The OCDSB is a community that values acceptance, appreciation, cooperation, empathy, fairness, integrity, optimism, perseverance, respect, and responsibility. The OCDSB is committed to building a community vested in human rights by advancing equity and eliminating all forms of discrimination so that each person feels part of the OCDSB community.
The OCDSB recognizes that the most effective and sustainable means to addressing all forms of bullying is through a comprehensive, evidence-based approach that engages all individuals. All classroom, school, and system teaching and learning environments are committed to establishing and promoting safe, welcoming, inclusive, and accepting learning spaces where all feel a positive sense of self and of belonging.
The purpose of the OCDSB’s Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan (BPIP) is to develop, in consultation with students, principals, vice-principals, educators and other staff, parents and caregivers, volunteers, school councils, and the public, a long-term approach regarding bullying prevention and intervention to be implemented by all schools of the OCDSB.
The BPIP requires all schools to use their Safe Schools Team to develop, implement and monitor at least one bullying prevention and intervention goal in their Student Mental Health and Well-Being Plan - part of the School Priority Learning Plan (SPLP).
Bullying means aggressive and typically repeated behaviour by a pupil where.
- The behaviour* is intended by the pupil to have the effect of, or the pupil ought to know that the behaviour would be likely to have the effect of,
- causing harm, fear or distress to another individual, including physical, psychological, social or academic harm, harm to the individual’s reputation or harm to the individual’s property, or
- creating a negative environment at a school for another individual, and
- The behaviour* occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance between the pupil and the individual based on factors such as size, strength, age, intelligence, peer group power, economic status, social status, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, family circumstances, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, disability or the receipt of special education; (“intimidation”).
*behaviour includes the use of any physical, verbal, electronic, written or other means
Cyberbullying includes bullying by electronic* means, including:
- creating a web page or a blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person;
- impersonating another person as the author of content or messages posted on the internet; and,
- communicating material electronically to more than one individual, or posting material on a website that may be accessed by one or more individuals.
*electronic means includes, but is not limited to social media platforms, email, text or direct messaging, digital gaming platforms and/or other electronic communication platforms.
Bullying, including cyber-bullying, may intersect with other forms of sexual exploitation including, but not limited to, sextortion and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Human sex traffickers and other sexual predators are increasingly using fake accounts to pose as acquaintances or friends of children and youth to lure, groom and recruit them into engaging in sexual acts or services. Children and youth who experience bullying are at increased risk for being sex trafficked.
The following guiding principles are key factors in the OCDSB’s BPIP:
- a safe, inclusive and accepting school environment is essential for student achievement and well-being;
- creating and sustaining a community of kindness fosters an increased sense of belonging;
- growing student’s empathy assists them in better understanding the lived experiences, perspectives and feelings of others;
- we are all collectively responsible to prevent, name, interrupt and address different types of bullying;
- schools must be places that are equitable, accepting, inclusive, positive and are founded on principles of human rights, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and anti- colonialism;
- our collective work is focused on eliminating the disproportionately negative experiences with bullying for Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, Black, Jewish, Muslim, racialized, marginalized, students with disabilities and students receiving special education support;
- we acknowledge the historic and ongoing systemic barriers that may affect the engagement of marginalized groups; as a result, we will create and maintain an inclusive environment for all students;
- outreach and interactions with Indigenous, 2SLGBTQS+, Black, Jewish, Muslim, students, students with special education needs, racialized students, and families will be conducted using an equity-centered and trauma-informed approach; and
- interactions with our students and families are guided by their lived experiences, identities, and background.
It is important to know that everyone has the right to feel safe, accepted and valued. Make our school communities a better place by being respectful of others and standing up against bullying whenever it happens!
The links given below, sourced from PREVNet, a national not-for-profit organization, provide information and support for dealing with bullying:
Bullying For Kids: Topics covered: Help! I am bullying others; Help! I see someone who is bullying; Help! I’m being bullied.
Bullying For Teens
- Canadian Centre for Child Protection
- MediaSmarts: Resources for Parents and Caregivers