Advice for Teachers

When responding to a bullying incident, staff should:


Acknowledge the incident/affirm

• When there are suspicions of bullying, gather more information;  intensify observations; and encourage bystanders to actively prevent bullying or report it.
• Ensure all students' immediate safety
• Listen with respect and empathy to all students involved; acknowledge the incident.

Gather Information/Ask Questions:

• Acquire as much relevant information as possible; talk with the students involved.
• Interview the students involved separately so that the student who was bullied will feel safe and be able to discuss the details of the incident without fear of further intimidation by the student who has bullied.
• In the case of cyberbullying, save the evidence by printing a hard copy of the electronic posting and dating it.

• During the interview with the student who was bullied:

• Document the details of the incident by asking questions such as:  Have there been incidents before this one?  How many?  How did the bullying start?  What happened?  Who participated and in what way?
• If it was the student who reported the incident, reassure him/her:  that he/she made the right decision in reporting.  Convey clear messages to the student who has been bullied (e.g.. "No one deserves to be bullied and we're going to do everything we can to stop it")

• During the interview with the witness(es):
• Document the details recounted.

• During the interview with the student(s) who allegedly did the bullying:

• Document the details recounted by the student(s).
• Explain that bullying violates the school's Code of Conduct and is unacceptable.
• Help the student to understand why bullying is offensive and unacceptable.
• Advise the student that his/her behavior will be closely monitored in the future.
• Inform the student of the types of consequences that may be imposed.
• Review the student's bullying history and any previous incidents that he/she has been involved in.

Assess Safety/Make a Plan

• Determine what the student needs to feel safe now.
• Make any other plan/referrals that will support the student who has been bullied.
• Ask the student to immediately report to school staff any further bullying episodes or attempts at bullying.
• Check with the student(s) to determine his/her/their level of comfort with the plan.

(Adapted from: www.prinipalissues.com)

Act/Follow-Up

• Determine next steps and tell the students what will happen next.
• Instances of bullying must be reported to the principal/designate by using the Safe Schools Incident Report Form (green sheet).
• The principal/designate will determine any consequences that will be imposed after the application of mitigating factors and consideration of progressive discipline options ;;and whether or not police will be involved.  If police involvement is warranted, the HDSB Police/School Board Protocol will be followed.

• If the principal/designate, believes that a student has been harmed as a result of an activity for which suspension or expulsion may be considered, the principal/designate is required to contact the parent/guardian of a student:

• who is less than 18 years of age;
• who is 18 years of age or older and consents to such contact;
• who is 16 or 17 and withdrawn from parental control and consents to such contact;

• NOTE:  Contact will take place, as outlined above, except where, in the opinion of the principal, informing the parent/guardian would put the student at risk of harm and would not be in the student's best interests.  In this case the principal or designate is required to document their decision and the rationale for same.

• The principal/designate shall disclose:

•  the nature of the activity that resulted in harm to the student;
•  the nature of the harm to the student; and
•  the steps taken to protect the student's safety.

As per MFIPPA (Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act), the principal or designate may inform the parent/guardian that disciplinary action has been taken within the scope of progressive discipline as prescribed in legislation and board policy as follows:

• that the matter has been dealt with appropriately by the school;
• whether police have been notified, but may not disclose whether or not charges have been laid;
• if the student who engaged in the activity that resulted in the harm will not be returning to school;
• what, if any, steps are being taken to ensure the safety of other students;
• what supports are available for students who are victims of bullying or other harm (http://www.hdsb.ca/CommunityResources/Pages/CommunityContactforSupportServices.aspx).

•  NOTE: The principal/designate will not disclose the name or any other identifying or personal information about a pupil(s) who engaged in the activity that resulted in the harm.

• The principal/designate should contact his/her Supervisory Officer if he/she makes the decision not to contact the parent/guardian of a student who has been harmed (e.g. LGBTQ student who may be forced to leave home if he parent is not accepting of the student's sexual orientation).
• If contacting the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student who has bullied,the principal/designate will provide information about the HDSB Code of Conduct, which lists "Bullying" as an infraction for which suspension shall be considered.
• Finally, give all students involved opportunities to discuss and practice appropriate responses to bullying.  For students who have watched bullying (bystanders), the more options they have at their disposal, the more successful they will be at defusing any future bullying situations.

• Check with the students to determine the success of the agreed-upon intervention.