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Lower Merion School District

Off-Canvas

Peer Relationships

District Bullying Policy - Definition of Bullying

Bullying includes systematic harassment, attacks of intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical acts, perpetrated by a student or group of students on another student or students, which meets all of the following criteria:

  1. Occur during the school day, on school property, on a school bus or at the school-sponsored activity or event, or under other circumstances under the jurisdiction of the District to enable it to impose District-based discipline;
  2. Are severe persistent or pervasive; and
  3. Include any written verbal or physical act including but not limited to:
    • Written intimidating/threatening, and/or demeaning letters, notes, messages, emails and/or electronic means
    • Verbally intimidating/threatening comments, slurs, innuendos, or taunting
    • Visual gestures
    • Physical hitting, slapping, kicking, pinching, etc.
    • Making reprisals, threats of reprisal, or implied threats of reprisal, social isolation or manipulation of a student
    • Engaging in implicit or explicit coercive behavior to control, influence, or affect the health and well-being of a student
    • Any behavior or acts which has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education, creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment, or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school

Board Policy and Regulation 249
Adopted November 17, 2008
Date Last Reviewed/Resolution: 10/29/14; 7/16/12

Bullying

Is student being a bully?
Sometimes a student can be a bully because of the things they say or write down.
Sometimes a student can be a bully because of the things they do.
Students might be bullies if they:

  • Say things that hurt your feelings
  • Call you names
  • Say scary things to you
  • Try to make you feel scared
  • Tell you they are going to hurt you
  • Tease you a lot
  • Tell other kids bad things about you
  • Tell other kids not to play with you or talk to you
  • Give you a mean letter or note
  • Make mean faces at you
  • Hit kick, slap, punch or pinch you
  • Try to hurt your body
  • Make you do something that you do not want to do
  • Tell you a lie.

What should you do if you think you are being bullied?

If someone is being a bully tell your teacher or another trusted adult.

What will the school do?

Sometimes the school will have a meeting with the bully’s parents.
Sometimes the school will take fun things away from the bully.
Sometimes the bully will have to stay home a few days
or not be allowed to be with their class.
Sometimes a police person will need to talk to the bully.

*Please contact your child’s school counselor, teacher and or administrator if you have any concerns regarding your child’s peer relationships.*