Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan
Statement of Intention
Every individual has the right to be in a safe school and community environment.
Massachusetts law defines bullying as "the repeated use by one or more students or by a member of a school staff including, but not limited to, an educator, administrator, school nurse, cafeteria worker, custodian, bus driver, athletic coach, advisor to an extracurricular activity or paraprofessional of a written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a victim that: causes physical or emotional harm to the victim or damage to the victim's property; places the victim in reasonable fear of harm to themself or damage to their property; creates a hostile environment at school for the victim; infringes on the rights of the victim at school; or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.
Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS) will not tolerate any form of bullying, cyber-bullying, and/or retaliation by any school member in our building and grounds, on our buses, and/or in our community. We show respect for every individual and support a healthy school atmosphere. We value diversity and appreciate different cultures and beliefs. We believe in equality and the need to treat all people with respect, in words and in actions. Every member of our school community has the responsibility to uphold our Code of Conduct and to assure that every individual is treated fairly. We will work together to create an educational environment in which everyone feels valued and respected.
We at GLCPS will not tolerate any form of bullying, cyber-bullying, and/or retaliation by any school member in our school building and grounds, on our buses and/or retaliation, and will take prompt steps to correct the behavior and restore safety and respect to our school.
We will support our commitment to a safe and respectful environment through all aspects of our school community, including curricula, instructional programs, staff development, extracurricular activities, and parent/guardian involvement. We understand that a safe community depends on every member modeling respectful communication and action.
Definitions of Bullying and Retaliation
Bullying is the repeated actions or threats of action directed toward a person by one or more people who have or are perceived to have more power than the target in order to cause fear or harm. Bullying can be physical, verbal, psychological or a combination of all.
If bullying is identified correctly, there are various ways to address it. To be defined as bullying, all three components must be present:
1. repeated actions or threats
2. a power imbalance
3. intention to cause harm
What Bullying is NOT
Calling someone a name or pushing someone once, being rude or having an argument with someone is not bullying. These behaviors are important to address but will have different intervention strategies and consequences, which is why it is important to distinguish bullying from other unkind or mean behavior.
Cyber-bullying is bullying through the use of technology or electronic devices such as telephones, cell phones, computers and the internet. It includes, but is not limited to: email, instant messages, text messages, and internet postings.
Hostile environment is a situation in which bullying causes the school environment to be permeated with intimidation, ridicule, or insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of a student's education.
Retaliation is any form of intimidation, reprisal or harassment directed against a student who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying; or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying.
Staff includes, but is not limited to, educators, administrators, counselors, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, athletic coaches, advisors to extracurriuclar acitvities, support staff, and paraprofessionals.
Victim is a student against whom bullying, cyber-bullying or retaliation has been perpetrated.
The complete Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan can be found in our Student Handbook.