Harassment, Bullying, and Hazing

disciplinary policies above. If at any point a student feels as though they have been treated in a manner that makes them feel unsafe or insecure by anyone, they should seek out a teacher or administrator immediately and talk to them about the situation. There will be consequences for anyone in the community who is found to be in violation of our Harassment, Bullying, and Hazing policy.

Tower Hill strives to maintain a community free of all forms of unwanted or unacceptable behavior toward others that is intended to or has the effect of harassing, intimidating, humiliating, degrading or hazing an individual. Any such behavior is unacceptable, a violation of school policy and subject to school disciplinary procedures. The intent of this policy is not to suppress respectful thought, study or discussion concerning controversial issues, all of which are critical to a vibrant educational environment. The purpose of this policy is to prohibit harassment, bullying and hazing so that each member of the school community has an equal opportunity to work, learn and develop to his or her potential in a safe environment.

Harassment

Tower Hill School prohibits harassment by any member of the Tower Hill community. Harassment includes but is not limited to any physical, verbal, written or electronic behavior that creates a threatening, intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. This prohibition includes sexual harassment, as well as any harassment or discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or other distinguishing characteristics. Harassment can be made by (i) any student and directed towards any other student; (ii) any student and directed towards an employee; or (iii) any employee and directed towards a student.

Furthermore, because Tower Hill community members are expected to act appropriately and because students’ behavior, whether inside or outside of school, reflects on the school and can have a significant impact on life at school, there are times when it is appropriate and important for the school to respond to incidents that occur outside of school and beyond school hours. Therefore, Tower Hill reserves the right to discipline those in the community who engage in harassment of others at any location and at any time if such harassment causes a disruption or has a potential negative impact on the Tower Hill community. The school reserves the right to address harassment, regardless of where such harassment takes place. This includes, but is not limited to, whether the harassment takes place on school property, off school property, during school sponsored activities or activities in which the school participates, on school trips or otherwise affects the school and/or its students.

Bullying and Hazing

Hazing or bullying in any form is unacceptable within the Tower Hill community. Bullying is defined as any intentional verbal, physical, written or electronic behavior—or pattern of behavior—that: ● Physically harms or damages a person or person’s property; ● Has the effect of substantially interfering with someone’s education; ● Creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment; or

● Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.

Bullying may be physical or emotional. Physical bullying includes hitting, punching, poking, shoving, tripping, vandalizing or stealing. Emotional bullying includes name-calling, threatening, taunting, malicious and incessant teasing, spreading rumors or persistently excluding others from a group or activity. Bullying includes cyber bullying.

Bullying also includes coercing or encouraging others to engage in such behavior. Bullying includes but is not limited to behavior shown to be motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability or other distinguishing characteristics.

Hazing is defined as any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally humiliates, intimidates, or endangers the health or safety of a student, or which willfully destroys or removes the property of another, for the purpose of initiation or admission into, or affiliation or continued involvement with, any organization or group.

The school reserves the right to address bullying or hazing, regardless of where such bullying or hazing takes place. The school reserves the right to discipline those in the community who engage in bullying or hazing of others at any location and at any time if such bullying causes a disruption or has a potential negative impact on an individual in the Tower Hill community.

Investigation and Complaints

If a student believes that they—or someone they knows—has been a victim of any occurrence or potential occurrence of harassment, bullying or hazing, that student should immediately report that incident to the their teacher and the Head of Lower School, or any other teacher or administrator with whom the student feels comfortable.

All complaints will be investigated. The investigation may be conducted by Tower Hill or by a third party designated by Tower Hill. The steps to be taken during the investigation will vary depending upon the nature of the allegations. Generally, the investigation may consist of personal interviews with the complainant, the individual against whom the complaint is made and others who have knowledge of the alleged incident or circumstances giving rise to the complaint. The investigation may also consist of the evaluation of any other information or documents which may be relevant to the particular allegations.

Due to their sensitive nature, allegations of sexual harassment, stalking and sexual assault will be handled directly by a member of the Tower Hill staff trained and certified in handling such matters. Complainants will be given the option of anonymity and will under no circumstances be compelled to meet with the individual against whom the complaint is made.

Reports of harassment, bullying or hazing, and information gathered in investigating and responding to such reports, will be treated as confidential subject to the school’s need to disclose such information in order to conduct its investigation and to take appropriate, responsive action.

In the event the investigation concludes that a violation of this policy has occurred, Tower Hill will take prompt, appropriate action to address and, where appropriate, remediate the violation. Appropriate remedial action may include but is not limited to counseling, awareness training, parentteacher conferences, warning, suspension, exclusion, expulsion, transfer, remediation, termination or discharge. In the event that the investigation suggests that the harassment or bullying at issue may also violate Delaware criminal statutes, Tower Hill may also report the results of the investigation to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Prohibition on Retaliation

Submission of a good faith complaint of harassment or bullying will not affect a student’s future grades, assignments, learning environment or opportunities.

Retaliation is a serious violation of this policy and should be reported immediately. Tower Hill will discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator or other school personnel who retaliates against any person who reports an incident of alleged harassment or bullying or who retaliates against any person who assists or participates in an investigation. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, reprisal or harassment.

Weapons on School Property

The school forbids the possession or use of harmful or illegal weapons, or any object that could be reasonably perceived as a weapon.

Tower Hill students and parents should be aware that the school may report certain disciplinary or honor violations, or alleged violations, to child protection agencies, law enforcement and other entities as it deems necessary or as required by state and federal law.

Confidentiality

In a school, just as in a family, children often say or do things that reflect their social or intellectual development, their state of mind at a particular moment. It is inappropriate for THS parents acting in any capacity to communicate information about any child or his/her behavior in a way that undermines the highest level of confidentiality. If parents involved with students (for example, as volunteers, chaperones, participants, hosts or audiences) observe something that gives them cause for concern, they should follow the dictates of proper school protocol and address those concerns with the teacher first, then with an administrator, as the situation warrants.