Bullying is mean or hurtful behavior that keeps happening. It is unfair and one-sided. Our school defines bullying by three primary characteristics:

1. It is usually repeated over time: deliberate acts that cause emotional or physical harm to another individual.

2. Occurs in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power.

3. Intends too hard or has a negative impact on the bullied student.

Rod Kelley School believes all students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment. The district, schools, and community have an obligation to promote mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance.

Rod Kelley will not tolerate behavior that infringes on the safety of any student. A student shall not intimidate, harass, or bully another student through words or actions. Such behavior includes: direct physical contact, such as hitting or shoving; verbal assaults, such as teasing or name-calling; and social isolation or manipulation.

Rod Kelley’s consequences for bullying apply when it happens 

• On school grounds: immediately before or after school hours, during school hours, or at any other time when a school group is using the school.
• Off School Grounds: At a school activity, function or event. 
• When Traveling: To and from school or a school activity function or event. 
• Using the property of equipment: Provided by the school
• On or off school grounds:  When it has caused significant disruption to the learning environment or interfered with an individual’s ability to learn. 

All bullying incidents should be reported in a timely and responsive manner. 

• Teachers who witness or become aware of a bullying situation should address it immediately. Many times the situation can be rectified before it requires complicated interventions. 

• If the teacher can’t resolve a situation, parents will be notified and school administrator will follow up. 

• If the situation persists, notify the administrator and document the incidents.

Extreme cases of bullying will go directly to our administration. 

Teachers and staff will do the following to deal with the incident promptly: 

• Closely supervise students in all areas of the school playground. 

• Watch for signs of bullying and intervene when it happens. 

• Respond quickly and sensitively to bullying reports to ensure the safety of all students involved. 

• Look into all reported bullying incidents. 

• Assign consequences for bullying based on our school's discipline code. 

• Provide immediate consequences for those who retaliate against students who report bullying. 

Investigating and Reporting Bullying (Admin Level)

Once a bullying report is received, our school’s administration will investigate within three days. If it is determined that bullying has occurred, our school's administration will: 

• Take appropriate disciplinary actions

• Notify the family of the bullied student 

• Notify the family of the student who bullied

• Create a Safety Plan for the bullied Student

• Create a Behavior -Change Plan for the student who is bullied.

It is expected that students and/or staff will immediately report incidents of bullying to the principal or designee. Staff who witness such acts take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so. Each complaint of bullying will be promptly investigated.

• To ensure bullying does not occur on school campuses, Rod Kelley will provide staff development training in bullying prevention and cultivate acceptance and understanding in all students and staff to build each school's capacity to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment
• Teachers will use the Second Step Bullying Program to discuss this policy with their students in age-appropriate ways and should assure them that they need not endure any form of bullying. Students who bully violate this policy and are subject to disciplinary action, including expulsion.

The Student Code of Conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Any student who engages in bullying may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
• Students are expected to immediately report bullying incidents to the teacher, principal, or other staff.
• Students can rely on staff to promptly investigate each complaint thoroughly and confidentially.

If the complainant student or the parent of the student feels that an appropriate resolution of the investigation or complaint has not been reached, the student or the parent of the student should contact the principal or the Office of Student Services. The school system prohibits retaliatory behavior against any complainant or participant in the complaint process.