Help Keep Our School Safe
It is the policy of Sage International School to maintain a safe school environment for all students while attending school, and attending school sponsored activities. Bullying and cyber-bullying, regardless of the specific nature of the students’ behavior, are disruptive to a safe school environment are prohibited.
Sage International School defines bullying, harassment and/or intimidation as:
Any act that substantially interferes with a student’s educational benefits, opportunities or performance, that takes place on or immediately adjacent to school grounds, at any school sponsored activity, on school-provided transportation and that has the effect of:
- Physically harming a student or damaging a student’s property
- Knowingly placing a student in reasonable fear of physical harm to the student or damage to the student’s property
- Creating a hostile educational environment
- Bullying also includes any act of retaliation taken against any person bringing a complaint of bullying, assisting another person in bringing a complaint of bullying, or participating in an investigation of an act of bullying
Cyber-bullying includes, but is not limited to the following misuses of technology:
- Harassing, teasing, intimidating, threatening, or terrorizing another person by sending or posting inappropriate and hurtful e-mail messages, instant messages, text messages, digital pictures or images, or website postings, including blogs, and vlogs, through Sage International School’s computer network and the Internet, whether accessed on campus or off campus, during or after school hours.
In the situation that cyber-bullying originated from a non-school computer, but brought to the attention of school officials, any disciplinary actions shall be based on whether the conduct is determined to be severely disruptive of the educational process. In addition, such conduct must also be in violation of a school policy or state law. School Administrators shall in their discretion contact local law enforcement for violations that appear to be a violation of state law.
Bullying, cyber-bullying, intimidation and/or harassment will result in corrective action including but not limited to removal from class, parent conference(s), loss of privileges, suspension from school, referral to a support team, or other disciplinary action. Severe misconduct may result in police intervention and/or expulsion from Sage International School. Sage International School will investigate complaints of bullying or cyberbullying in accordance with Board Policy.
What If Your Child is Being Bullied?
- First, focus on your child
- Be supportive and listen
- Gather information (who, what, when, where)
- Discourage physical retaliation
- Contact your child’s director and/or school counselor
- Provide factual information about the incident
- Work with school staff to create a safety plan for your student
- Commit to making the bullying stop
- If the bullying continues contact the director again
- Teach your child strategies to avoid bullying
- Encourage participation in school and community activities
- Encourage and support positive friendships
- Teach your child to seek help from an adult if he or she is being bullied
Don’t Wait
If your child informs you of a situation that they experienced or witnessed, please let their director and/or counselor know immediately. Early intervention is important to address and redress situations in a successful manner. Waiting because your child asks you or because you are afraid that the behavior will continue only serves to make it more challenging to appropriately work with all parties toward successful resolution.