Bullying and Harassment Information

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More Information and resources are available below:

What is Bullying?

California Education Code 48900(r): Engaged in an act of bullying.

For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the following meanings:

“Bullying” means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or by means of an electronic act, and including one or more acts committed by a pupil or group of pupils as defined in Section 48900.2, 48900.3, or 48900.4, directed toward one or more pupils that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

(A) Placing a reasonable pupil or pupils in fear of harm to that pupil’s or those pupils’ person or property.

(B) Causing a reasonable pupil to experience a substantially detrimental effect on his or her physical or mental health.

(D) Causing a reasonable pupil to experience substantial interference with his or her ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.

(2) (A) “Electronic act” means the creation or transmission originated on or off the schoolsite, by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, wireless telephone, or other wireless communication device, computer, or pager, of a communication, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(i) A message, text, sound, video, or image.

(ii) A post on a social network Internet Web site, including, but not limited to:

(I) Posting to or creating a burn page. “Burn page” means an Internet Web site created for the purpose of having one or more of the effects listed in paragraph (1).

(II) Creating a credible impersonation of another actual pupil for the purpose of having one or more of the effects listed in paragraph (1). “Credible impersonation” means to knowingly and without consent impersonate a pupil for the purpose of bullying the pupil and such that another pupil would reasonably believe, or has reasonably believed, that the pupil was or is the pupil who was impersonated.

(III) Creating a false profile for the purpose of having one or more of the effects listed in paragraph (1). “False profile” means a profile of a fictitious pupil or a profile using the likeness or attributes of an actual pupil other than the pupil who created the false profile.

(iii)(I) An act of cyber sexual bullying.

(II) For purposes of this clause, “cyber sexual bullying” means the dissemination of, or the solicitation or incitement to disseminate, a photograph or other visual recording by a pupil to another pupil or to school personnel by means of an electronic act that has or can be reasonably predicted to have one or more of the effects described in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of paragraph (1). A photograph or other visual recording, as described above, shall include the depiction of a nude, semi-nude, or sexually explicit photograph or other visual recording of a minor where the minor is identifiable from the photograph, visual recording, or other electronic act.

(III) For purposes of this clause, “cyber sexual bullying” does not include a depiction, portrayal, or image that has any serious literary, artistic, educational, political, or scientific value or that involves athletic events or school-sanctioned activities. (B) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and subparagraph (A), an electronic act shall not constitute pervasive conduct solely on the basis that it has been transmitted on the Internet or is currently posted on the Internet. (3) “Reasonable pupil” means a pupil, including, but not limited to, an exceptional needs pupil, who exercises average care, skill, and judgment in conduct for a person of his or her age, or for a person of his or her age with his or her exceptional needs. VVUHSD Bullying policies, and California Education Code Section 48900(r) address cyberbullying and social media bullying. Forums for social media bullying include:

(A) Internet websites with free registration and ease of registration.

(B) Internet websites offering peer-to-peer instant messaging.

(D) Internet websites offering image or video posting platforms.

How To Report Bullying & Harassment

Students and parents are encouraged to report bullying/harassment to an administrator as soon as possible.
Please complete a VVUHSD Bullying and Harassment Complaint Form and turn it into your site administrator. The Bullying/Harassment complaint Form is available in English and Spanish.

The VVUHSD Bullying and Harassment Complaint Form is available at all school sites, HERE, and is also available for download at the bottom of this page. This form allows students and parents to detail what has happened so an administrator can begin an investigation.

Administrators then complete a Bullying/Harassment Investigation Form which lists information gathered from their investigation. A letter is then sent to the parent of the alleged target of the bullying/harassment with the findings of the investigation.

If a parent is not satisfied with the outcome they can file a District level Bullying/Harassment Complaint (available at the Office of Student Services- 16350 Mojave Drive, Victorville, CA 92395) at which time Student Services investigates and sends the parent a letter with the findings of the investigation.

We also have the VVUHSD Tip Line available on the Web Page, where anyone can report bullying/harassment (or anything else) anonymously.
If an allegation of bullying is reported to a teacher or other staff member, they must notify administration of the allegation.

If a staff member witnesses bullying/harassment they shall intervene immediately to stop the behavior (when safe to do so) and notify an administrator.

Bullying Prevention

Prevention is key.

We need to stop harassment and bullying. It’s the ultimate form of disrespectful behavior which is why we focus so heavily on PBIS implementation, the RESPECT expectation, and teaching students what we WANT to see.

Here is some of what VVUHSD is doing to teach respect, model and promote EMPATHY, and prevent bullying:

School-wide assemblies presented by staff, outside consultants, and SRO’s
PBIS expectation assemblies and kindness days focusing on RESPECT
Small group counseling lessons on bullying, self-esteem, mindset, and social skills
Silent Mentoring
Boys & Girls Empowerment
Parent Workshops- Defining Bullying/Harassment, How to Report, Cyberbullying, etc
Community Discussion on School Safety, Connectedness, and Bullying Prevention
Link Crew discussions/activities
Attendance at Bullying Prevention Conferences
VVUHSD Mental Health Clinicians
Inclusion Activities
Celebrating Differences

To see all the positive things VVUHSD is doing to prevent bullying and promote empathy, reach out to your site administration or follow their social media feeds.

What To Do If You Are Bullied or Harassed

Expect Respect & Stop Walk Talk

If someone bullies, harasses, or is disrespectful toward you, do the following:

STOP - Ask the person to STOP
WALK - Walk away
TALK - If the person does not stop, tell an adult

If you witness bullying or harassment, do the following:

Ask the perpetrator to STOP
Ask the person who was being bullied/harassed to go with you, and leave the area
Comfort the person by saying, "I'm sorry that happened to you."
If the perpetrator does not stop, tell an adult

If YOU are asked to stop, do the following:

STOP what you're doing, even if you don't think you're doing anything wrong
Take a deep breath and remind yourself "it's no big deal if I stop now."
Say "OK" to the person who asked you to stop and walk away