Harassment/Bullying Policy
Harassment/Bullying Policy
HARASSMENT/BULLYING POLICY (Revised June 2018)
General Statement of Policy
St. Philomena School, as part of the greater Catholic Archdiocese, is committed to a positive and productive community environment free of harassment and bullying. It is the explicit policy of St. Philomena School to prohibit harassment, bullying, or intimidation whether committed by student, staff member, volunteer, and/or parent. St. Philomena School will respond to allegations of harassment and bullying seriously, and will review and investigate such matters in a professional and timely manner.
St. Philomena School is committed to an environment that is free of harassment and bullying whether intentional or not, while in school/parish buildings or on school/parish property, or when being transported to and from school-sponsored activities. In addition, online harassment via social media will not be tolerated.
St. Philomena School prohibits retaliation against any student, staff member, volunteer, and/or parent who has testified, assisted, or participated in the investigation report. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, reprisal or adverse pressure. Retaliation is itself a violation of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. @ 2000e, et. seq., and RCW of Washington 49.60.210 prohibiting discrimination.
Conflict
Conflict is defined as a disagreement between two students or a group of students. The results of a conflict can often lead to an argument; however, conflicts are a natural, everyday occurrence between children. Through conflict, children learn to exercise self-control and establish boundaries.
Harassment
Harassment is defined as verbal, physical, visual, written and/or sexual conduct that shows hostility toward an individual because of his/her race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, or disability, or that of his/her relatives, friends, or associates and that creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive school environment.
Descriptive Terms
A. Verbal Harassment: derogatory comments, jokes or slurs; belligerent or threatening words between individuals; offensive, negative remarks concerning an individual's gender, physical abilities, race, creed and/or physical appearance.
B. Physical Harassment: unwanted deliberate touching, pinching, bruising, or patting. Any deliberate attempts to impede or block one's movement (e.g. assaults of any nature) with normal activities will be regarded as harassment.
C. Visual Harassment: derogatory, demeaning or inflammatory posters,
cartoons, written words, drawings, novelties, and both body and facial gestures.
D. Sexual Harassment: sexually suggestive remarks, gestures or jokes.
Moreover, any other unsolicited verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature (e.g. sexual assault, etc.) will be regarded as harassment.
E. Online Harassment: emailing, texting, tweeting, or posting indecent
and/or demeaning writings, cartoons, or pictures via social media.
Bullying
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated over a period of time.
There are three types of bullying:
- Verbal bullying involves saying or writing mean things.
- Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships.
- Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, tweets, chat, and websites.
All allegations of harassment and bullying will be taken seriously and promptly investigated. The allegation should be made to faculty, staff, and/or principal. Once an allegation of harassment and or bullying has been reported, the principal under the discretion of the pastor will adhere to Archdiocesan policy and follow through on the investigation of the allegation.
