HIB
Harassment - Intimidation - Bullying
Westwood Regional School District
The Board of Education prohibits acts of harassment, intimidation, and bullying and abides by the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act. A safe and civil environment in school is necessary for students to learn and achieve high academic standards. Harassment, intimidation, or bullying, like other disruptive or violent behaviors, is conduct that disrupts both a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate its students in a safe environment; and since students learn by example, school administrators, faculty, and staff have all received mandated training regarding the State’s new H.I.B (Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying) law, and will continue to demonstrate appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
The district will also continue to promote character education, positive behavior, and anti-bullying through curricular, instructional, and staffing decisions. Some examples of work currently being done in the district include the following:
In the last several years, the district has created the positions of K-5 Elementary Guidance Counselor, District Behaviorist, and Elementary School Psychologist, all of which will help to drive anti-bullying initiatives at the elementary schools.
All students in grades K-8 will receive explicit instruction in anti-bullying and social skills through Responsive Classroom.
District schools will continue to work with building-based PSOs to schedule assemblies that focus on character education.
The district has improved the I&RS (Intervention & Referral Service) for students who exhibit behavioral and social challenges.
The High School will again provide students with opportunities to participate in contests that enable them to showcase their thoughts, feelings, and understanding of anti-bullying through artwork.
On this page you will notice the district’s revised Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying policy, which aligns to the State’s new regulations, as well as copies of our forms used to document allegations and/or complaints regarding bullying, as well as investigations.