Bullying Prevention

What is Bullying?

By 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.

Harassment and abuse are violations of JPS 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.

Bullying is...

deliberate behavior intended to hurt someone.
an imbalance of power with selected targets.
repeated behavior.

Students who feel that they have been harassed should:

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.
If the harassment continues, the student will need to report it to a teacher, counselor or principal.
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.
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:

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.
Report the issue to your counselor. Your counselor will then investigate the issue and act accordingly.
Fill out the Allegation of Bullying Complaint Form or email jpsd.info@gmail.com. This message will be sent to a school administrator who will work with the counselor or School Resource Officer to investigate.

Steps for Parents/Guardians to Complete and Submit the Allegation of Bullying Complaint Form

Complete Scholar Information. Fill in all requested information for the scholar (victim), including name, grade, age, and sex.
Provide Information About the Alleged Perpetrator. Enter the name and any known details of the scholar(s) involved in the incident.
List Any Witnesses. Include the names and information of any individuals who may have witnessed the incident, if known.
Describe the Incident in Detail. In the “Facts of the Allegation” section, clearly explain what happened. Be sure to include: who was involved, what occurred, when and where the incident happened, and any relevant details that may help the school understand the situation (attach additional pages if more space is needed.).
Indicate the Type of Bullying. Check all boxes that best describe the nature of bullying (e.g., race, behavior, appearance, etc.).
Review the Form for Accuracy. Ensure all sections are complete and the information provided is accurate to the best of your knowledge.
Submit the Form. Return the completed form to your scholar’s school principal or professional school counselor. Forms may be submitted in person or via email, if permitted by the school.
Follow Up if Needed. If you do not receive confirmation that the form was received, please contact the school to ensure it has been submitted and is being processed.

Additional Support

If you believe your scholar is experiencing bullying and the concern has not been adequately resolved at the school level, you should contact the Office of Climate and Wellness for further assistance at 601.960.8705