Parent Resources
Bullying Prevention Plan & Safe, Equitable and Inclusive School Strategy
Upper Grand District School Board
School Bullying Prevention Plan And Safe, Equitable And Inclusive School Strategy
School: Montgomery Village P.s. Date: September 19th, 2023
Everyone at our school is committed to making our school a safe, inclusive and equitable environment for all. We treat each other with respect and we will refuse to tolerate inequities in any form at our school. We know that a “whole-school” approach where all stakeholders are involved in supporting our students helps create and maintain a positive school climate.
Definition of Bullying
“Bullying” means aggressive and typically repeated behavior by a student where,
The behavior is intended by the student to have the effect of, or the student ought to know that the behavior would be likely to have the effect of,
causing harm, fear or distress to another individual, including physical, psychological, social or academic harm, harm to the individual’s reputation or harm to the individual’s property, or
creating a negative environment at a school for another individual, and
The behavior occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance between the student and the individual based on factors such as size, strength, age, intelligence, peer group power, economic status, social status, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, family circumstances, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, disability or special education needs.
Bullying takes different forms of contexts with age. It can be physical, verbal, social/emotional or through electronic means (cyber-bullying). Bystanders contribute to bullying by doing nothing to prevent it or become actively involved in supporting it.
“Cyberbullying” includes electronic communication that:
Is used to upset, threaten or embarrass another person.
Uses email, cell phones, text messages and social media sites to threaten, harass, embarrass, socially exclude or damage reputations and friendships.
includes put downs, insults and can also involve spreading rumours, sharing private information, photos or videos or threatening to harm someone.
Examples of Bullying
Physical Aggression: E.g., Hitting, Pushing, Stealing, Damaging Property
Verbal Aggresssion: E.g., Insults, Threats, Taunting Someone In A Hurtful Way, Name Calling, Making Sexist, Racist Or Homophobic Comments
Social Or Relational Aggression: E.g., Spreading Rumors About Someone, Excluding Someone, Gossiping
Electronic (Cyberbullying): E.g., Spreading Rumors And/or Hurtful Comments Through The Use Of Email, Cell Phones (Texts) And On Social Media.
Safe Schools Committee
(Note: mandatory for all schools – an existing committee may assume this role)
School Administrator: Brent Ellery
Equity Rep: Sorcha Masterson, Lori McAlpine
Teacher(s): Sam Fletcher, Michelle Altieri
Support Staff: Tamara Zappia
The role of this committee should include but is not limited to the following:
Develop and annually review the School Bullying Prevention Plan
Implement and analyze data from the School Climate Survey ( every two years)
Identify and implement bullying prevention and intervention programs that address the needs of the school
Identify relationship building and community building programs relevant to the needs of the school
Assist with training and awareness raising strategies for staff, students and parents/ guardians
Communicate bullying prevention and intervention strategies and reporting procedures to the school community
School Monitoring and Review Process
This Bullying Prevention and Inclusive School Plan was developed or reviewed by our Safe School Committee on: Oct. 13th, 2021
Our most recent school climate survey was or will be conducted in: Winter 2022
85% of students, 13% of parents, and 80% of staff completed our most recent school climate survey.
Data from our most recent climate survey indicated that:
92% of grade 4-6 and 89% of grade 7-8 students indicated they feel safe at school (Over 23% increase from 2014/15)
35% of students identified that they have been bullied at school sometime over the last year (1% decrease from 2014/15)
-50% of grade 4-6 and 47% of grade 7-8 students indicated that bullying stopped as a result of adult intervention
87% of parents indicated that bullying stopped as a result of steps that were taken by the school to address the situation
76% of students indicated that they believe teachers are interested in them as people (3% increase from 2014/15).
45% of students in grade 4-6 and 52% of grade 7-8 students indicated that they like school
65% of grade 4-6 and 82% of grade 7-8 students reported that education is very important to them
94% of grade 4-6 and 88% of grade 7-8 students feel they get the support they need to learn at school
95% of grade 4-6 and 86% of grade 7-8 students feel there is an at least one adult at school that cares about them
75% of students indicated that they have a positive self esteem (5% increase from 2014/15)
Training Strategies for Staff and Members of the School Community
Members of our school community will receive Bullying Prevention and Equity & Inclusive training through:
Board professional development workshops
Online training for new employees
Staff meetings
Provision of professional development materials and resources
Other (please specify) Guest speakers and Family Transition Place presentations
Parents/Community Communication and Outreach Strategies
We will communicate our Bullying Prevention and Equity & Inclusive strategies and initiatives by:
Including our Bullying Prevention and Equity & Inclusive Plan in our school/student handbook
Including information inserts in our school newsletters and other in-house publications
Sharing information during school assemblies and announcements
Sharing information through bulletin board postings
Sharing information at School Council and other parent meetings
Sharing information at staff meetings
Integrating Bullying Prevention and Equity & Inclusion into classroom instruction
Posting our Bullying Prevention Plan and Safe, Equitable and Inclusive Schools strategy on our school website
Informing parents and school volunteers of our procedures for reporting incidents of bullying and inequity
Assisting parents to build awareness and knowledge so they may support our school Bullying Prevention and Equity & Inclusive strategies
Bullying Prevention and Equity & Inclusive Strategies, Education Programs/Activities
Note: Our Bullying Prevention and Equity & Inclusive goal(s) are determined after analysis of the results of our school climate survey.
