Oakmont Regional High School is committed to providing a safe and constructive learning environment that honors the dignity and worth of every individual. It is the responsibility of everyone at Oakmont Regional High School to address bullying and harassment if they observe it. Any incident of bullying or harassment must be reported immediately to the administration.

Bullying and harassment are forms of dangerous and disrespectful behavior that will not be permitted or tolerated. Bullying and harassment may involve a range of misconduct which, based on the severity, will warrant a measured response of corrective action and/or discipline.

DEFINITIONS

Bullying -- any act or combination of acts directed against a student by another student or group of student which:

  1. is repeated over time;
  2. is intended to ridicule, humiliate, or harm the student(s);
  3. occurs on school property, school bus, a bus stop, or at a school-sponsored activity.

Harassment -- any gesture, written, verbal or physical act that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory handicap, or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that occurs during the school day on school property, on a school bus, at a bus stop, or at a school-sponsored activity that:

  1.  a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of harming a student or damaging the students property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to his person or damage to his property; or
  2. has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to cause substantial disruption to a students education, or substantial interference with the orderly operation of the school.

Bullying and Harassment can take various forms:

  1. Physical (including, but not limited to hitting, kicking, spitting, pushing, taking or damaging personal belongings);
  2. Verbal (including, but not limited to taunting, malicious teasing, name calling, making threats);
  3. Psychological (including, but not limited to spreading rumors, manipulating social relationships, engaging in social exclusion, extortion or intimidation);
  4. Internet or cyber-bullying (including, but not limited to the use of instant messaging (IM), e-mail, web-sites, chat rooms, and text messaging that is used to bully or harass another student or employee, and when such use interferes with the operation of school, or infringes upon the general health, safety and well-being of students and employees);
  5. Hazing (including, but not limited to various forms of bullying and harassment of students by other students in regard to pledging and/or a students initiation into or affiliation with a school related organization or team);
  6. Including asking anyone to verbally abuse, threaten or intimidate another student on ones behalf.

It is important to note that a single negative act as stated above may also constitute bullying (if not more serious misconduct) based upon the particular circumstances such as the seriousness of the act and/or the intent of the alleged perpetrator.

Conduct that might otherwise be considered bullying and harassment but does not occur during the school day or on school property, on a school bus, at a school bus stop, or at a school-sponsored activity event may still be subject to disciplinary action.

Individual intervention will be provided by appropriate staff members to bullies, harassers, victims, bystanders, and their parents to help ensure that the bullying or harassing stops.

REPORTING OF BULLYING AND HARASSMENT

  1. Oakmont Regional High School encourages students to speak up when possible.

    1. If possible, the bullied or harassed student should tell the bully/harasser to stop. To the extent that a person feels safe and comfortable in doing so, a student is first encouraged to confront the bully/harasser, telling him/her to stop because his/her actions are unwelcome.

    2. Bystanders are also encouraged to speak up when possible, telling the bully/harasser to stop the conduct because it is disrespectful, unwelcome, hurtful, or unfair.

  2. If the student(s) does not feel safe addressing the bully or harasser, Oakmont Regional High School encourages students to report to teachers and/or school administrators acts of bullying or harassment. Any student who knowingly makes false accusations regarding bullying or harassment may be subject to disciplinary action.

  3. Oakmont Regional High School requires teachers and other staff who witness acts of bullying or harassment or receive student reports of bullying or harassment to promptly notify the administration.

  4. Oakmont Regional High School requires the principal or designee to accept and review all reports of bullying and harassment, including anonymous reports. If after initial inquiry, an anonymous or oral report appears to warrant further investigation, Oakmont Regional High School shall promptly continue with the investigation. School administrators shall investigate any written reports.

  5. Anonymous Reporting: Please mail to: Oakmont Regional High School
                                                            11 Oakmont Drive
                                                            Ashburnham, MA 01430
                                                            Attention: Administration

  6. When bullying is found to have occurred, consequences will result according to the Disciplinary Code.

  7. Oakmont Regional High School prohibits any retaliatory behavior directed against complaints, victims, witnesses, and/or any other individuals who participate in the investigation of allegations of bullying or harassment. Follow-up inquiries and/or appropriate monitoring of the alleged bully/harasser and victim shall be made to ensure that bullying/harassing behavior has not resumed and that all those involved in the investigation of allegations of bullying/harassment have not suffered retaliation.