School, Culture, & Climate

READY, RESPONSIBLE, & RESPECTFUL

Rogers Middle School Bully Prevention Plan

This plan includes:

1. Description of Bullying
2. Statement Prohibiting Bullying
3. Commitment to Safe and Civil Schools
4. Ongoing Professional Development and Student Instruction
5. Staff/Parent Communication and Reporting
6. Student Procedures to Report Bullying
7. Staff Procedures to Respond to Bullying
8. Student Procedures to Respond to Bullying
9. Disciplinary Actions for Bullying Behavior at Rogers
10. Rogers Bullying Prevention Interventions

1) Description of Bullying

Bullying can happen anywhere. It is not a phase children and teens have to go through, it is not "just messing around." Bullying will not be tolerated at Rogers Middle School.

"A person is bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending themselves."  (D. Olweus)

Bullying involves:

• Imbalance of Power — People who bully use their power to control or harm, and the people who are bullied may have a difficult time defending themselves.

• Intent to Cause Harm — Actions committed by accident are not bullying. The person bullying has an intent/goal to cause harm.

• Repetition — Incidents of bullying happen to the same person over and over by the same person or group.

Types of Bullying:

• Verbal: name-calling, teasing

• Social: spreading rumors, leaving people out on purpose, breaking up friendships

• Physical: hitting, pinching, punching, shoving

• Cyber Bullying: using the Internet, mobile phones or other digital technologies to harm others

2) Statement Prohibiting Bullying

At Rogers Middle School bullying shall be prohibited:

• on school grounds, at a school sponsored or school-related activity, function or program whether on or off school grounds, at a school bus stop, on a school bus or other vehicle owned, leased or used by a school district or school, or through the use of technology or an electronic device owned, leased or used by a school district or school

• at a location, activity, function or school-related program or through the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased or used by a school district or school

• if the bullying creates a hostile environment at school for the victim, infringes on the rights of the victim at school or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school

• retaliation against a person who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying shall be prohibited.

3) Commitment to Safe & Civil Schools

Rogers Middle School shall develop, adhere to and update this plan using Safe and Civil procedures, bullying prevention and intervention in consultation with teachers, school staff, administrators, parents and guardians. The consultation shall include, but not be limited to, verbal or written notice and a public forum such as School Site Council (SSC) and Parent Teacher Association (PTA). This plan shall be updated each year.

4) On-going Professional Development/Student Instruction

Classrooms at Rogers Middle School teach anti-bullying lessons, procedures and bullying strategies to students in accordance with district guidelines.  Rogers Middle School has developed an anti-bullying policy, procedural guidelines for implementation, and professional development training for staff.

Roger’s Bully Prevention Plan includes ongoing professional development. This professional development will build the skills of staff members, including, but not limited to teachers, recreation staff, administrators, in order to prevent, identify and respond to bullying. The content of such professional development shall include, but not be limited to:

1. developmentally appropriate strategies to prevent bullying incidents;

2. developmentally appropriate strategies for immediate, effective interventions to stop bullying incidents;

3. information regarding the complex interaction and power differential that can take place between and among a perpetrator, victim and witnesses to the bullying;

4. research findings on bullying, including information about specific categories of students who have shown to be particularly at risk for bullying in the school environment.

• Each grade level will be provided an assembly to students at least once a quarter. Age-appropriate terms and in the languages which are most prevalent among the students will be used.

• The classroom teacher will implement and oversee the plan during class.

5) Staff/Parent Communication

Roger's  Bully Prevention Plan shall include provisions in  newsletters for informing parents and guardians about the bullying prevention curriculum. Information shall include, but not be limited to: (a) how parents and guardians can reinforce Roger's school policies at home and how to support the Rogers Bully Prevention Plan.

1. Each year, Rogers Middle School shall provide to all school staff annual written notice of the plan. The faculty and staff shall be trained on the plan each year as applicable to Rogers Middle School. Relevant sections of the plan relating to the duties of faculty and staff shall be included in a school employee handbook.

2. The Bullying prevention plan is posted on Rogers Middle School website.

3. Rogers Middle School, after consultation with the Safe and Civil Team, shall compile a list of bullying prevention and intervention resources, evidence-based curricula, best practices and academic-based research. Rogers Middle School shall annual update this plan, curricula, best practices and research and shall post them on its website.

6) Student Procedures to Report Bullying

There are three types of procedures for students to report Bullying

1. Anonymous reporting

   • Students may report bullying anonymously by filling out a form or writing details on a piece of paper and placing it in the bully box. The bully box is located in the 100 building.  This form will be looked at by the administration and all forms will be investigated within 24 hours.

2. Direct reporting

   • Students may report bullying directly to any adult on campus. Students may report bullying to teachers, recreation aides, office staff, administration, or custodians. Students may report bullying either in writing or verbally during lunch times as well as during class time either directly to their teacher or with appropriate permission to leave class (note from teacher) to the office staff.

