Anti-Bullying & Harassment
BULLYING DEFINED
To prevent the mis-identification of bullying behaviors, it important to understand that according to Education Code 48900(r), bullying is defined as -- Any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or by means of an electronic act, and including one or more acts committed by a pupil or group of pupils, directed toward one or more pupils that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:
(A) Placing a reasonable pupil or pupils in fear of harm to that pupil's or those pupils' person or property.
(B) Causing a reasonable pupil to experience a substantially detrimental effect on his or her physical or mental health.
(C) Causing a reasonable pupil to experience substantial interference with his or her academic performance.
(D) Causing a reasonable pupil to experience substantial interference with his or her ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
ANTI-BULLYING STATEMENT
The San Lorenzo Unified School District believes that all students have a right to a safe, healthy and nurturing learning environment. The San Lorenzo Unified School District community recognizes that schools must be physically and emotionally safe for all students in order to promote and support academic achievement, citizenship, student attendance and engagement.
The San Lorenzo Unified School District will not tolerate behavior that infringes on the safety and emotional well-being of any student or adult. Our schools and district will not tolerate acts of bullying, intimidation or harassment of any student through words and actions.
“Bullying”, as legally defined by California education code 48900(r), is any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or by means of an electronic act. These acts can be reasonably perceived as being dehumanizing, intimidating, hostile, humiliating, threatening, or otherwise likely to evoke fear of physical harm or emotional distress and may be motivated either by bias or prejudice based upon any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression; or a mental, physical or sensory disability or impairment; or by any other distinguishing characteristic. An "electronic act" means the transmission of a communication, including, but not limited to, a message, text, sound, or image, or a post on a social network internet web site, by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, wireless telephone or other wireless communication device, computer, or pager. A "Reasonable pupil" means a pupil, including, but not limited to, an exceptional needs pupil, who exercises average care, skill, and judgment in conduct for a person of his or her age, or for a person of his or her age with his or her exceptional needs.
There is an expectation that all students, staff, parents, and volunteers demonstrate behavior that is respectful and civil and not tolerate bullying. It is essential that San Lorenzo Unified School District adults model behaviors as positive examples for student behavior.
The San Lorenzo Unified School District expects students, staff and parents to immediately report any incident of bullying to the principal or designee. Students, parents and staff members, who observe or experience any incident of bullying are also encouraged to complete and submit the “Student Bullying Report Form” available at all of our schools and on the Student Support Services webpage. Staff members are expected to immediately intervene when they observe bullying. Each complaint of bullying will be promptly investigated and logged. Students can rely on staff to promptly investigate each complaint of bullying in a thorough and confidential manner.
The San Lorenzo Unified School District expects all students to conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates the proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students, staff, parents, and community members. All teachers will discuss this policy with their students in an age-appropriate manner and should assure students that they need not endure any form of bullying.
Students who bully are in violation of these guidelines and are subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion (Education Code 48900(r)).
District procedures for preventing and intervening in bullying behavior include, but are not limited, to the following:
- All staff, students and parents will receive a copy of these guidelines prohibiting bullying at the beginning of the school year
- The school’s principal or designee will keep a report of bullying and the results of investigation confidential
- All staff will immediately intervene to an appropriate degree whenever they observe or become aware of a bullying
- Non-staff members who observe or become aware of bullying are strongly encouraged to report the incident in order to support the school’s efforts to promote a safe learning environment
This statement applies to every form of bullying, harassment, and/or cyber-bullying/harassment, whether in the classroom, on school premises, when a student is traveling to or from school, or at a school-sponsored event. Bullying or harassment, including cyber-bullying/harassment, that is not initiated at a location defined above is grounds for discipline if the incident results in a potentially material or substantial disruption of the school learning environment for one or more students and/or the orderly day-to-day operations of any school or school program.
Students who have experienced forms of bullying or harassment are encouraged to complete the Student Bullying Report Form. The form can also be obtained from the website or administration office at your school. Upon the completion of the form, submit it to the Principal or Assistant Principal of your school for a prompt and swift investigation.
Anti-Bullying & Harassment Resources
Bullying has become one of the primary topics and major areas of concern within K-12 education across the nation. It is important that incidents of bullying and harassment, especially as they may relate to disability, race/ethnicity, gender, gender-identity, gender expression, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation, be explored and investigated seriously. Below you will find a host of resources, strategies, interventions, and best practices to combat situations that may involve bullying.