At HCDSB, we believe that safe, caring and inclusive learning environments where all students feel a positive sense of belonging are necessary conditions for student achievement, well-being and faith formation. We are committed to creating and maintaining safe, caring, and inclusive schools through appropriate prevention and intervention practices.
What is Bullying?
The Ministry of Education defines Bullying as:
鈥溾� form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance.鈥�
Bullying can take many forms. It can be:
- physical, for example, hitting, kicking, shoving, damaging or stealing property
- verbal, for example, name-calling, mocking, put-downs and shameful, threatening, humiliating or discriminatory comments
- cyberbullying, for example, spreading rumours or hurtful comments on social media, by text, direct messaging, online gaming or emails
- social/relational, for example, damaging friendships, spreading gossip, rumours or excluding others from a group
- written, for example, writing notes and graffiti that are hurtful or insulting
Bullying of any type:
- adversely affects a student鈥檚 ability to learn;
- adversely affects healthy relationships and the learning environment for students, staff and community members;
- adversely affects a school鈥檚 ability to educate its students;
- adversely affects a school鈥檚 ability to provide an equitable and inclusive learning environment;
- will not be accepted on school property, at school-related activities, on school buses, or in any other circumstances (i.e. online/virtual space, off school property, or outside the regular school day) where engaging in bullying will have a negative impact on the learning environment.
Report an Incident
Students or their parents/guardians are encouraged to report an incident to a trusted adult at school (e.g. School Administration, Teacher, Child and Youth Counsellor, Social Worker, Chaplain, etc.).
Students or their guardians may choose to report an incident using the Online Incident Reporting Tool. The online report will be forwarded to the School Administration and the Family of Schools Superintendent.
Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan
Our HCDSB Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan was developed to promote a system-wide approach to ensuring a safe, inclusive and accepting learning environments in each of our schools, free of bullying, harassment, discrimination and other inappropriate behaviours.
Our Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan is reviewed regularly in accordance with Policy II-40 Bullying Prevention & Intervention.