Ally
Someone who speaks out or takes action on behalf of someone else. Also known as an upstander.
Bullying
Bullying occurs when a student intentionally engages in written, verbal, electronic or physical expression on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity or in a vehicle operated by the district 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 of damage to the student’s property; or
- is sufficiently severe, persistent, and pervasive that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student.
The conduct is considered bullying if it exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student target through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and interferes with a student's education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school.
Bystander
Someone who sees something negative happening - bullying, harassment or discrimination - and does not say or do anything.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying involves using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, cell phones or other electronic devices to engage in written, verbal or physical expression that has 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 is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that the action creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student.
Dating Violence
Dating violence occurs when a student in a current or past dating relationship uses physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control the other person in the relationship. Dating violence may also occur when a person commits these acts against a person in a dating relationship with an individual who is or was in a relationship with the person committing the offense. For purposes of this policy, dating violence is considered prohibited harassment if the conduct is so severe, persistent or pervasive and intentional that the conduct:
- affects a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile or offensive educational environment; or has the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with the student’s academic performance; or
- otherwise adversely affects the student’s educational opportunities.
Discrimination
Discrimination against a student is defined as conduct directed at a student on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or on any other basis prohibited by law, which adversely affects the student.
Hazing
Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution directed against a student, by one person alone or acting with others, that endangers the mental or physical health or the safety of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are or include other students.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment of students is conduct that is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it can be said to deprive the target of access to the educational opportunities or benefits provided by the school. Sexual harassment does not include simple acts of teasing and name-calling among school children, however, even when the comments target differences in gender.
Upstander
Someone who witnesses a negative action such as bullying, harassment or discrimination and takes some kind of action to stop it.