3. Electronic reporting

   • Students may report bullying on the Rogers Middle School Website by completing the Bully Report Form at lbrogers.schooolloop.com

7) Staff Procedures to Respond to Bullying

1. Teacher/Staff response

   • If bullying behavior is reported to a Rogers Middle School teacher/staff, that teacher/staff will investigate. The teacher/staff may have a meeting with the students involved and attempt to resolve the issue. The teacher/staff will determine the severity of the bullying behavior and either counsel students or counsel students and give a reasonable consequence for the behavior. The teacher will communicate with parents and administration as determined by necessity and severity.

2. Administrative response

   • If bullying behavior is reported to a Rogers Middle School Administrator either via directly, Bully Box, or Online Bully Form, the administrator will investigate. The administrator will meet with all students involved and attempt to resolve the issue. The administrator will determine the severity of the bullying behavior and either counsel students or counsel students and give a reasonable consequence for the behavior as dictated by the California Education Code. The administrator will communicate with parents and local authorities (LBUSD School Safety officers) as determined by necessity and severity.

8) Student Procedures to Respond to Bullying

What To Do When Someone is Being Bullied

• Take a stand and do not join in. Make it clear that you do not support what is going on.

• Do not watch someone being bullied. If you feel safe, tell the person to stop. If you do not feel safe saying something, walk away and get others to do the same. If you walk away and do not join in, you have taken their audience and power away.

• Support the person who is being bullied. Tell them that you are there to help. Offer to go with them to report the bullying or report it for them.

• Talk to an adult you trust. Talking to someone could help you figure out the best ways to deal with the problem. Reach out to a parent, teacher or another adult that you trust to discuss the problem, especially if you feel like the person may be at risk of serious harm to themselves or others.

• Report on Rogers website or use the bully box.

What to Do When You Are Being Bullied

• Tell the bully to stop.

• Walk away. Do not let them get to you. If you walk away or ignore them, the bully will not get that satisfaction.

• Protect yourself. Sometimes you cannot walk away. If you are being physically hurt, protect yourself so that you can get away.

• Tell an adult you trust. Talking to someone could help you figure out the best ways to deal with the problem. In some cases, adults need to get involved for the bullying to stop.

• Find a safe place. Go somewhere that you feel safe and secured such as a teacher's classroom, administrator, or office.

• Stick together. Stay with a group or individuals that you trust.

• Find opportunities to make new friends. Explore your interests and join school or community activities such as sports, drama, or art. Volunteer or participate in community service.

• Report on Rogers website or using the bully box.

Your Feelings are Important

• Do not blame yourself. No matter what someone says or does, you should not be ashamed of who you are or what you feel.

• Be proud of who you are. No matter what they say, there are wonderful things about you. Keep those in mind instead of the disrespectful messages you get from the bully.

• Do not be afraid to get help. It helps to talk to someone who is not personally involved. Teachers, Counselors, and adults are here to help.

9) Disciplinary actions for Bullying Behavior at Rogers Middle School

Students found to be involved in bullying behavior will be investigated. If found to be participating in any manner of bullying behavior, students will be given a reasonable consequence not necessarily in the following order.

• Students may be counseled by the teacher, school counselor, or administrator.

• Students may be pulled into an intervention groups.

• Students may have a parent/teacher conference.

• Students may lose lunch area access.

• Student may lose participation in schoolwide activities.

• Students may be suspended from school.

California Education Code for Student Discipline

10) Rogers Middle School Bully Prevention Interventions

What happens at Rogers to prevent Bullying?

• Safe and Civil Guidelines for Success ~ Rogers Mustangs' Keys to Success: Ready, Responsible, and Respectful

• Immediate action by administrator/counselor/teacher/staff addressing/correcting specific and current bullying behavior

• Morning/afternoon announcements and quarterly assemblies focusing on scholarly behavior and Guidelines for Success

• Bully Box - Students are able to anonymously voice concerns 

• Online Bully Report Form - Students are able to anonymously voice concerns 

• Students report to adults (recreation aides, teacher, office staff, admin, custodian) bullying behavior

• At the beginning of quarter, Rogers conduct grade level appropriate Safe and Civil assemblies

• At the end of each quarter, positive behavior is reinforced and rewarded during award assemblies

• In class direct instruction (common lesson plans) with regard school expectations and anti-bullying strategies

• Counseling for bully-like behavior

• Professional development from the Safe and Civil Committee to the teaching staff

• Professional development from the administration to the staff

• Classroom teacher’s instruction is reinforced during weekly assemblies

• Code of Scholarly Excellence used by all staff members to establish and maintain expectations

• Staff defines common areas (bathrooms, blacktop, cafeteria, field) and writes procedures for each common area (in process)

• Signs of procedures are posted in common areas (in process)

• Students are directly taught common area behaviors by classroom teachers (in process)