St Stephens School - Anti-Bullying Policy
Anti-Bullying and Anti-Harassment Policy:
The NYS “Jack Reid Law: Protect All Students Act” was signed into law by Governor Hochul on October 23, 2025. This bill protects all elementary, middle school, and high school students in New York from harassment and bullying by other students. Our school has the following policies in place that meet the requirements of this law.
Anti-Bullying and Harassment Statement
Our school strives to provide a safe environment for all individuals. All students and employees are to be treated with dignity and respect. Bullying or harassment of any kind will not be tolerated on school property or at school functions.
Anti-Bullying and Prevention Programming
Our school maintains an environment that reflects the values of dignity, respect, and the inherent worth of every person created in the image and likeness of God. In accordance with the Jack Reid Law: Protect All Students
Act, our school has implemented an anti-bullying and harassment policy that applies to all students. We also have an anti-bullying and prevention program designed to:
- Promote awareness among staff, students, and families.
- Provide training and resources for recognizing, reporting, and responding to bullying and harassment.
- Establish a safe and inclusive environment that supports the ongoing mission of preventing and eliminating bullying behavior.
- Offer ongoing opportunities for education and restorative practices.
Annual staff training is provided to recognize, report, and respond to student bullying and harassment.
Definition of Bullying
- Bullying is defined as repeated or systematic abuse and/or harassment of another student or group of students that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. A student is being bullied when they are exposed repeatedly and over time to negative actions by one or more students.
Definition of Harassment
- Harassment is the creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by threats, intimidation or abuse, including cyberbullying, that (a) has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well-being; (b) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for their physical safety; (c) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or emotional harm to a student; or (d) occurs off school property and creates, or would foreseeably create, a risk of substantial disruption within the school environment, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation or abuse might reach school property. For purposes of this definition, the term "threats, intimidation or abuse" shall include verbal and non-verbal actions.
Bullying and harassment include physical, emotional, social, or cyber forms of harm, such as:
- Physical: intentional harm to another student’s body or property
- Emotional: intentional harm to another student’s emotional well-being
- Social: intentional harm to another student’s group acceptance or relationships
- Cyber: bullying or harassment that occurs through any form of electronic communication
Examples of behavior that may constitute bullying or harassment when they meet the definitions (repeated, power imbalance, harmful impact; would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for their physical safety, or cause physical injury or emotional harm) may include, but are not limited to: teasing, using derogatory nicknames or slurs, spreading rumors or demeaning stories, social exclusion, intentional destruction of property, or sharing demeaning content online.
- Note: Age-appropriate conflict, isolated incidents, or mutual disagreements do not automatically constitute bullying or harassment; these will be addressed through appropriate behavioral or restorative responses.
Definition of Retaliation
- Inappropriate behavior toward any individual who in good faith reports bullying or harassment or assists in any investigation of suspected bullying or harassment.
How to Report Incidents of Suspected Bullying and/or Harassment
All reports of bullying or harassment will be taken seriously and addressed promptly.
- Any student who believes they are a target of bullying and/or harassment or has witnessed another student they believe is being bullied or harassed by another student or students should immediately tell any school employee about the incident(s) either verbally, by email, or in writing.
- Parents who have heard reports of student bullying or harassment from their child or have witnessed incidents that could be student bullying or harassment should report the incidents to any school employee verbally or in writing as soon as they are made aware of the incident.
- Any suspected incidents of student bullying and/or harassment shared with or witnessed by a school employee will be shared with the [principal, head of school, principal's/head of school's designee] by the
end of the next school day.
Investigation Process
- Upon receiving a report of suspected student bullying, harassment, or retaliation, the Principal or Assistant Principal will investigate the incident promptly by interviewing all parties separately.
- The parents of all students involved will be notified.
- If it is determined that student bullying or harassment has occurred, the child who bullied or harassed another student is subject to consequences as the school deems appropriate. The Principal or Assistant Principal will take immediate steps and appropriate follow-up action reasonably calculated to ensure that any confirmed bullying and/or harassment conduct will stop and ensure the safety of the student or students, including retaliation against any individual who in good faith reports such bullying or assists in the investigation.
- The Principal or Assistant Principal shall notify the targeted student and his/her parent/guardian of the outcome of the investigation in an age-appropriate manner.
If bullying/harassment occurred, any specific consequences given to the student(s) who bullied or harassed the targeted student will not be shared.
- Parents should be advised to contact the appropriate law enforcement agency, if warranted. If determined necessary, the principal should contact law enforcement.
- Referral to counseling should be made for all parties if deemed necessary.
- The Principal or Assistant Principal must follow up to see that the offending conduct has stopped.
- All students will be notified that retaliation against anyone who makes a report will not be tolerated and those who retaliate will be subject to disciplinary actions.
- Any proven bullying or harassment incidents will be reported to the Superintendent’s office, including any escalation to law enforcement.
Documentation of Suspected Incidents
- Any school employee who witnesses or receives a report of suspected student harassment or bullying, either verbally or in writing, will submit a written report of the incident to the Principal or Assistant Principal.
- Documentation of all reported incidents, investigations, and responses related to suspected bullying or harassment will be created by the Principal or Assistant Principal.
False Reports:
- Any student who falsely reports bullying or harassment may be subject to disciplinary action, which may include suspension or expulsion, and, if warranted, referral to local authorities.
This policy is published on our website at ststephensgi.org. We share the policy annually with employees, parents, and students before the end of September each school year.