Bullying Reporting and Investigation

The staff at Deal works hard to create a school environment that is inhospitable to bullying. Still, incidents of bullying can occur. Students, families, and community members are encouraged to notify school staff when they suspect a student is being bullied by another student(s). Any member of the Deal community can report alleged bullying to any staff member who will report it to the school's Bullying Point of Contact (Assistant Principal Sandi Baer) or use this Bullying Investigation Form. 

Note: When the circumstances involve cyber-bullying, individuals with information about the activity are encouraged to save and print any electronic or digital messages sent to them that they feel constitute cyber-bullying.

There are often misconceptions regarding the definition of bullying. Some behaviors and/or actions that do not meet the definition of bullying are often referred to as bullying. Three specific characteristics that differentiate bullying from other behaviors are as follows: 

  • Persistent - Repetitive or continuous  

  • Pervasive - Spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people (especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect);  

  • Severe - Unsparing, harsh, or strict, as in treatment of others

Bullying Is: 

    • Repeated aggressive behavior 

    • Intended to cause harm (physical or emotional) 

    • An attempt by one or more individuals to gain power over another 

    • Physical: Hitting, kicking, pushing, destroying property 

    • Verbal/Written: Threatening, name-calling, teasing, taunting 

    • Social/Emotional: Terrorizing, spreading rumors, intimidating, humiliating, blackmailing, isolating 

    • Cyber-bullying: Using technology to bully others verbally, emotionally and/or socially 

Bullying Is Not: 

    • Not liking someone 

    • Accidentally bumping into someone 

    • A single act of telling a joke about someone 

    • Expression of unpleasant thoughts or feelings regarding others 

    • Arguments or disagreements 

    • Being excluded from a game or group on the playground (unless being done regularly and with intention to hurt the feelings of another) 

    • Isolated acts of harassment, aggressive behavior, intimidation or meanness