Whitby School has a zero tolerance policy for bullying, harassing or intimidating behavior. Students who engage in bullying, harassing or intimidating behavior shall be subject to consequences in accordance with Whitby School’s discipline policy, inclusive of but not limited to detention, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension and expulsion.
Bullying occurring off-campus at any school-sponsored activity may subject the perpetrator to disciplinary action as if the conduct occurred on school grounds. Bullying occurring off-campus outside of any school-sponsored activity may also subject the perpetrator to disciplinary action if the conduct is disruptive of the educational process and interrupts or impedes the day-to-day operation of Whitby School.
It is important that bullying is identified only when the specific elements of the definition are apparent, as the designation of behavior as bullying carries with it very serious consequences. However, any misconduct by one student against another student, whether or not defined as bullying, will subject the perpetrator to consequences in accordance with Whitby School’s discipline policy.
Bullying is:
- Intentional, repeated over time and involves an imbalance of power.
- The repeated use by one or more students of a written, oral or electronic communication, directed at or referring to another student.
- The repeated exclusion from a peer group.
- A written, oral or electronic communication or physical act or gesture based on any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, academic status, physical appearance, or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability, or by association with an individual or group who has or is perceived to have one or more of such characteristics.
- A physical act or gesture by one or more students repeatedly directed at another student that:
- Causes physical or emotional harm to such student or damage to such student’s property.
- Places such student in reasonable fear of harm to himself or herself, or of damage to his or her property.
- Creates a hostile environment at school for such student.
- Infringes on the rights of such student at school.
- Substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.
Bullying is not:
- A single act of unkindness.
- Isolated acts of aggression.
- Arguments between people.
- Expression of unpleasant thoughts between people.
- Accidental.
Cyberbullying is:
Cyberbullying is when someone repeatedly harasses someone else over electronic communication including email, text message, or interactions on a social media platform, in an effort to show power or intimidate.
These can include:
- Mean texts or email messages
- Rumors sent or posted electronically
- Use of fake profiles on social media sites
- Sending or posting embarrassing information or photographs
Whitby School will make a great effort to support any student who feels that he/she has been the target of
bullying or cyberbullying. This support will include counseling, increased supervision/ monitoring of students, encouragement of students to seek help for themselves or others if they experience or witness bullying, and peer mediation (if appropriate).
Whitby will work together as a community to make sure students are safe and know how to prevent our students from being cyberbullied. Whitby specifically will:
- Teach students about cyberbullying and its effects.
- Make parents aware of cyberbullying and its effects.
- Educate teachers and staff about cyberbullying and how to look out for it.
- Include a digital citizenship course for all students Grades 3 - 8.
Whitby School will adhere to the following regulations in order to prevent bullying and cyberbullying behavior and intervene in any cases of bullying:
- Work together to create a school atmosphere of team spirit and collaboration that promotes appropriate social behavior by students in support of others.
- Employ classroom strategies that instruct students in how to work together in a collaborative and supportive atmosphere.
- Modeling (by teachers and staff) positive, respectful and supportive behavior toward students.
- Use curriculum that promotes communication, friendship, assertiveness skills and character education.
- Enable students to anonymously report acts of bullying and cyber bullying to teachers and school administrators.
- Enable the parents or guardians of students to file written reports of suspected bullying and cyberbullying.
- Require teachers and other school staff who witness acts of bullying and cyberbullying or receive student reports of bullying to notify school administrators.
- Require school administrators to investigate any written reports filed and to review any anonymous reports.
- Require school administrators to notify both the parents or guardians of students who commit any verified acts of bullying and cyberbullying and the parents or guardians of students against whom such acts were directed.
- Maintain a list of the number of verified acts of bullying and cyberbullying, including a description of the response of school staff to such acts and any consequences that may result from the commission of further acts of bullying and cyberbullying.
In the event of a verified act of bullying, Whitby School’s response will follow the discipline policy outlined in this handbook, inclusive of but not limited to detention, in-school suspension,out-of-school suspension and expulsion. In extreme cases or if an issue cannot be resolved, the Assistant Head of School and Head of Lower School reserves the right to determine the appropriate action, which may include, but is not limited to, immediate suspension or expulsion from school.
Take Action and Stop Bullying!
This section was contributed as a result of student action from Grade 4 Exhibition, May 2017.
If you experience bullying as an observer you must take action:
Go tell an adult everything that happened, including all of the details that you can remember. Adults will help you. Telling isn't tattling. It is very important you tell someone because bullying is very dangerous. You are telling an adult because you or someone else is getting hurt. A tattletale tells on someone to get them in trouble. Big difference! Be supportive and reach out to the student. Be inclusive and kind.
If you experience bullying yourself you must take action:
Remember, bullying is never okay and no one deserves to be bullied. No one has the right to hurt other people. It is not your fault. Don’t be afraid to reach out and try to get help if you are bullied.
If you are the bully you must take action:
Bullies often have been bullied themselves. That is no excuse for that behavior, but often bullies need help themselves. Visit a website that supports victims of bullying and try to understand the victim's perspective. Stop bullying yourself and other people. Consider the feelings of the person you are bullying and apologize to the kid you bullied.
