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Oakwood School

Policy Against Bullying

Oakwood believes that all students should have a safe and inclusive school environment.  Bullying is inconsistent with the values and principles of Oakwood.

This policy covers conduct that occurs both on and off of the Oakwood campus, and includes the use of technology that is not owned by Oakwood.  This policy applies to all students and prohibits them, as well as any other member of the school community, including teachers, staff, parents, and volunteers from engaging in conduct towards students that is prohibited under this policy.

Prohibited Conduct

Bullying is defined by this policy as any physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically (including, but not limited to, e-mail, instant messaging, text messages, blogs, mobile phones, online games, chat rooms, and posting on a social network), directed toward one or more students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

  • Placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to that student’s person or property;
  • Causing a reasonable student to experience a substantially detrimental effect on his or her physical or mental health;
  • Causing a reasonable student to experience substantial interference with his or her academic performance; or
  • Causing a reasonable student to experience substantial interference with his or her ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by Oakwood.

While the education code defines bullying as conduct meeting the above requirements that is severe or pervasive, conduct need not be severe or pervasive in order for Oakwood to determine that there has been a violation of this policy. 

Examples of bullying may include, but are not limited to:

  • Social Exclusion;
  • Threats and intimidation;
  • Stalking;
  • Direct physical contact, such as hitting or shoving, or attempting to make physical contact or inflict physical injury;
  • Theft;
  • Public humiliation;
  • Destruction of property;
  • Verbal or written insults, teasing, or name-calling;
  • Creating a false profile on a social networking website, for the purpose of having one or more of the effects listed above.

Student Reporting

Students are encouraged to and should immediately report to the Head of School, or to any teacher or administrator, any incidents of bullying that they either observe or that are directed towards the student or others.

Investigation

After Oakwood receives an oral report or written complaint, or otherwise learns of an alleged potential violation of this Policy, and also receives any clarification requested, the Head of School or designee, will determine the appropriate course of action, which may include initiation of an investigation. If Oakwood initiates an investigation, it will conduct the investigation, as it deems appropriate, in its sole discretion. 
Oakwood will make reasonable efforts to protect students’ privacy and confidentiality.  Information reported will be shared only on a need-to-know basis with Oakwood personnel directly involved in an investigation or to the extent necessary to conduct an investigation and/or to take effective corrective action and any appropriate remedial action including any interim support or protective measures.

Interim Measures

Oakwood will provide appropriate interim support and reasonable protective measures, if and as needed based on the individual applicable circumstance during the pendency of any investigation.  Oakwood will determine the necessity and scope of any interim support or protective measures.

Remedial and Disciplinary Action

Any student determined by Oakwood, in its sole discretion, to have violated this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.  Any violation of this policy by a parent will be considered a violation of Oakwood’s parent behavior expectations and may be grounds for expulsion of the offending parent’s child(ren).