverbal behaviors. These • Excluding specific persons behaviors include, but are not limited to; intimidation, assault, - extortion, oral or written threats, teasing, name calling, threat- • Pushing, tripping, hitting ening looks, gestures or actions, rumor spreading, false accu- sations, hazing, social isolation, and abusive e -mails, phone • Ridiculing Bullying calls, or other forms of cyber bullying. The term “cyberbullying” is used when text, photos, videos or other • Threatening, intimidating or scaring people media are uploaded to computers and/or internet to de- • Belittling people because of their race or culture fame, insult, harass or haze others. and • Making sexual comments or innuendos Every child deserves a safe and respectful environment. Parents and school staff must work together to provide this Harassment environment. Parents can be instrumental in helping their child by learning the signs of bullying/harassment and by knowing strategies to deal with it if it occurs. By maintain- ing open and respectful communication with their child, parents set the stage for coping with a wide range of prob- lems, including bullying/harassment. Teaching children to respect themselves and others can be the first and largest step towards the prevention of bullying/harassment. Department of Student Services

& Special Education Students Who Students Who Observe Bullying/Harassment Supporting a Caring, Safe, & Healthy Bully/Harass Learning Environment for the Whole Students who bully/harass want to control others by manip- Child If your student observes incidents of bullying, encour- ulating and embarrassing them. Bullying is never okay. It is age her/him to do the following: support the person a learned behavior that can be changed. Students who bul- being bullied; tell the bully to stop; do not laugh or side ly can receive help and support to change their behaviors with the bully; and tell a responsible adult. Students by visiting the school staff members listed in this brochure. should not confront the aggressor if they think that do- ing so is unsafe. Ways for Students and Policies and Procedures What Parents Can Do? Parents to Report Bullying/Harassment Whether your child is being bullied/harassed or is bully- Arlington Public Schools strives to develop and ing/harassing others, you can help! Talk to your child Any student or parent may initiate a complaint by maintain a climate of respect within each about bullying and harassment. If you think your child is talking to school staff. School administrators are school. This includes adult modeling of re- being bullied, ask your son or daughter what has hap- responsible for investigating each complaint. The pened. Encourage your child to report bullying/ spectful behavior and caring responses to stu- harassment at school to teachers, school counselors, school administrator will respond quickly and deci- dent concerns. or the principal. Make a follow -up contact with school sively to reported incidents of bullying/ staff yourself. harassment. The APS Bullying/Harassment Prevention Poli- cy (25 -1.17) aims to reduce incidents of bullying Talk to: and harassment within the school division. This policy applies to school buildings; school School Administrator grounds; school -sponsored social events, trips, Teacher/Coach and sporting events; and to buses and bus stops. Bullying that occurs off school premises, School Counselor including misuse or inappropriate use of tech- School Nurse nology, is also prohibited and subject to school

School Psychologist discipline when the order, safety or welfare of Students Who Are the school or its students is affected as a result School Social Worker - - Bullied/Harassed Can: of such out of school actions.

• Report bullying at school to teachers, school counse- lors, or the principal Resources • Talk to a trusted adult at home • Check with the school counselor & visit the bullying • Calmly say, “Stop it.” page on the APS website. • Walk away • www.stopbullying.gov • Be assertive, but do not get into a physical or verbal • http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/friends/bullies/ fight • http://www.stompoutbullying.org/ • Hold your head up and show confidence in yourself

• Use humor Arlington Public Schools prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, creed, color, religion, gender, age, economic status, sexual • Stick with a friend whenever possible orientation, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, gender identity or expression, and/or disability. This policy provides equal access to cours- • Avoid the bully es and programs, counseling services, physical education and athletics, Department of Student Services & Special Education vocational education, instructional materials and extra -curricular activities. 1426 N. Quincy St. Violations of this policy should be reported to the Assistant Superintendent Arlington, VA 22207 for Administrative Services at 703 -228 -6008 or the Assistant Superinten- Phone: 703 -228 -6060 - - dent for Human Resources at 703 228 6110. www.apsva.us October, 2015