SCHOOL  DISTRICT  NO.  78  (FRASER-CASCADE)

POLICY                                                                                                            NO:             7420                        DATE:                                                                         98-05-26                                 REVISED:            99-01-26

                                                                                                                REVISED:  2010-01-12

SUBJECT:          WEAPONS, VIOLENCE, BULLYING AND INTIMIDATION

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The Board shall consider any act of violence, intimidation, bullying or any other instance that affects the operation of the school, whether on school premises, school organized or sanctioned activities, or in the vicinity of the school, to be a serious threat to the school environment and to the safety of both students and staff.

The Board shall consider the possession or use of any weapon by anyone on or near school premises to be a serious threat to the school environment and to the safety of both students and staff.

The Board supports all reasonable and fair measures taken by staff to prevent and respond to acts of bullying. All schools will offer proactive programs to inform and educate students and parents about bullying.

SCHOOL  DISTRICT  NO.  78  (FRASER-CASCADE)

REGULATIONS                                                                                              NO:         7420 R                        DATE:                                                                         98-05-26                                 REVISED:            99-01-26

REVISED:  2010-01-12

SUBJECT:          WEAPONS, VIOLENCE, BULLYING  AND INTIMIDATION

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Definitions

Violence means the attempted or actual exercise by a person of any physical force so as to cause injury, and includes any threatening statement or behaviour which gives reasonable cause to believe there is a risk of injury.

Intimidation is a form of aggression which takes place over a period of time, where one or more individuals subject a victim to fear, bullying, or harassment of a physical or psychological nature.

Bullying  is a pattern of repeated aggressive behavior, with negative intent, directed from one child to another where there is a power imbalance.

A weapon is:

            i)          anything that is used, or can be used, or is designed to put someone in fear; or

            ii)         anything used or intended for use in causing injury and/or death to persons whether designed for that purpose or not; or

            iii)         anything used, or intended for use, to threaten or intimidate any person and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, includes any replica weapon or firearm as defined in section 84 of the Criminal Code.

1.         Statements concerning Board policy on weapons, violence, bullying and intimidation shall be included in the Codes of Conduct published by each school.

2.         Administrators who reasonably believe that an act by a student is violent or intimidating shall:

            i)          make all reasonable attempts to minimize the risk of injury and/or death to any member of the school community;

            ii)         take appropriate disciplinary and/or remedial action in accordance with the circumstances and seriousness of the offense.

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3.         Where there is a reasonable belief that a person on or near school premises is in possession of a weapon on his or her person, or in any other place, that administrator shall, as expeditiously as possible:

            i)          make reasonable attempts to minimize the risk of injury and/or death to any person;

            ii)         arrange for the removal of weapons from the school premises;

            iii)         notify the RCMP immediately, if that action is deemed appropriate;

            iv)        ensure that appropriate disciplinary and remedial action is taken;

            v)         notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) of any student(s) involved;

            vi)        notify the Superintendent of Schools/designate.

4.         Intimidation

The Board of Education will not tolerate any form of intimidation including intimidation caused by the selection/formation of school teams.  The Board expects that:

i)          Principals and teachers will attempt to ensure that practices involving the formation of school teams, both in-class and out-of-class will be inclusive of all students.

ii)         A fair and equitable selection of school teams will be implemented whether it be by teacher selection or random selection.

5.         Enforcement

            Administrators, teachers and support staff are responsible for the enforcement of this policy as is appropriate for their roles.