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In Greenville ISD, we are committed to taking care of the whole child. That includes nurturing their social and emotional health and building relationships with families.
On our campuses and in our classrooms, we establish and enforce clear behavioral expectations and boundaries for our students. By establishing a culture of mutual respect enforced by social contracts, we aim to prevent bullying by defusing such destructive behavior. When misconduct occurs, there are serious consequences that vary according to the nature of the offense. Those consequences are spelled out in detail in the Student Code of Conduct.
The Code provides methods and options for managing students in the classroom and on school grounds, disciplining students, and preventing and intervening in student discipline problems. The law requires the district to define misconduct that may—or must—result in a range of specific disciplinary consequences including removal from a regular classroom or campus, out-of-school suspension, placement in a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP), placement in a juvenile justice alternative education program (JJAEP), or expulsion from school.
Above and Beyond Required Training
The State of Texas has a number of requirements regarding policies and training related to bullying.
While GISD employees go through annual training through Safe Schools courses, the district goes above and beyond the minimum requirements because we are committed to doing the right things for our students.
Click here for additional resources for educators and parents.
What is bullying?
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How is bullying defined?
Bullying is defined as a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that:
➔ has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or damage to the student's property;
➔ is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student;
➔ materially or substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or
➔ infringes on the rights of the victim at school
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What is cyberbullying?
The definition of bullying includes cyberbullying. This applies to:
➔ bullying that occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a school-related activity on or off school property;
➔ bullying that occurs on a publicly or privately owned school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school-related activity; and
➔ cyberbullying that occurs off school property or outside of a school-sponsored or school-related event, if the conduct interferes with a student's educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the operations of school, classroom, or school-related activity.
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Greenville ISD Board Policies Related to Bullying
Review our district's board policies related to bullying:
➔ FFH – Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation
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Treat Everyone With Respect
Nobody should be mean to others.
➔ Stop and think before you say or do something that could hurt someone.
➔ If you feel like being mean to someone, find something else to do. Play a game, watch TV, or talk to a friend.
➔ Talk to an adult you trust. They can help you find ways to be nicer to others.
➔ Keep in mind that everyone is different. Not better or worse. Just different.
➔ If you think you have bullied someone in the past, apologize. Everyone feels better.
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What to Do If You’re Bullied
There are things you can do if you are being bullied:
➔ Look at the kid bullying you and tell him or her to stop in a calm, clear voice. You can also try to laugh it off. This works best if joking is easy for you. It could catch the kid bullying you off guard.
➔ If speaking up seems too hard or not safe, walk away and stay away. Don’t fight back. Find an adult to stop the bullying on the spot.
There are things you can do to stay safe in the future, too.
➔ Talk to an adult you trust. Don’t keep your feelings inside. Telling someone can help you feel less alone. They can help you make a plan to stop the bullying.
➔ Stay away from places where bullying happens.
➔ Stay near adults and other kids. Most bullying happens when adults aren’t around.
Watch a video with more information here.
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Protect Yourself from Cyberbullying
Bullying does not always happen in person. Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that happens online or through text messages or emails. There are things you can do to protect yourself.
➔ Always think about what you post. You never know what someone will forward. Being kind to others online will help to keep you safe. Do not share anything that could hurt or embarrass anyone.
➔ Keep your password a secret from other kids. Even kids that seem like friends could give your password away or use it in ways you don’t want. Let your parents have your passwords.
➔ Think about who sees what you post online. Complete strangers? Friends? Friends of friends? Privacy settings let you control who sees what.
➔ Keep your parents in the loop. Tell them what you’re doing online and who you’re doing it with. Let them friend or follow you. Listen to what they have to say about what is and isn’t okay to do. They care about you and want you to be safe.
➔ Talk to an adult you trust about any messages you get or things you see online that make you sad or scared. If it is cyberbullying, report it.
Watch a video with more information here.
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Stand Up for Others
When you see bullying, there are safe things you can do to make it stop.
➔ Talk to a parent, teacher, or another adult you trust. Adults need to know when bad things happen so they can help.
➔ Be kind to the kid being bullied. Show them that you care by trying to include them. Sit with them at lunch or on the bus, talk to them at school, or invite them to do something. Just hanging out with them will help them know they aren’t alone.
Not saying anything could make it worse for everyone. The kid who is bullying will think it is ok to keep treating others that way.
Watch a video with more information here.
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Get Involved
You can be a leader in preventing bullying in your community.
➔ Find out more about where and when bullying happens at your school. Think about what could help. Then, share your ideas. There is a good chance that adults don’t know all of what happens. Your friends can go with you to talk to a teacher, counselor, coach, or parent and can add what they think.
➔ Talk to the principal about getting involved at school. Schools sometimes give students a voice in programs to stop bullying. Be on a school safety committee. Create posters for your school about bullying. Be a role model for younger kids.
➔ Write a blog, letter to the editor of your local newspaper, or tweet about bullying.
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Bullying Investigation Process
Please read through the five steps below to learn more about our bullying investigation process.
Step 1: Report Bullying
If a student believes that he or she has experienced bullying or witnesses the bullying of another student, the student or parent should notify a teacher, school counselor, principal, or another district employee as soon as possible. A student may anonymously report an alleged incident of bullying by filling out an anonymous incident report form and placing it in a locked box outside the counselor’s office. They may also anonymously report it online here.
Step 2: Investigation by School Staff
The administration will investigate any allegations of bullying and related misconduct. The district will also provide notice to the parent of the alleged victim and the parent of the student alleged to have engaged in bullying.
Step 3: Bullying Determination & Notification of Findings
If an investigation determines that bullying occurred, the administration will take appropriate disciplinary action and may, in certain circumstances, notify law enforcement. Disciplinary or other action may be taken even if the conduct did not rise to the level of bullying.
Step 4: Consequences for Bullying
Consequences will be assigned as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Targets of bullying will not be punished.Rights to appeal are explained to all parties.Retaliation against students who report bullying will not be tolerated.
How do we investigate bullying in Greenville ISD?: Bullying Checklist for School