The Vineland School District prohibits any discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying of any student based on the student’s actual race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression; the perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

Prohibited discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying includes physical, verbal, nonverbal, or written conduct based on one of the categories listed above that is so severe and pervasive that it affects a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity; creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or offensive educational environment; has the effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with a student’s academic performance; or otherwise adversely affects a student’s educational opportunities.

What Bullying is…

• Repeated aggressive behavior
• Intended to cause harm (physical or emotional)
• An attempt by one or more individuals to gain power over another
• Physical: Hitting, kicking, pushing, destroying property
• Verbal/Written: Threatening, name-calling, teasing, taunting
• Social/Emotional: Terrorizing, spreading rumors, intimidating, humiliating, blackmailing, isolating
• Cyber-bullying: Using technology to bully others verbally, emotionally and/or socially

What Bullying is Not…

• Not liking someone
• Accidentally bumping into someone
• A single act of telling a joke about someone
• Expression of unpleasant thoughts or feelings regarding others
• Arguments or disagreements
• Being excluded from a game or group on the playground (unless being done regularly and with intention to hurt the feelings of another)
• Isolated acts of harassment, aggressive behavior, intimidation or meanness

Filing a Report

Students, parents, and community members are encouraged to notify school staff when they are being bullied or suspect that another student is being victimized. When the circumstances involve cyber-bullying, individuals with information about the activity shall be encouraged to save and print any electronic or digital messages sent to them that they feel constitute cyber-bullying

Confidentiality

Reasonable efforts will be made to keep a report of bullying or harassment and the result of the investigation confidential. The Board also prohibits any form of retaliation against any student who files a complaint or report regarding an incident of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

False Reports and Statements

Intentionally false reports, use of the complaint process, or statement to defame a fellow student or staff member or any illegitimate reason, will result in disciplinary consequences.

To view the complete board policies on Bullying and Harassment click the options below:

BP 5413: Anti-Bullying

BP 5511: Nondiscrimination/Harassment

To file a report of bullying, harassment, or discrimination please visit the following website or contact your child’s school for assistance.

Sunset School

Vineland School