BCD Bullying Policy

We believe in integrating meaningful and appropriate opportunities that foster the development of integrity and empathy, qualities that support students as they learn to problem solve, communicate, and navigate in an increasingly complex world. We teach our students be kind, generous, and inclusive, and our Responsive Classroom, Kid Power, and advisory curricula help reinforce those principles. When we make mistakes in our relations with others, our motto requires us to repair any wounds we might have caused. We acknowledge this as a normal part of growing up, and, most often, such situations can be repaired quickly and effectively. When student relationships reach the point where they require extensive intervention, our school counselor along with the appropriate division head communicate with parents and work with the students to resolve their differences. While not as common as the previous scenario, our approach to intervention centers on supporting, educating, and teaching our students how to resolve social problems, and helping them develop this important life skill.

 

In all cases, Boulder Country Day recognizes that our students have the right to a safe, positive learning environment free from social aggression. Bullying and other types of dangerous and disrespectful behavior are strictly prohibited. We define bullying as the repeated use by one or more students of a written, oral, physical or electronic communication directed at another student that: is repeated over time, is intended to ridicule, humiliate, or intimidate, and occurs either at school or outside of school where the student’s educational experience is negatively impacted. We investigate all allegations of bullying, and students whom we determine participate in bullying behavior face consequences up to and including expulsion.

 

We are careful to distinguish the difference between “bullying” and unkind behavior. It is important that students, especially younger students, learn and are taught the complexities of their emotions and how to get along with others. They need parents, teachers and other adults to teach them how to be compassionate, how to resolve conflicts, how to be inclusive, and how to grow into responsible adults. Immediate labeling of a child as a bully prevents that child from being able to learn and grow from his or her experiences and mistakes. There will be times when kids will do or say something that is hurtful. Although being unkind should never be ignored, and will not be ignored at BCD, we are careful not to deem all inappropriate behavior bullying. Instead, we try to distinguish between hurtful or unkind behavior and bullying behavior, and follow up with the appropriate support and intervention for maximum learning and safety of all our students.