Everyone at Eastview Public School is committed to making our school a safe and inclusive environment for all. We treat each other with respect, and we will refuse to tolerate bullying in any form at our school.
What is Bullying?
Bullying is defined as repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals in a purposeful way. It causes (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person's body, feelings, self-esteem, or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context wehre there is a real or perceived imbalance of power.
Examples of Bullying:
Four Types of Bullying: Cyber, Physical, Verbal, and Social Bullying
Cyber:
- Using the computer to send e-mail or create websites to bully another person in the same way as verbal and social bullying, but using a computer
Physical:
- Physical assault (hitting, pushing)
- Taking or damaging other people's property
Verbal:
- Making fun of someone's appearance or behaviour
- Threatening and intimidation (making people feel scared)
- Name calling, teasing, using put-downs and spreading rumours directed at someone or their family or friends
- Making degrading (mean) comments about someone's culture, religious or social background or differences
Social:
- Making fun of someone without using words (laughing, eye rolling, "smiling" in an unkind way, making faces behind someone's back)
- Starting /spreading rumours
- Excluding someone from groups and activities
Safe Schools Action Team (SSAT) Member 2010-2011: Andrew Kaiser (Principal), Laurie Reid (Vice-Principal), Alisha Lasswell (Teacher), Sarah Swackhammer (CYC) and Diane Hall (Parent), Linda Lambert (Public Health Nurse)
SSAT School Monitoring and Review Process:
- Data review (e.g. SES)
- Establishing goals and expectations (e.g. student's negative responses to the statement "I Love or Like School" on the school effectiveness survey will be increased from 53% to 75%)
- Developing an implementation plan (e.g. school-wide learning focus on anti-bullying)
- Reflecting and adjusting (e.g. review progress in SSA in May 2011 and follow up with new SES data to determine next steps)
Training Strategies for Members of the School Community:
- Student learning focus: Learn how we can build each other up to develop and sustain strong, healthy relationships
- Teacher learning focus: Build on Bucket Theme, continue community circles, use the physical and health education curriculum to teach positive interactions and acceptance of differences.
- Leader learning focus: Lookfors of an inclusive classroom (Halton's Six Lenses)
- Parent learning focus: Understanding diversity within the Eastview Community; learning the language of bucket filling as a way to build community
Parent/Community Communication and Outreach Strategies:
- Newsletter items related to school-wide learning focus
- Regular assemblies to celebrate our community building
- PREVnet resources regarding cyberbullying: www.prevnet.ca
School Bullying Prevention Goal:
- Achieve a 20% increase in students response: "people treat each other with respect" from the annual student survey for Grades 4-8
Bullying Prevention, Education, Programs and Activities:
- School - wide use of Physical and Health Education Curriculum to focus on developing healthy relationships based upon respect for one another
- School - wide focus on valuing diversity, responsibility, collaboration, initiative, and self regulation
- Staff will promote school-wide focus on Bucket Filler theme to support and cultivate a strong and healthy school culture
- Eastview is a Tribes school and we focus on bulding an inclusive environment and also focus on the 4 Tribe Agreements (http://www.tribes.com)
Bullying Prevention Responsibilities:
Staff: Empower students to be positive leaders in classroom, school and community and to report incidents of bullying to the Principal / Vice-Principal
Students: Contribute positvely to the school climate at Eastview Public School
Parents:Encourage and assist your child in following the school's code of conduct
When responding to a bullying incident staff will:
- Acknowledge the incident/affirm, gather information /ask questions
- Act and follow up
- Report bullying to the Principal /Vice Principal via the Student Incident Reporting form
- Provide parents with contact information of staff/support personnel who can assist with bullying incidents (e.g. administrator, CYC) and with link to listing of Halton support agencies Website
Responding to and Reporting Incidents of Bullying:
Refer to HDSB Bullying Prevention and Intervention Resource Guide, 2010 and Behaviour, Discipline, and School Safety Policy, 2010. Both documents may be located
here from the HDSB website.