At Belle River Public School, we are committed to following the Greater Essex County District School Board's (GECDSB) Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan, which details:
- Bullying education, awareness and outreach
- Types of bullying and cyber-bullying
- Behaviours and evaluation of evidence
- Policies and procedures
- Approved strategies and programs
- Goals and action plans
The staff at Belle River work diligently to provide a safe positive learning environment. Belle River takes bullying very seriously. We use the following definitions for bullying. Please review the following with your child.
Bullying is a form of aggression in which there is an imbalance of power between the bully and the victim. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. The key elements of bullying are: power imbalance, the bully's intent to harm, victim's distress and the act is repeated over time.
Verbal Bullying behaviours include:
- Making fun of another student
- Name calling, put downs, insults, taunts, sarcasm
- Hurtful comments about individual differences, family, clothes or other possessions
- Racial and/or religious slurs
- Hurtful comments about sexual gender and preference
- Spreading rumours
- Telling students not to play or interact with another
- Unwelcomed comments that degrade or make another feel uncomfortable
- Intimidating telephone calls, emails, MSN messages, text messages
- Threats of violence against person, friends, or family
- Public challenges to do something
Non-Verbal Bullying Behaviours
- Graffiti
- Hateful or hurtful written comments
- Slamming books
- Passing notes with the intent to humiliate or threaten another
- Written comments telling others to exclude, ignore or reject another person
- Revealing personal information that could lead to public humiliation
- Internet bullying behaviour – blogs, websites, MSN messages
Physical Bullying Behaviours Include:
- Hitting, pushing, kicking, shoving, poking, chasing, spitting
- Physical intimidation or assault - with or without weapon
- Defacing or destroying property
- Stealing, extortion
- Acts that demean another such as hazing
- Unwanted touching
The staff works diligently to ensure Belle River Public School is free from bullying. We can't do it alone. Please reinforce the following strategies with your child.
- Seek help from an adult or a peer
- Make assertive statements to the bully addressing your feelings
- Look the bully in the eye and say, "Stop"
- Walk away from the bully
- Remember there is safety in numbers
- Avoid certain places to avoid a bullying situation