Bullying Prevention Strategies at the High School

What is Bullying?

  1. Bullying is deliberate with the intentions to hurt someone.
  2. Bullying involves an imbalance of power with selected targets.
  3. Bullying is repeated behavior.

Bullying Definition

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.  Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

High School Bullying and Harassment Procedures

Harassment and abuse are violations of school district policies, rules and regulations and, in some cases, may also be a violation of criminal or other laws.  The school district has the authority to report students violating this rule to law enforcement officials.

Students who feel that they have been harassed should:

  1. Communicate to the harasser that the student expects the behavior to stop, if the student is comfortable doing so.  If the student needs assistance communicating with the harasser, the student should ask the counselor, teacher, principal or trusted adult for help.
  2. If the harassment continues, the student will need to report it to a teacher, counselor or principal.
  3. The school official will begin the investigation and meet with the harasser to process the bullying and harassment issue.  If the issue is severe enough an immediate consequence will be issued.  The school official will contact the parent/guardian of the harasser and the victim making them aware of the situation.
  4. If there is another reported incident of bullying or harassment by the same student, then the consequences will increase and the school resource officer will be involved.

How to report bullying at the High School:

  1. Tell a trusted adult.  If you are not comfortable reporting the issue to school officials please tell a trusted adult and ask them to contact the school or law enforcement.
  2. Report the issue to your counselor.  Your counselor will then investigate the issue and act accordingly.
  3. Fill out the online bullying reporting form. This form will be sent to an school administrator who will work with the counselor or School Resource Officer to investigate (link to form is below). Or, Print and complete the bullying and harassment reporting form (form is located below).  You can bring the form into the main office or e-mail the completed copy to glenn.dietzenbach@southeastpolk.org

Helpful Links