Bully Prevention At Fern

Everyone at Fern is committed to make our school a safe and inclusive environment for all. We treat each other with respect at all times. 

Definition of Bullying:
 
Bullying is typically a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear, distress and/or harm another person’s body, self-esteem, or reputation. Bullying occurs in context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance. 

Some examples of bullying include: 
  • Physical bullying 
  • Verbal bullying eg. Taunting someone in a hurtful way,  name calling, put-downs, insulting someone’s race or making fun of someone for their gender 
  • Social bullying eg. Ganging up on someone, excluding or isolating someone intentionally 
  • Cyber bullying eg. Bullying that happens over digital devices like cell phones, computers and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through social media forums, or gaming. It also includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, false, or mean content about someone else. 
Prevention responsibilities of staff: 
  • Closely supervise students in all areas of the school and school grounds 
  • Watch for signs of bullying and stopping it when it happens 
  • Respond quickly and sensitively to bullying reports (Affirm, Ask, Assess, Act) 
  • Assign consequences for bullying 
  • Teach students our procedures for reporting incidents of bullying 
  • Provide a safe environment for students who report bullying ( protection from retaliation) 
  • Treat others respectfully 
  • Model positive ways of getting along with others 
Prevention responsibilities of Students: 
  • Treat each other respectfully 
  • Refuse to bully others 
  • Refuse to let others be bullied 
  • Refuse to watch, laugh, or join in when someone is being bullied 
  • Include everyone in play, especially those who are often left out 
  • Report bullying to an adult 
Prevention responsibilities of Parents: 
  • Model positive ways of getting along with others 
  • Teach problem solving skills 
  • Inform school staff if their child tells them about a bullying incident 
  • Support the school’s bully-prevention efforts 
  • Help your child understand the value of accepting and celebrating individuals differences 
  • Be alert to signs your child is being bullied or may be bullying others 
When responding to bullying incidents, our school staff uses a progressive discipline approach. 

Strategies may range from early intervention to more intensive intervention in cases of persistent bullying, with possible referral to Board support personnel, community or social service agencies. 

Thanks, Rosanna and Steve

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