School Bullying Prevention and Equity & Inclusive Goals(s):
To continue to develop an understanding of the issues involved in bullying prevention, equity, diversity, and creating an inclusive environment.
To use data gathered in climate survey, WHY survey (2019) and increase student sense of safety and efficacy.
All students will become recognize all forms of bullying and be provided with strategies for addressing and preventing bullying of all forms.
All voices are represented and recognized.
Create an awareness of what systemic racism is and how each of us can play a role in change.
Provide an inclusive environment that is welcoming to all individuals and celebrates differences.
Bullying Prevention and Equity & Inclusive, Education Programs and Activities:
Our school currently implements or will implement the following bullying prevention and equity & inclusive education programs and activities that focus on developing healthy relationships and provide leadership opportunities for our students:
Continue to share resources, and other pertinent information with staff
Anti-Bullying Week – Organized by student leaders (Beyond The Hurt team)
Virtual guest speakers for staff and students on issues of anti-bullying and equity and diversity
Anti-bullying programs delivered by CYC including: Primary games club, youth group (grades 6-8)
Social awareness , personal safety programs delivered by classroom teachers including: I care program/Kids in the Know for grade 1-3, Touching for grade 5.
Bullying Prevention and Equity & Inclusive Responsibilities
Staff:
Closely supervise students in all areas of the school and school grounds
Watch for signs of bullying and stopping it when it happens
Respond quickly and sensitively to bullying reports (Affirm, Ask, Assess, Act)
Take seriously parents’ concerns about bullying incidents
Assign consequences for bullying
Teach students our procedures for reporting incidents of bullying
Provide a safe environment for students who report bullying (protection from retaliation)
Treat others respectfully
Model positive ways of getting along with others
Students:
Treat each other respectfully
Refuse to bully others
Refuse to let others be bullied
Refuse to watch, laugh or join in when someone is being bullied
Include everyone in play, especially those who are often left out
Report bullying to an adult
Parents:
Model positive ways of getting along with others
Help their son/daughter find ways to express anger that do not involve hurting others physically or emotionally
Teach problem solving skills
Inform school staff if their child tells them about a bullying incident
Support the schools bullying-prevention efforts
Help their son/daughter understand the value of accepting and celebrating individual differences
Be alert to signs their child is being bullied or may be bullying others
Intervention Strategies
Our staff will use the following process when bullying is reported:
Acknowledge the Incident / Affirm
“You were right to report/get help from an adult.”
“I’m glad you asked for help with this.”
Gather Information / Ask Questions
“Tell me more about what happened.”
“Has this happened before?”
“Did anyone try to help you?”
“Are you telling me this is to get someone in trouble or to keep someone safe?”
Assess Safety / Make a Plan
Determine what the student needs to feel safe now
What can the student do if the bullying continues
What steps need to be taken to limit the possibility of retaliation for the person reporting the bullying
Who the student will tell if there is another incident
Act / Follow-up
Determine “next step” or refer the student to an administrator
Tell them what will happen next
Check with the student to determine the success of the intervention
Reporting Incidents of Bullying
Students, parents, school staff and volunteers may use the following methods to report incidents of bullying as appropriate:
Student to Student:
Safe Schools Incident Reporting (on-line)
On-line Bullying Reporting Tool
Tell an adult in the building (phone, in person, email etc.)
Parent / Teacher interviews
Make an appointment to meet with school staff
When responding to a bullying incident, our school staff uses a progressive discipline approach. Use of Progressive Discipline supports a safe, inclusive and equitable learning and teaching environment in which every student can reach his or her full potential. Strategies may range from early intervention to more intensive intervention in cases of persistent bullying, with possible referral to board support personnel, community or social service agencies.
These may include but are not limited to:
Well-Being strategies and programs;
providing students with the opportunity to learn life skills such as conflict resolution, anger management and communication skills;
collaborative problem solving;
utilizing models based on the concepts of peer mediation;
documenting incidents requiring disciplinary measures;
use of progressive discipline;
consideration of mitigating factors;
ensuring that contact is made with the parent(s)/guardian(s) of students, under the age of 18, early in the disciplinary process and involving them in a plan to improve the behavior;
CYC support
referral to outside agencies (e.g., CMHA, DCAFS)
restorative justice practices (e.g., written or verbal apology, community service)
Consequences are at the discretion of the Principal or Vice-Principal. In the case of severe misbehavior, our format of progressive discipline consequences may be superseded. As incidents arise, it is recognized that each situation is unique. Mitigating circumstances will be considered for student age, frequency of incidents, nature and severity of incidents, student exceptionalities, extenuating circumstances, impact on the school climate.