PDS recognizes that students should have a safe, positive learning environment and that any and all forms of bullying (including cyber bullying) will not be tolerated.

Author Barbara Coloroso defines bullying as "conscious, willful and deliberate hostile activity intended to harm, induce fear through threat of further aggression and create terror.” It can be either premeditated or spontaneous. There are four markers that accompany this activity:

• Imbalance of power – one side in conflict is more physically dominant
• Intent to harm – the bully wants to cause emotional or physical pain AND gets pleasure from witnessing it
• Threat of further aggression – not meant to be a one-time event; both the bullied and the bully know it will probably happen again
• Terror – systematic violence used to cause extreme fear and intimidation (not incident of aggression elicited by anger or impulse control problems)

Examples of bullying behavior include, but not limited to, the following:

• Written – unwelcome notes or written messages
• Cyber – bullying electronically via e-mail, text message, Facebook, blog, etc.
• Verbal – unwelcome comments, name calling, or teasing
• Visual – unwelcome bodily gestures; pictures and drawings
• Exclusion – behavior that makes students feel unwelcome
• Physical – unwelcome physical actions, which create an environment that is harmful to the health and well-being of a student.
• Disruptive – interferes, intimidates, or threatens other students.
• Retaliation – threats or actions to “get back at” another student because of a complaint or for being a participant in the complaint process.

Be an advocate against bullying

PDS is proactive in instructing boys on peer relations thru the Building Boys Making Men program, chapels, class meetings and homeroom time. PDS encourages students to model Mark 12:31, “love your neighbor as your self.” Students who are being bullied must be clear and say, “STOP!” to the boy or boys who are exhibiting unwelcome behavior.

Reporting Procedure

Reporting is not tattling if students have been warned to STOP. If the unwelcome behavior continues after the student(s) is warned to STOP, the boy being bullied should report it by telling at least two adults – a teacher and someone at home.

Students who witness bullying should exhibit respect, honesty and courage by telling those who are bullying to STOP. If the unwelcome behavior continues after the student(s) is warned to STOP, the student who witnessed the bullying should report it by telling at least two adults – a teacher and someone at home.

Teachers who witness bullying should ask students involved to STOP. Teachers with information about bullying at school will begin a mediation process and contact the parents of students involved.

Parents who have information about bullying should find out if their son asked the other student to STOP, and if he notified a teacher. After asking their son these questions, parents should contact their son’s teacher.

Depending upon age of the offender(s), The Principal of the Elementary Division or the Head of the Early Childhood Division will take the responsibility for investigating any unwelcome behavior reported by students, teachers or parents. They are responsible for contacting the parents of students who are the targets of bullying and those students being investigated.

All incidents of bullying will result in appropriate consequences at the discretion of the Principal of the Elementary Division or the Head of Early Childhood Division. He/She may also set a mandatory conference with the parents.