Promote Respect CCPS Parent Edition

Objectives ● Identify our school’s expectations ● Identify what a respectful school climate looks like ● Understand bullying and how to effectively respond / report ● Explore a parent’s role in a respectful school climate

Our Expectations Chesterfield County Public Schools Core Values: ● Honesty Cosby’s school expectation is that students will show respect for self, ● Accountability respect for property, and respect for ● Responsibility others – both peers and adults. ● RESPECT

Respectful School Climate Expectations: ● Respect for self ● Respect for property ● Respect for student/adult relationships ● Respect for peers

Respect for Self What does this look like? ● Self-Advocacy ● Self-Worth ● Appropriate dress How do we hold students accountable? ● Have student-led discussions ● Encourage appropriate assertiveness ● Enforce dress code/school rules/no profanity

Respect for Property What does this look like? ● Clean building ● Acknowledging ownership (ask first) ● Taking care of and returning borrowed items ● Taking pride in our school How do we hold students accountable? ● Make students responsible for cleaning up their areas ● Encourage students to ask for permission to use something ● Report misuse or vandalism

Respect for Student/Adult Relationships What does this look like? ● Mutual, respectful communication ● Following classroom rules and expectations (phones away, head up) ● Being on time ● Active listening How do we hold students accountable? ● Consistently enforce school & classroom expectations (ex:no profanity, hats off, appropriate dress etc...) ● Monitor/track tardies and issue consequences

Respect for Peers What does this look like? ● Speaking kindly/using manners ● Practicing non-judgment ● Tolerance ● Acceptance How do we hold students accountable? ● Recognize positive behaviors ● Consistently address disrespectful behaviors ● All unkind, disrespectful behaviors (whether “bullying or not) diminish the school climate and are addressed

● Report and document bullying behaviors

What is Bullying? - CCPS Definition Any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate,or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor(s) and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma.

What Bullying Is What differentiates “bullying” from unkind behaviors? ● Unwanted, aggressive behavior with intent to harm ● A real or perceived imbalance of power between the student(s) doing the bullying and the student(s) being bullied ● Behavior that is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time

What Bullying Is Not ● A conflict between peers of equal power ● Teasing or horseplay with NO intent to harm ● An isolated, individual aggressive action As a school, we strive to promote respect in many ways and will address all disrespectful behaviors - whether they are classified as “bullying” or not.

Types of Bullying ● Verbal - Saying or writing mean things ● Social - Hurting one’s reputation or relationships ● Physical - Hurting a person’s body or possessions ● Cyber - Use of email, social network, cell phones, texting, etc.

Roles ● Aggressor(s) - those who initiate or continue/encourage the bullying behavior ● Target(s)- those being bullied ● Bystander(s) - those who watch and are aware, but do not participate (positively or negatively) ● Upstander(s) - those who intervene/follow reporting procedures with the intention of stopping the behaviors

Signs That A Child May Be Bullying Others ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Gets into physical or verbal fights Associates with others who bully Is increasingly aggressive Views violence as acceptable Seems to dominate or manipulate others Has unexplained extra money or new belongings Seems particularly competitive or concerned about status/image ● Does not feel accountable for actions-blames others

Common Myths About Students who Bully ● They are loners with few social skills ● They are insecure and have low selfesteem ● They just want attention ● They are just “being children” or “just being boys or girls”

Common Signs of a Student Who is Being Bullied ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Avoidance of school or certain classes/areas Anxiety Physical complaints Feeling helpless, low self esteem Changes in eating/sleeping habits Drastic changes in academics Increased self-destructive choices Sudden loss of friends or increased isolation

Why Students Don’t Ask For Help ● ● ● ● ● ●

Try handling the situation on their own Fear of being considered weak or a tattletale Fear of backlash or retaliation Embarrassment Fear of isolation or rejection Not wanting to get involved (bystanders)

● No safe, reliable reporting system

How We Respond to Bullying Behavior

Approach Intervene

Counselor’s Office

Follow-Up

Do You Suspect Bullying? Contact a teacher, counselor or administrator if bullying behavior is suspected on school property or between students.

How to Report ● Parents may report disrespectful or bullying behavior to teachers, counselors, administrators or the school’s SRO. ● Staff/Coaches are to use the Student Report Form to record all student referrals of “bullying”. ● The Office Referral Form may also be used by staff to record inappropriate student behavior. Please clearly list student behaviors. ● The parent or staff member must make the judgement call as to whether the misbehaviors warrant intervention by the school counselor or administration.

How To Support Your Child If a target of bullying - provide reassurance, encourage appropriate self-advocacy, ensure a report is made (ignoring the situation is not always recommended) If a bystander- encourage reporting If an upstander - validate decision to stand up; verify report was made; promote discretion

What if your child is bullying others? ● Calmly intervene to stop the behavior ● Directly address the behavior and reinforce your expectations o “This behavior is unacceptable because ____.” “We expect you to ____” ● Hold your child accountable for his/her decisions and actions (Don’t debate, argue, or accept excuses) ● Increase monitoring and supervision ● Be a good role model

A Parent’s Role in a Respectful School Climate ● Model and encourage respectful behaviors for your children ● Notify a teacher, counselor or administrator of concerns about bullying ● Be involved with your child and aware of his/her hobbies, friends, electronic communications & interests ● Hold your child accountable for his/her decisions ● Acknowledge positive, respectful behaviors to nurture self-confidence

A positive, respectful school climate helps build a positive, respectful community.

Office of Civil Rights & Title IX Office of Civil Rights (OCR) • Dr. Mayo – CCPS: The principal is the building designee to monitor all settings/events/actions . . investigate any concerns brought forth. . .and take appropriate action • Dr. Mayo is the Title IX Coordinator at Cosby

Responsibility of the Principal/Admin Staff Office of Civil Rights & Title IX

• To monitor all school-based and school related activities, processes, and practices to ensure that all actions are completed in a non-discriminatory manner • To further investigate and take immediate action if any perceived discriminatory behavior has been detected or reported

Title IX also Applies to K-12 School’s legal obligation as related to student-to-student genderbased alleged discriminatory actions • Title IX focuses on discrimination based on gender to include sexual harassment and sexual violence (assault) •

Historically Title IX has looked at “equity” of opportunity (equal access, equal facilities, etc.) – many saw it related to sports.

Sexual Harassment • Applies to all educational programs & activities • “unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature” • Includes: “unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, AND other verbal, nonverbal, or physical contact of a sexual nature” (academic, athletic, extracurricular: anywhere these actions take place to include school facility, school bus (regular routes and off site events sponsored by the school) – field trips, competitions, art shows, out of state trips

How to Report ● Staff will use all standard investigative measures: Investigating classrooom issues, talking to students/parents,and referrals to the administration from staff ● Additional school consequences will be added for behavior that is determined to fall in the area of sexual assault or sexual harrassment ● Bullying behavior could advance to sexual harassment

Positive School Climate A positive, safe school climate exists when ALL students and staff feel comfortable, respected, valued, accepted, and secure in an environment where they can interact with caring people they trust.

Resources ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

http://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/ http://www.stopbullying.gov/ http://www.pbis.org/ http://www.vdh.state.va.us/ofhs/prevention/preventbullyingva/ http://www.violencepreventionworks.org/public/index.page www.bullyfreeva.org www.samhsa.gov http://stopcyberbullying.org/ http://www.pacer.org/bullying/ http://www.casel.org/ http://empowerment.unl.edu/