Bullying Prevention

Estes Park School District Bullying Prevention and Response Management Plan

At Estes Park School District, our vision is to provide excellent educational experiences to every student every day. Our mission is to engage all learners in authentic learning for global application. We believe that physical, social and emotional wellness in a safe, positive environment is the foundation for learning. We support a secure and positive school climate conducive to teaching and learning that is free from threat, harassment, and any type of bullying behavior. Therefore, this plan outlines bullying prevention education and intervention practices that are consistent across the district. 

Our goals 

• Prepare and deliver a yearly plan for prevention education

• Maintain consistent response practices throughout all schools in the district

• Communicate to all members of the EPSD community our expectations and response to bullying behavior in our schools

Bullying is the use of coercion or intimidation to obtain control over another person or to cause physical, mental, or emotional harm to another person. Bullying can occur through written, verbal, or electronically transmitted expressions (i.e., cyberbullying) or by means of a physical act or gesture. Bullying is prohibited against any student for any reason, including but not limited to any such behavior that is directed toward a student on the basis of their academic performance, on the basis of their weight, height, or body size, or any basis protected by federal and state law, including disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family composition, national origin, religion, ancestry, or the need for special education services, whether such characteristic(s) is actual or perceived.

Retaliation is an act or communication intended as retribution against an individual who reports an act of bullying. Retaliation can also include knowingly making false accusations of bullying or acting to influence the investigation of, or the response to, a report of bullying.

False Accusations of bullying are those made knowingly by an individual or group of individuals with the purpose of causing harm to another individual and which are false.
(Policy JICDE*)

Prevention Plan

• By August 30 of each school year, staff at each school will provide parents and students communication about what bullying is, consequences and interventions as a result of bullying behavior, and the educational programming planned to prevent bullying behavior in schools. This communication will include:

Appropriate age level classroom instruction about bullying, retaliation, and false accusations including strategies for identifying and responding to bullying. 

Appropriate age level classroom instruction on how to use Safe-to-Tell

Appropriate age level classroom instruction about what the school’s consequences and intervention plan if bullying behavior occurs. 

Newsletter communication from the principal to parents about the District’s bullying policies. 

• By August 30 of each school year, Safe-to-Tell, ROARS expectations, and 5Rs for Restorative Practice posters will be displayed in every classroom in every school. 

• By August 30 of each school year,  every parent and student at EPSD will sign a required agreement stating that they have read, understand, and agree to follow EPSDs bullying policies. This may be through Powerschool upon registration.

• By August 30 of each school year, the Superintendent of schools will send a clear communication to students, staff, parents, and community members that bullying and retaliation against a student who reports bullying will not be tolerated at EPSD.

• By September 30 of each school year, all school staff will complete bullying prevention training (website) through the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments.

• By January 30 of each school year, the District will hold a community-wide training on bullying prevention.

• Every school will provide bullying prevention training for all students on at least a quarterly basis to be completed by the following dates: Training 1 by September 30. Training 2 by November 30. Training 3 by February 28. Training 4 by March 30. Review the curriculum scope and sequence.

• By April 15 of each school year, every school will hold a school-wide event that partners with parents and community members in order to help maintain a bullying-free environment. 

• Every school will implement peer support networks for students. Some examples include: friendship group, breakfast club, classroom morning meeting, peer ambassadors, upstanders group, CatChat, Bobcat Buddies. A report on the success of these efforts will be provided by May 30 of each school year.

• Every school will implement a positive behavior support system to support positive school climate efforts that clearly define, teach, and reinforce ROARS behavior. This includes intentional efforts to promote and recognize positive relationships between staff and students as well as students with other students. Each school's positive behavior support plan will be provided to the superintendent by August 30 of each school year. 

• A district-wide wellness team will be established by October 15 of each school year. This team will advise the school administration on the severity and frequency of bullying.

• By May 15 of each school year, every school will survey students’ impressions of the severity and frequency of bullying behaviors in their school. 

• By May 15 of each school year, every school will survey parents’ impressions of the severity and frequency of bullying behaviors in their school.

• By May 15 of each school year, every school will survey staff members’ impressions of the severity and frequency of bullying behaviors in their school.

Investigation and Intervention Process

1. Any student who believes they have been a victim of bullying or who has witnessed such bullying is strongly encouraged to immediately report it to a school administrator, counselor, or teacher. 

2. The incident is immediately investigated by the administrator assigned using Policy JICDE*-E-2 - Bullying Investigation Form. Parents and students involved are immediately contacted. Findings are reported to all parties upon completion of the investigation. Parents will be notified of the right to appeal the findings. 

3. Gather information from all involved until all witnesses are exhausted

4. Maintain detailed notes from those involved 

5. Notify parents of all students involved

6. Notify all parents and students involved of the findings and hold necessary meetings with families.

7. Provide discipline consequences for those involved in bullying behavior. If the behavior is criminal, report it to law enforcement.

8. Put safety measures in place as needed

9. Implement restorative conversations when appropriate

10. Implement re-education programming for students who are engaged in bullying behaviors and monitor until a change in behavior is evident. Re-education is dependent on what is appropriate for each situation. Examples: one-on-one education or small group education classes, or at-home coursework with a parent.

11. Implement interventions as needed until a change in behavior is evident. Examples: Behavior monitoring plan for students involved in bullying behavior. Family partnership contracts that provide support from home and school, with clear commitments and expectations. Individual or small group counseling. One-on-one student support check in systems.