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APS is committed to ensuring all students learn and thrive in safe, healthy, and supportive environments. All students participate in lessons to strengthen their understanding and awareness of recognizing, refusing, and reporting bullying behavior; the role of bystanders in bullying prevention; and strategies for building positive, respectful relationships. APS also regularly reviews student behavioral expectations that address bullying/harassment with students and staff; provides ongoing staff and student training on procedures for reporting and responding to bullying/harassment; and provides consistent consequences when incidents of bullying occur.
Bullying Prevention
APS held a Community Information Night on Safe, Inclusive Learning Environments on January 22, 2024.
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Anyone may initiate a complaint for themselves or another party by completing the Bully Harassment Incident Form.
What is Bullying?
According to Virginia Law, bullying is any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. “Bullying” includes cyber bullying. “Bullying” does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.
How can parents help?
- Teach your student to speak out against bullying. If they observe an incident of bullying, they should inform an adult. Acting as an observer and reporting the facts of the situation is not “tattling” and it takes courage to do the right thing.
- Encourage your student to reach out to a student being bullied with kindness and help them talk to an adult.
- If you are concerned that your student is being bullied, share your concerns with your student’s counselor or administrator (see below) to develop a plan to help your child feel safe at school.
- More Information
For questions about submitting a report, please contact your building principal.
Bully Prevention
| To learn more about Bully Prevention programming in your school, contact your student’s school counselor or Director of Counseling. |
RESOURCES
- A Coordinated Response to Bullying: The APS Approach and Tips for Parents
- www.StopBullying.gov
- www.StompOutBullying.org
- www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/cyberbullying
- www.StopBullying.gov/bullying/lgbtq
- www.WelcomingSchools.org/resources/bullying
- APS PIP J-6.8.1- Student Safety- Bullying/Harassment Prevention
- APS PIP J-2- Student Equal Educational Opportunities/Nondiscrimination
- VDOE Bullying Prevention
- APS Handbook & Student Code of Conduct 2024-2025
- APS Bullying Prevention: The APS Approach and Tips for Parents
- American Psychological Association- Bullying
- American School Counselor Association- Bullying
- Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center
- Welcoming Schools
- No Place for Hate
- Upstanders
Contact
Dr. Kristin Devaney, Supervisor of Student Services
[email protected]
703-228-6062