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Anti-Bullying

At Cambridge-Isanti Schools, we take proactive steps against bullying. We consistently teach and model five Bluejacket character traits, including respect, compassion and self-discipline. A safe and civil environment is needed for students to learn, reach high academic standards, and build healthy human relationships.

Bullying, like other violent or disruptive behavior, is conduct that interferes with a student’s ability to learn and/or a teacher’s ability to educate students in a safe environment. If you witness bullying, please report it to a trusted adult and staff member in our school.

Policy Manual / 514 - Bullying Prohibition

Policy Manual / 514F - Bullying Reporting Form

Bullying defined:  Bullying is when someone hurts or scares another person repeatedly. The behavior is never appropriate and is intentional. This repeated and hurtful act includes: name-calling, inflicting physical pain, exclusion, public humiliation, hurtful pranks and defacing one's property. Bullying involves an imbalance of power.

The innocent one being bullied feels alone, depressed and scared and feels they have nowhere to turn.

Bullying includes:

  • Calling someone hurtful and derogatory names
  • Spreading lies and bad rumors about someone
  • Being mean and teasing someone
  • Hitting, punching, shoving, spitting and physically hurting someone
  • Social exclusion or isolation ... not including someone is a group
  •  Getting certain individuals to "gang up" on others
  •  Having money or other things taken or damaged
  •  Being threatened or being forced to do things

Bullying also can happen online or electronically. Cyberbullying is when kids or teens bully each other using the Internet, mobile phones or other cyber technology. This can include:

  • Sending mean text, e-mail, or instant messages
  • Posting nasty pictures or messages about others in blogs or on Web sites
  • Using someone else's user name to spread rumors or lies about someone
  • Stealing someone's password and spreading rumors about someone else making it seem like that person is the Cyberbully

Forms of Bullying - It's not always easy to determine bullying behavior. How do you know if you're the victim of good-natured ribbing or bullying? Hostility and aggression directed towards a victim who is physically or emotionally weaker than the bully are more obvious signs of bullying. This behavior causes pain and distress for the victim.

Physical Bullying is the most obvious form of intimidation and can consist of kicking, hitting, biting, pinching, hair pulling, and making threats. A bully may threaten to punch you if you don't give up your money, your lunch, etc.

Verbal Bullying often accompanies physical behavior. This can include name calling, spreading rumors, and persistent teasing.

Emotional Intimidation is closely related to these two types of bullying. A bully may deliberately exclude you from a group activity such as a party or school outing.

Racist Bullying can take many forms: making racial slurs, spray painting graffiti, mocking the victim's cultural customs, and making offensive gestures.

Sexual Bullying is unwanted physical contact or abusive comments.

Cyberbullying is one or a group of kids or teens using electronic means via computers and mobile phones (emails, Web sites, chat rooms, instant messaging and texting) to torment, threaten, harass, humiliate, embarrass or target another kid or teen.

Who to report bullying to:

  • Teachers
  • Counselors
  • Administrators
  • Other school staff
  • Parents/Guardians

What to do when you see bullying occur:

  • Reporting bullying is the responsible thing to do!
  • Ignoring or not reporting bullying is encouraging bullying behavior
  • Bullying can be reported anonymously through the use of the online reporting form.
  • The names of the reporters will remain confidential.
  • School Administrators should be notified immediately of any bullying that is witnessed or reported.
  • Parents or Guardians may report bullying through our online form, or directly to CIHS Staff.

School Staff will be responsible for investigating reports of bullying within 10 school days. In the event that bullying has occurred, the administration will follow appropriate student discipline procedures.