Bullying Prevention
Harassment, Bullying, & Cyber-bullying Policy
OLCHS Bullying Report Form -Anonymous reports are also accepted.
The following information is listed in the Student-Parent Handbook:
Harassment - To threaten or imply a threat to a person or property, extort, intimidate, harass, haze or bully, or via electronic methods harass another student, employee or any other individual(s) is prohibited. Violations of this policy will be reviewed by a dean and the principal for appropriate disciplinary action that can result in internal or external suspension for up to ten days and/or referral to the Board of Education for possible expulsion from school or other appropriate action.
Definition of Bullying. "Bullying", including "cyber-bullying", is defined as any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following: 1) placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student's or students' person or property; 2) causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student's or students' physical or mental health; 3) substantially interfering with the student's or students' academic performance; or 4) substantially interfering with the student's or students' ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
Exa mples of prohibited conduct include, but are not limited to, harassment, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying, name-calling, cyber-bullying, using derogatory slurs, or wearing or possessing items depicting or implying a hatred or prejudice based upon sex, color, race, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or other protected group status. Bullying is contrary to State law and the policy of the school district.
Definition of Cyber-Bullying. Cyber-bullying is defined as bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photoelectronic system, or photooptical system, including without limitation electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. "Cyber-bullying" includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this Section. "Cyber-bullying" also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying.
Prohibition on Cyber-Bullying. Bullying is prohibited through the transmission of information from acomputer that is accessed at a nonschool-related location, activity, function, or program or from the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by a school district or school if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process ororderly operation of a school. This item applies only in cases in which a school administrator or teacher receives a report that bullying through this means has occurred and does not require a district or school to staff or monitor any nonschool-related activity, function, or program.
Students are encouraged to immediately report acts of harassment, bullying, and cyber-bullying to a staff member. A report may be made in person, submitted in writing, submitted using the online form, or submitted electronically by using the [email protected] email address to the District Complaint Manager or any staff member with whom the student is comfortable speaking. Anyone, including staff members and parents/guardians, who has information about actual or threatened bullying is encouraged to report it to the District Complaint Manager or any staff member. The Deans and School Resource Officer play a vital role in reviewing and determining incidents of harassment.
Dean Hamed Askar (A-Gar)
Dean Jamie Hernandez (Gas-Nov)
Dean Angela Verde (Now-Z)
School Resource Officer Pete Hennessy
OLCHS Bullying Report Form -Anonymous reports are also accepted.
The District Complaint Manager is Principal Dr. Jeana Lietz, 9400 Southwest Highway, Oak Lawn, Illinois 60453, [email protected], 708-741-5616, Fax: 708/424-5263. Information can also be submitted to [email protected].
If the reported incident of bullying is not within the permissible scope of the school jurisdiction, the administrator will provide the victim with information regarding services that are available with the district and community, such as counseling, support services, and other programs.
Reported acts of bullying will be investigated by the administration and with all reasonable effort completed within 10 school days taking into consideration additional relevant information received during the course of the investigation.
Students having a complaint alleging a violation of the harassment policy are urged to act according to the following grievance procedures: Report the incident immediately to an adult staff member as soon as possible. The victim can report the incident to a teacher, counselor, social worker, staff member, or school administrator.
Mediation may often be a first chance to solve the problem if this seems appropriate. Such mediation can include conversations with adult staff or peer mediators.
School officials will notify the parents of the student who violates policies on bullying. Parents will be given the details of the incident and asked to help stop the bullying behavior.
Depending on the severity of the incident, a student who bullies another may be directed to undergo peer mediation, school social work services, restorative measures, social-emotional skill building, counseling, school psychological services, community-based services, and/or school discipline as appropriate.
Students who report false claims of harassment or impede the school's ability to investigate a reported violation are subject to consequences. Consequences my include Saturday Detentions, Internal Suspension, or External Suspension.
Additional Links:
Board of Education Policy 7:180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment
Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center
School Violence Tipline, 1-800/477-0024
Stop Bullying.gov Website