Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying

Every child should feel physically and emotionally safe at school. BTMS works to prevent bullying by creating a positive school culture where students enjoy relationships with adults and with each others. At the same time, we teach students about behavioral expectations, the components of positive relationships, and how to resolve conflicts peacefully. Students hear these messages reinforced daily through our school-wide expectations of respect, responsibility and courtesy. Additionally, our students take part in day-long character building activities several times each year, during which they participate in school-wide assemblies and classroom lessons. Counselors provide individual and group counseling for students who benefit from more direct and individualized learning around friendship, conflict resolution, and social skills.

When conflict occurs, we attempt to mediate and educate students using a restorative justice model. At times, the conflict violates our school's rules, and discipline is applied according to the policies outlined in the Student & Family Handbook.

Some conflicts may also meet the standard for bullying. Bullying cases are investigated by our anti-bullying specialists, who apply the criteria for Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) outlined in New Jersey's Anti-bullying Bill of Rights. When a student's behavior violates the HIB rules, they receive discipline and counseling consistent with BTSD policy.

Parents or students concerned about a conflict or bullying can reach out to their child's grade-level principal or counselor. This link to BTSD HIB policies and reporting also provides details about the HIB law and a mechanism for reporting suspected bullying.