The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services defines bullying as “unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.”
Thrivepoint’s Anti-Bullying Policy
Bullying is such a difficult topic, but an important one to discuss with your children. It can be an uncomfortable subject, and often students may hesitate for fear of embarrassment.
At ThrivePoint High School, have a simple approach when it comes to bullying. Zero-tolerance. We strive to ensure that every student feels welcomed in a supportive, caring, and safe environment without the fear of being bullied. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all definition of bullying as it can take many forms. It can individualized or it can be a chain reaction that affects the entire school in one way or another. All ThrivePoint High School staff are committed to providing a safe, relaxed and calm environment that is conducive to learning and preparing for the future.
Any form or level of bullying is prohibited and every incident that takes place is taken with complete seriousness by our school administrators, staff (which includes counselors and teachers), other students, and their families.
“Bullying is a Broad Term, What Do You Mean Exactly?”
Bullying occurs when an individual or a group uses strength or power to hurt, either physically or emotionally, by intimidating or demeaning others. Bullying can be emotional, physical, racist, homophobic, biphobic, transphobic, and can be verbal or cyber as well. It is usually persistent and is a conscious attempt to hurt, threaten or frighten someone. Pupils who are being bullied, may show changes in behavior, such as becoming shy and nervous, feigning illness, taking unusual absences, or clinging to adults. There may be evidence of changes in work patterns, lacking concentration, or truanting from school.
Effects: (These issues unfortunately may persist into adulthood.)
- Depression and anxiety,
- High-level feelings of sadness and loneliness
- Multiple changes in sleep and eating patterns,
- Loss of interest in activities the victim(s) used to enjoy.
- Sharp fall in academic achievement
- Clothes/bags torn or damaged.
- Money/possessions going missing.
- Unexplained cuts and bruises
- Unexplained behavior changes
Types of bullying:
(Definitions below are not intended to be all inclusive)
- Physical bullying
- Including kicking, hitting, pushing, and taking away belongings.
- Verbal bullying
- Includes name-calling, mocking, and making offensive comments.
- Emotional bullying
- Includes isolating an individual or spreading rumors about them.
- Cyber-bullying
- Where technology is used to hurt an individual – for instance, text messaging or posting messages/images on the internet or any form of social media.
- Racist bullying
- When bullying is motivated by racial, ethnic or cultural prejudice.
- Sexual bullying
- Where someone makes unwanted physical contact or makes sexually abusive comments.
- Homophobic and biphobic bullying
- When bullying is motivated by a prejudice against lesbian, gay or bisexual people.
- Transphobic bullying
- Occurs when bullying is motivated by a prejudice against people who identify as transgender.
- Disablist bullying
- When bullying is motivated by a prejudice against people with any form of disability.
- Sexist bullying
- When bullying is motivated by a prejudice against someone because of their gender
We extend our policies to the Internet, as well.
Because of the world of increased internet use, social media presence, and various texting forms, our anti-bullying policy extends to the web as well. When you are a student at Thrivepoint High School, you are expected to uphold the same standards of conduct both on-campus and online!
Relationship between bullying and suicide.
- Although kids who are bullied are at risk of suicide, bullying alone is not the cause. Many issues contribute to suicide risk, including depression, problems at home, and trauma history. And while bullying alone is not the cause, it certainly does not help things.
Sources for HELP: Where can students turn to after experience bullying or the threat of bullying?
- Teacher
- Mentor
- Peer Support Group
- Office Staff
- School Administrator
- School Nurse
- Parents
- Anonymous Online Form (see below)
Our Staff Is Trained To:
- To follow procedures to confront bullying in any form.
- To listen to all parties involved in incidents.
- To investigate incidents promptly and as fully as possible.
- To take appropriate and immediate action or to refer to a school administrator
- To share with parents of the victim and bully, incidents of persistent bullying.
- To implement appropriate procedures for a member of staff.
- To promote the use of learning styles and strategies which challenge bullying behavior.
- To promote open management styles which facilitate communication and consultation.
- To model the values our school believes in from the mission statement
- To promote the use of interventions which are least intrusive and most effective.
Additional Bullying Resources
Arizona Department of Health Services • https://www.azdhs.gov/prevention/womens-childrens-health/bullying-prevention/bullying-resources/
Arizona Department of Education • https://www.azed.gov/wellness/other-programs-resources
Casa Center for Positive Social Change • 602-254-6400 • casacares.org
“The Power of YOU” is a school-based bullying prevention program that targets the roots of bullying, abuse and violence by boosting core emotional intelligence competencies in children, youth and the important adults in their lives. Rather than focusing on a particular problem (like “bullying” “dating violence” or “sexual abuse”) the program focuses on building positive behaviors and reducing negative behaviors.
It’s Good 2B Good • 480-621-7329 • itsgood2bgood.com
Founded by Sandra Zerner, M.Ed. in 2002, dedicated to helping kids recognize the power of doing good. Presentations, interactive tools and the book It’s Good 2B Good are designed to help kids, teachers and parents bring out inner qualities of compassion, empathy and kindness.
Karstadt Taekwon-Do (Az Kicks) ITF • 6220 N 7th St, Phoenix • 602-264-2300 • azkicks.com
Bully Buster Training covers the bullying process, identifying a bully, setting boundaries, types of bullying, simple and clear action steps to take if bullied, self-defense tips and more.
notMYkid • 602-652-0163 • notmykid.org
Information on bullying, internet safety and other youth-related issues. (At the national level, notMYkid specializes in substance abuse prevention).
Surprise Police Department • 623-222-4000 •
https://www.surpriseaz.gov/1092/Victim-Services
Teen Lifeline • 602-248-TEEN (8336) • teenlifeline.org
Peer counseling suicide hotline, bullying prevention curriculum.
The Be O.N.E. (Open to New Experiences) Project • thebeoneproject.org
Local community building and anti-bullying prevention program created by Phoenix student Matthew Kaplan. An interactive four-hour presentation designed for middle school students (grades 5-8) that harnesses the power of positive peer pressure to create an inclusive and positive school environment.
Youth Rising • 480-567-0298 • https://youthrisingaz.org/
Resiliency and leadership skills workshops for youth.