c. Harassment

(Adapted from Policy 3170, available on DragonNet.)

Hong Kong International School is committed to building and sustaining a culture of respect, care and safety that is free from any form of harassment, bullying or intimidation. All members of our community – students, parents, faculty, staff and visitors – have a right to feel safe and protected and share the responsibility to build and maintain an environment in which everyone feels respected. Offensive, harassing, bullying or intimidating behaviors will not be tolerated or ignored and will be dealt with appropriately and expeditiously.

Across the school, both prevention and intervention strategies are in place for our student and adult community, and will be published and reviewed annually to encourage empathy and respect and to respond appropriately to any acts of bullying and harassment.

Any repeated behavior that offends, upsets, embarrasses, frightens, excludes or hurts another person is bullying and/or harassment. HKIS recognizes that these behaviors can take many forms including:

Verbal Bullying and/or Harassment

• Language: Name-calling, spreading rumors, and/or directing insulting, teasing, threatening comments to another person • Virtual: Harassment, or spreading rumors by email, instant messaging, blog or any other media form • Religious: Putting down or ridiculing another’s religion, stopping another from expressing their beliefs • Racial: Making hurtful comments or discriminating against someone based on their nationality, race or culture, color of their skin or language spoken • Intellectual: Making hurtful comments based on someone’s intellectual or academic ability • Sexual: Making hurtful comments or discriminating against someone based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression

Non-Verbal Bullying and/or Harassment

• Physical:

• Personal Property (real or virtual):

Hitting, kicking, pushing, spitting or any other form of physical behavior which is deemed to be aggressive in nature. Taking, damaging or trespassing on another’s property, including entering another student’s email account, personal belongings, or school locker without permission • Indirect: Intentionally excluding someone from a group, discussion or team • Graphic/Vandalism: Defacing another’s property, projects or photographs • Sexual: Making offensive gestures about another’s body, touching or maintaining unwelcome closeness to another person or discriminating against someone based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression

Dealing with Bullying/Harassment

In the Middle School we take the following steps to reduce bullying/harassment: • Counselors go into PCGs and discuss bullying/harassment behaviors and steps to take to resolve conflicts before they escalate. • PCG teachers introduce activities early in the year to create classroom environments built on respect, in which students from all cultures can thrive and feel safe. • Counselors and faculty implement a comprehensive guidance counseling program that includes preventative strategies.

We have found that these prevention strategies work very well, resulting in minimum harassment/bullying on campus and an ethos of caring and support.

What can we all do to stop bullying and discrimination at the Middle School?

If we are to maintain an ethos of care and respect for all members of our community, we must each take responsibility for maintaining an attitude of respect rather than tolerance for bullying and discrimination.

If you are guilty of bullying or discrimination

• Stop now. • Seek counseling from someone who can help you.

If you are being bullied or discriminated against

• Check the person’s intention – perhaps harm is not intended. • Don’t suffer in silence. • Tell the person to stop if the behavior offends and continues. Be clear; no mixed messages. • Seek help from someone you trust: teacher, counselor, parent. • File a harassment complaint at Student

Services.

If you witness bullying or discrimination (Bystanders)

• Don’t stand by. • Don’t be silent. • Don’t encourage by laughter or words. • Do offer support/challenge, e.g. ask, “Why are you doing this?” or suggest going to another location. • Report bullying incidents to a Counselor, at Student Services or to another adult.

Response to Bullying

A. Counselors interview each individual student and then conduct a mediation session with both parties, so both sides can be understood. • Students develop a behavior agreement stating how they will/will not treat each other. • Sometimes parents are called (depending on severity).

B. Administration • If one student does not follow their agreement, then the Principal or Associate Principal sees the students for discipline. • Parents will be immediately informed. • The incident will be recorded in the student’s discipline record. • Students may have to serve an in-or-out-of-school suspension. • Students may be removed from the school.