Bullying Policy

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>> MAKE AN ANONYMOUS REPORT HERE <<

Cobalt Institute of Math And Science (CIMS) believes that all students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment free from bullying and harassment, and is committed to promoting mutual respect, tolerance and acceptance among all members including parents, community members, staff and students.

Cobalt Institute of Math And Science will not tolerate behavior that infringes on the safety of any student or staff member.

Students, staff and parents shall not intimidate or harass another person through words or actions while on school grounds, in school vehicles, at designated bus stops, or at school activities or sanctioned events.

Cobalt Institute of Math And Science recognizes the need to build a school culture of care, community, and mutual respect.

Cobalt Institute of Math And Science upholds that bullying is not a rite of passage to be endured by young people. It is a behavior that must be addressed due to the harmful impact that it has on all members of our school community.

Bullying can lead to depression, low self-esteem, anxiety and feelings of isolation, as well as school absenteeism and low academic achievement.

DEFINITION
Bullying is aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing, carried out repeatedly over time and occurring within a relationship characterized by a created imbalance of power. Bullying takes many forms including the following:

  • Physical bullying – physical acts of aggression such as hitting, kicking, tripping or pushing perpetrated by individuals or groups against other individuals or groups
  • Verbal bullying – making threats of physical insult, name-calling or other insults, making faces or obscene gestures, graffiti on lockers, bathroom walls or any other school property
  • Relational bullying – spreading rumors, intentional exclusion of others, passing harmful notes about another person
  • Cyber bullying – the spreading of harmful information or lies (rumors) about others through e-mail, online chats or blogs, text messages, cell phones or photos
  • Sexual bullying – unwanted touching, obscene gestures or comments made about a person’s body, body type or physical features, spreading rumors (harmful lies) about another person’s sexual conduct.


PROHIBITION AGAINST BULLYING AND HARASSMENT
Bullying behavior, as defined by the above-mentioned behaviors, is strictly prohibited by Cobalt Institute of Math And Science, and such conduct will result in disciplinary action. This prohibition includes anyone associated with Cobalt Institute of Math And Science including students, school staff and administrators, parents and community members.

REPORTING PROCEDURES
All school employees are required to report alleged violations of this policy to the Assistant Principal’s office. Reports can be written, verbal or anonymous.

>> FILE AN ANONYMOUS REPORT HERE <<

Staff members are expected to intervene immediately when they see any bullying incident occur. All other members of the school community, including students, parents, and community members are encouraged to report any act that may be a violation of this policy. Reports can be made anonymously, although formal disciplinary action may not be based solely on the basis of an anonymous report.

All such reports will be taken seriously. The Assistant Principal will conduct a prompt, thorough and complete investigation of each alleged incident in order to verify the validity and seriousness of the report.

Retaliation against any person who reports a bullying incident is prohibited. Filing a report in good faith will not reflect upon the individual’s status, nor will it affect grades or employment status.

CONSEQUENCES FOR BULLYING
Cobalt Institute of Math And Science staff and administration have developed and will implement a matrix of consequences that match specific bullying behaviors to disciplinary and/or remedial action.

The following factors will be taken into consideration when determining appropriate consequences: 

  • perpetrator/victim maturation/development, degree of harm, surrounding circumstances, nature and severity of the behavior, past or continuing patterns of behavior, relationship between involved parties, and the context in which the alleged incident occurred.
  • Consequences and appropriate remedial actions for a student who commits one or more acts of bullying may involve positive behavioral interventions up to and including suspension or expulsion. The matrix of consequences will be used as a basis for determining what disciplinary action will be implemented in effort to redress the wrong doing.
  • Remedial action and consequences for school employees will be determined on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with District regulations. Parents, volunteers and community members are expected to maintain the same high standards of behavior that are expected of students and staff.
  • Since bystander support of harassment or bullying can support negative bullying behaviors, Cobalt Institute of Math And Science prohibits both active and passive support for acts of harassment or bullying. The staff will provide encouragement and support for students to walk away from acts of bullying, constructively attempt to stop them and/or report them to the designated authority. Students will be given the skills to know how to intervene when they witness a bullying incident.


Report all incidents of bullying to the Assistant Principal's office at (760) 955-2530, ext. 45104.

** Read "Cyberbullying: The Definitive Guide"