Bullying is defined as a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that:

• has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or damage to the student's property;
• is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student;
• materially or substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or
• infringes on the rights of the victim at school

The definition of bullying includes cyberbullying. This applies to:

• bullying that occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a school-related activity on or off school property;
• bullying that occurs on a publicly or privately owned school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school-related activity; and
• cyberbullying that occurs off school property or outside of a school-sponsored or school-related event, if the conduct interferes with a student's educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the operations of school, classroom, or school-related activity.

Review our district's board policies related to bullying:

• FFI - Freedom from bullying
• FFH - Freedom from discrimination, harrassment and retaliation
• FFF - Student safety

• Nobody should be mean to others.
• Stop and think before saying or doing something that could hurt someone.
• If you feel like being mean to someone, find something else to do. Play a game, watch TV, or talk to a friend.
• Talk to an adult you trust about how you feel. A trusted adult can help you find ways to be nicer to others.
• Keep in mind that everyone is not better or worse, but just different.
• If you think you have bullied someone in the past, apologize. Everyone feels better when you own your actions, including you.

• If speaking up seems too hard or not safe, walk away and stay away. Don’t fight back. Find an adult to stop the bullying on the spot.
• If you do not feel comfortable telling an adult, you can report bullying incidents through Anonymous Alerts.

Bullying does not always happen in person. Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that happens online or through text messages or emails. There are things you can do to protect yourself:

•  Always think about what you post. You never know what someone will forward. Being kind to others online will help to keep you safe. Do not share anything that could hurt or embarrass anyone.
• Keep your password a secret from other kids. Even kids that seem like friends could give your password away or use it in ways you don’t want. Let your parents have your passwords.
• Think about who sees what you post online. Complete strangers? Friends? Friends of friends? Privacy settings let you control who sees what.

When you see bullying, there are safe things you can do to make it stop:

• Talk to a parent, teacher, or another adult you trust. Adults need to know when bad things happen so they can help.
• Be kind to any kids who are being bullied. Show them that you care by trying to include them. Sit with them at lunch or on the bus, talk to them at school, or invite them to do something. Just hanging out with them will help them know they aren’t alone.

Be kind to yourself and continue to do things that you enjoy. Do not let negative comments or actions bring you down.