October is National Bullying Prevention Month. It's a time to raise awareness, share resources, and take action to help create safe, welcoming schools for every student.
At RPS 205, we believe every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued at school. Preventing bullying is a shared responsibility. Students, families, staff, and community members all play a role in recognizing concerns, reporting them, and supporting students.
RPS 205 works throughout the year to educate students and staff, provide information to families, and help students understand where to turn when they need support.
Educating Students and Staff
During the first 10 days of each school year, students receive Student Code of Conduct training led by their building administration. This annual training includes scenarios to help students recognize bullying, information about how and where to report concerns, and an explanation of what to expect after a report is made.
Staff members also receive information at the beginning of each school year about how to recognize bullying, respond to concerns, document and report incidents, and notify the appropriate people.
Student Services and School Improvement work collaboratively each year to develop and deliver this information to students, staff, and families.
Student Services also shares information with families through the Student Code of Conduct Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee and the RPS 205 website. Individual schools provide additional information to families through their back-to-school communications.
What Is Bullying?
Bullying, including cyberbullying, is severe or pervasive physical or verbal behavior that has an effect on one or more of the following:
Creates fear of harm to a person or their property
Has a detrimental effect on physical or mental health
Interferes with academic performance
Interferes with a student's ability to participate in the school environment
Not every conflict or disagreement meets the district's definition of bullying. However, a concern can still be addressed even if it is not determined to be bullying. Building administration can consider appropriate interventions, corrective actions, and school or community resources based on students' individual needs.
Learn more about bullying and harassment.
What Parents and Caregivers Can Do
Families play an important role in preventing bullying and supporting students. Parents and caregivers can:
Keep the lines of communication open and ask children about their experiences at school.
Listen to concerns and take them seriously.
Encourage children to participate in activities they enjoy.
Model kindness, respect, and appropriate ways to handle conflict.
Work with school staff when concerns arise and follow up if problems continue.
What Students Can Do
Students can help create a positive school environment by:
Talking to a trusted adult if they experience or witness bullying.
Reporting bullying or other concerning behavior.
Treating others with kindness and respect.
Learning safe and appropriate ways to stand up for themselves and others.
Supporting classmates and telling an adult when someone may need help.
Students do not have to handle bullying on their own. Speaking up is an important first step toward getting support.
How to Report Bullying
RPS 205 has a process for students and families to report bullying, school violence, and peer relationship conflict or violence.
Concerns can be reported verbally, anonymously, by email, or through the district's reporting form. Regardless of how a report is received, building administration is required to investigate all reports of bullying.
If a student is in immediate danger, do not rely on the regular reporting form. Contact a school administrator. If an emergency occurs in the community, contact local law enforcement.
What Happens After a Report Is Made?
RPS 205 takes reports seriously and follows a process to understand what happened and determine the appropriate response.
1. Building administration is notified.
When a bullying concern is reported, the building administration is responsible for investigating, regardless of how the report was submitted.
2. Information is gathered.
Building administration interviews students, teachers, and other individuals who may have been involved in or witnessed the reported incident. The investigation helps administrators understand the circumstances and gather relevant facts and statements.
3. Parents and guardians are notified.
Building administration must notify the parents or guardians of all students involved in an alleged bullying incident within 24 hours after school administration becomes aware of the students' involvement.
4. The information is reviewed.
Based on the information gathered, building administration determines whether the reported incident falls within the district's jurisdiction and applies the Student Code of Conduct as appropriate.
5. Support and next steps are identified.
The district follows the Student Code of Conduct, which includes interventions and corrective strategies. Depending on the circumstances and individual needs of the students involved, building administration may provide school or community resources and determine appropriate follow-up actions.
Who Handles Bullying Concerns?
Everyone has a role in helping students feel safe and supported. Teachers, school staff, building administration, Student Services, and other district teams work together to address concerns.
Building administration leads the investigation and determines the appropriate school response. Some situations may also require involvement from law enforcement or other community agencies. More serious disciplinary matters may be brought before the Board of Education, as appropriate.
The district considers the needs of students involved and uses the Student Code of Conduct to guide interventions and corrective strategies.
What If the Problem Continues?
Families should contact building administration if bullying or other concerning behavior continues or if they have additional information to share.
Building administration may conduct a new investigation, take additional corrective action, or use restorative approaches to address the situation. Families are encouraged to stay in communication with the school so concerns can be reviewed and addressed.
Even when an incident does not meet the district's definition of bullying, school administrators may still respond to the behavior and offer resources based on students' needs.
What About Student Privacy?
RPS 205 takes student privacy seriously. Consistent with federal and state laws and rules governing student privacy rights, parents and guardians are notified of outcomes involving their own student. The district may not be able to share specific information about another student's disciplinary consequences or interventions.
Additional Resources
Families can learn more about bullying prevention and student expectations through the following resources:
It Takes All of Us
Preventing bullying is more than a once-a-year conversation. RPS 205 works throughout the year to educate students and staff, inform families, investigate concerns, and connect students with appropriate support.
By recognizing bullying, knowing how to report concerns, listening to students, and working together to address problems, we can help create school communities where every student feels safe, respected, and ready to learn and grow.