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    Bullying Resources

    As parents we have the power to help reduce bullying. Here are some resources to help prevent bullying and help address the topic with your child.

    Experts say there are 10 actions parents can take to prevent bullying. Visit Education.com for details.

    US Department of Health and Human Services offers flash movies, games, and information about bullying and how to prevent bullying.     Click here for details.

    Resources from Education.com.

    Cyber-Bullying Resources

    Bullying can take place in the cyber domain. Cyber-bullying is defined as an "intentional, aggressive act carried out by a group or individual, using electronic forms of contact, repeatedly and over time against a victim who cannot easily defend him or herself" (Smith et al., 2008, p. 376).

    Cyber-bullying can take place within emails, instant messages, texts and digital images on cell phones, on social networking sites, other web pages and blogs and/or chat rooms or discussion groups.      The US Department of Health & Resources has some recommended tips for parents in helping prevent cyber-bullying and how to deal with cyberbullying by visiting here.
    PR's Bullying/Cyber-bullying Policy

    According to Pennsylvania guidelines, "Bullying" means an intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act, or a series of acts:

    (1) Directed at another student or students; (2) Which occurs in a school setting; (3) That is severe, persistent or pervasive; and (4) That has the effect of doing any of the following:

    (i) Substantially interfering with a student's education; (ii) Creating a threatening environment; or (iii) Substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.

    For purposes of the foregoing, "school setting" means any conduct or activity which occurs in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated bus stop or at any activity sponsored, supervised or sanctioned by the school, including travel to and from such activity.

    All forms of bullying by students are prohibited. This prohibition includes cyberbullying, which involves the use of electronic devices to engage in any of the conduct described above.

    Guidelines for Recognizing and Identifying Bullying and Cyberbullying
    • Power: It's bullying and not just playing around, when two people are unequal in power; and the one with the greater power takes unfair advantage of the less powerful person. Power can be physical size or strength, numbers, socio-economic strata, verbal skill, level of intelligence, popularity, athletic ability, and gender, to name a few. The person who bullies watches for opportunities to pick on, humiliate and tease the target. The target feels defenseless and hopeless and it seems that nothing will stop the treatment.
    • Repeated, Intentional Actions: Negative actions are repeated, happening over and over in many different settings. Usually adults are unaware or are not present when they occur. The person doing the bullying does it on purpose, and the intent is to hurt another person.
    • Different levels of Feeling: You can tell that it is bullying and not just playing around when the people involved show unequal levels of feeling (affect). Instead of both people smiling or looking like they are having fun, one person is smiling or look triumphant (gotcha!), and one is crying or looking frightened, humiliated, confused or angry.
    Examples of possible bullying
    • Taking another person's property
    • Hitting another person
    • Name calling
    • Taunting
    • Spreading false rumors
    • Persuading people to reject or keep out another person
    • Writing hateful notes

    Reports of bullying should be made to building principal.

    Bullying/Cyberbullying may have Level I or higher consequences. In addition, conduct which constitutes Bullying or Cyberbullying may also constitute unlawful harassment, discrimination or hazing, which are also prohibited under applicable law and Board policies and may carry additional disciplinary consequences.
    Please refer to Board Policy Nos. 103, 247, 248 and 249 for additional information regarding Non-Discrimination, Unlawful Harassment, Hazing and Bullying/Cyberbullying.