Anti-Bullying Policy
Atlantic Community Charter School recognizes that safe learning environments are necessary for students to learn and achieve high academic standards. Our school strives to provide safe learning environments for all students and all employees.
Policy:
Prohibition of Bullying
To further these goals, Atlantic Community Charter School prohibits the bullying of any person on school property, at school functions, by use of data or computer or computer software accessed through a computer, computer system, computer network, or other electronic technology of the school from kindergarten through grade six. Atlantic Community Charter School further prohibits reprisal, retaliation, or false accusation against a target, witness, or one with reliable information about an act of bullying.
Definition of Bullying
As used in this policy, bullying means any intentional written, electronic, verbal, or physical act or actions against a student, school volunteer, or school employee that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know, would have the effect of:
Placing a student, school volunteer, or school employee in a reasonable fear of substantial harm to his or her emotional or physical well-being, or substantial damage to his or her property; or
Creating a hostile, threatening, humiliating, or abusive educational environment due to persuasiveness or persistence of actions, or due to a power differential between the bully and the target; or
Interfering with a student having a safe school environment necessary to facilitate educational performance, opportunities or benefits; or
Perpetuating bullying by inciting, soliciting or coercing an individual or group to demean, dehumanize, embarrass or cause emotional, psychological or physical harm to another student, school volunteer or school employee.
Reporting Requirements
Bullying is unacceptable and a culture of openness is the best way to counter such behavior. It is the responsibility of each member of the school community: pupils, staff and parents to report instances of bullying or suspicions of bullying, with the understanding that all such reports will be listened to and taken seriously. Any school employee with reliable information that would lead to a reasonable person to suspect a person is a target of bullying shall immediately report it to the school administration.
Investigative Procedures
Atlantic Community Charter School shall maintain a procedure to promptly investigate in a timely manner and determine whether bullying has occurred. All confirmed bullying incidents must be reported to the principal. Some acts of bullying may also be crimes, which will be reported to police.
Consequences for Bullying
Consequences for bullying are described in Atlantic Community Charter School’s Student Code of Conduct.
First Offense:
Parent/guardian notification and conference
Restitution/restoration if necessary
Second Offense:
Required: same as first offense with
1-day in-school suspension
Behavior Support Plan
Possible referral to school counseling
Subsequent Offenses:
Required: same as second offense with
Possible referral to outside counseling, (at parent’s expense)
Possible notification of police, charges may be filed
1-3 day(s) out-of-school suspension
Retaliation
Retaliation for reporting bullying is prohibited. The consequences and appropriate remedial action for a person who engages in retaliation shall be determined by the administrator after consideration of the nature, severity, and circumstances of the act.
School Anti-Bullying Coordinator:
Steve DiMatteo
609.428.4300 x 103
SDiMatteo@atlanticcommunitycharter.com
School Anti-Bullying Specialist:
Sharon Mauriello
609.428.4300 x 118