The goal of our anti-bullying policy is to ensure that students learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment without fear of being bullied. Bullying is anti-social behavior and affects everyone, and it is unacceptable. We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our students so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere.
What is bullying?
Bullying occurs when an individual or a group uses strength or power to hurt, either physically or emotionally, by intimidating or demeaning others. Bullying can be emotional, physical, racist, homophobic, biphobic, transphobic, verbal or cyber. It is usually persistent and is often covert, and is a conscious attempt to hurt, threaten or frighten someone. Pupils who are being bullied, may show changes in behavior, such as becoming shy and nervous, feigning illness, taking unusual absences or clinging to adults. There may be evidence of changes in work patterns, lacking concentration or truanting from school.
Bullying can take many forms including:
- Physical bullying which can include kicking, hitting, pushing and taking away belongings
- Verbal bullying which includes name calling, mocking and making offensive comments
- Emotional bullying which includes isolating an individual or spreading rumors about them
- Cyber-bullying where technology is used to hurt an individual – for instance text messaging or posting messages/images on the internet or any form of social media
- Racist bullying occurs when bullying is motivated by racial, ethnic or cultural prejudice.
- Sexual bullying is where someone makes unwanted physical contact or makes sexually abusive comments.
- Homophobic and biphobic bullying occurs when bullying is motivated by a prejudice against lesbian, gay or bisexual people.
- Transphobic bullying occurs when bullying is motivated by a prejudice against people who identify as trans
- Disablist bullying occurs when bullying is motivated by a prejudice against people with any form of disability.
- Sexist bullying occurs when bullying is motivated by a prejudice against someone because of their gender
With the advance in new technologies, Calibre Academy is aware there is an increased risk of cyber bullying using e-mails, instant messenger, social networking sites, and public websites inappropriately. Therefore, our school has specific school behavior policy in the student handbook which all students and parents’ sign.
Some warning signs that a student is being bullied
- Changes in academic performance
- Appears anxious
- Regularly feeling sick or unwell
- Wanting to visit the nurse regularly
- Reluctance to come to school
- Clothes/bags torn or damaged
- Money/possessions going missing
- Unexplained cuts and bruises
- Unexplained behavior changes
- Unhappiness
- Loss of appetite
- Not sleeping
- Loss of weight
- Seen alone a lot
- Not very talkative
Some reasons why people bully
- Desire to appear powerful
- Unhappiness
- Feelings of inadequacy
- Difficulties at home
- Learned behavior (They too have been bullied)
How to get help
Who students can talk to if they have any concerns about bullying?
- Teacher
- Mentor
- Peer Support Group
- Office Staff
- School Administrator
- School Nurse
- Parents
- Anonymous Online Form (see below)
Students can feel confident that any of the above will listen to their problem. Students who have been bullied will be supported by:
- Offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the experience with a teacher or school administrator
- Reassuring the student and implementing an action plan
- Offering continuous support
- Restoring self-esteem and confidence
Students who have engaged in bullying will be helped by:
- Discussing what happened
- Discovering why the student became involved
- Establishing the wrongdoing and need to change
- Informing parents or guardians to help change their behavior
Our Staff’s Responsibility
- To implement procedures to confront bullying in any form
- To listen to all parties involved in incidents
- To investigate incidents promptly and as fully as possible
- To take appropriate action or to refer to school administrator
- To record in the appropriate students’ files and in the racist/HBT (homophobic, biphobic, transphobic) record if appropriate
- To share with parents of the victim and bully, incidents of persistent and/or serious bullying
- To implement appropriate procedures for a member of staff
- To promote the use of a range of learning styles and strategies which challenge bullying behavior
- To promote open management styles which facilitate communication and consultation within the school and relevant outside agencies when appropriate
- To model the values our school believes in from the mission statement
- To promote the use of interventions which are least intrusive and most effective.
Additional Bullying Resources
Arizona Department of Health Services • https://www.azdhs.gov/prevention/womens-childrens-health/bullying-prevention/bullying-resources/
Arizona Department of Education • https://www.azed.gov/wellness/other-programs-resources
Casa Center for Positive Social Change • 602-254-6400 • casacares.org
“The Power of YOU” is a school-based bullying prevention program that targets the roots of bullying, abuse and violence by boosting core emotional intelligence competencies in children, youth and the important adults in their lives. Rather than focusing on a particular problem (like “bullying” “dating violence” or “sexual abuse”) the program focuses on building positive behaviors and reducing negative behaviors.
It’s Good 2B Good • 480-621-7329 • itsgood2bgood.com
Founded by Sandra Zerner, M.Ed. in 2002, dedicated to helping kids recognize the power of doing good. Presentations, interactive tools and the book It’s Good 2B Good are designed to help kids, teachers and parents bring out inner qualities of compassion, empathy and kindness.
Karstadt Taekwon-Do (Az Kicks) ITF • 6220 N 7th St, Phoenix • 602-264-2300 • azkicks.com
Bully Buster Training covers the bullying process, identifying a bully, setting boundaries, types of bullying, simple and clear action steps to take if bullied, self-defense tips and more.
notMYkid • 602-652-0163 • notmykid.org
Information on bullying, internet safety and other youth-related issues. (At the national level, notMYkid specializes in substance abuse prevention).
Surprise Police Department • 623-222-4000 •
https://www.surpriseaz.gov/1092/Victim-Services
Teen Lifeline • 602-248-TEEN (8336) • teenlifeline.org
Peer counseling suicide hotline, bullying prevention curriculum.
The Be O.N.E. (Open to New Experiences) Project • thebeoneproject.org
Local community building and anti-bullying prevention program created by Phoenix student Matthew Kaplan. An interactive four-hour presentation designed for middle school students (grades 5-8) that harnesses the power of positive peer pressure to create an inclusive and positive school environment.
Youth Rising • 480-567-0298 • https://youthrisingaz.org/
Resiliency and leadership skills workshops for youth.