Bullying / Harassment

All students have the right to feel safe and learn at school. Cyprus High School is committed to preserving these rights of our students and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in any form.  

Bullying, cyberbullying, hazing, harassment, and other similar conduct are also prohibited. Generally, this type of conduct includes an intent to cause distress or harm; involves a relationship where there is an imbalance of power or strength; and includes repeated acts (or one big act) of violence, intimidation, humiliation, or social isolation. Bullying, harassment, and other similar conduct can be physical, verbal, or written. It can come in the form of social pressure, criticism, or disrespectful treatment. It can also look like intentionally excluding others from an activity. It may be used as retaliation against another person, which is also prohibited. This type of conduct may be obvious, or it may be subtle, and it can include convincing another person to commit the prohibited actions or even agree to be the victim of the treatment. Bullying and other similar types of conduct can also be considered discrimination if the conduct is based on a person’s race, gender, or some other protected classification.  

Bullying includes three prongs:

• Unwanted or aggressive behavior involving a real or perceived power imbalance.

• Intent to hurt, intimidate, humiliate, or cause harm.

• Behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated or is a single serious event

By definition, sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sexually motivated physical conduct or other verbal or physical conduct or communication of a sexual nature.  

Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to:

• Criminal Behavior such as: sexual assault, lewdness, hazing, etc.

• Offensive sexual invitations or requests for sexual activity. 

• Offensive, Unwelcomed, or inappropriate touching, including kissing, massages, etc.

• Offensive communication, stares, or gestures that are sexually suggestive, sexually degrading, or imply sexual motives. 

• Catcalls or whistles; sharing of sexual rumors, sexually graphic messages or games; etc.

• Offensive name calling, slang, or profanity of a sexual nature;

• Offensive physical contact or closeness of a sexual nature such as spanking, pinching, hugging, following, etc.;

• Offensive physical pranks such as touching or pulling the clothes of another, bra-snapping, "pantsing," etc.;

• Offensive exposure such as "mooning" or streaking;

• Offensive written or visual displays or distribution of pornographic or explicit materials such as magazines or videos.

• Any other offensive or unwelcome gender-based behavior that is degrading, intimidating, demeaning, or based on sexual stereotypes or attitudes, or any romantic contact between a staff member and a student.

Students should report incidents of bullying, harrasment, and other innapropriate behavior to school administration.  Students have the following ways to report:

• Making a referral on the Safe UT app.

• Making a formal complaint in person or email to school administration or our school resource officer.

• Contacting another trusted adult in the school to help with the reporting process.