How PWCS Responds to Bullying
Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is committed to creating an environment in which students are free from bullying.
Bullying of students is not permitted and is a violation of the PWCS Code of Behavior. The Code of Behavior includes additional information on bullying, such as examples, refusal techniques, and reporting procedures. Students who bully another student are disciplined following the Code of Behavior.
What is Bullying
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 cyberbullying. Bullying does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.
Additional information regarding what student conduct is considered bullying can be found in Regulation 733-1 - Attachment I, “Bullying Behaviors: Physical or Emotional.”
Behavior that does not meet the definition of bullying may still warrant intervention by school administration and may violate other provisions of the Code of Behavior.
How to Report Bullying
Any student, parent, guardian, or staff member can initiate a bullying complaint by talking to a school administrator or completing a Complaint of Bullying form and returning the form to the school’s main office. Students should feel free to report bullying incidents without fear of retaliation. Paper copies of the Complaint of Bullying form can be provided by each school’s main and counseling offices.
How PWCS Responds to Bullying Complaints
If a bullying complaint is received, the principal or principal’s designee will review the complaint. If the behavior reported in the complaint constitutes bullying, an investigation will be completed following the guidelines outlined in Regulation 733-1, “Bullying of Students.” If the complaint does not constitute bullying, the school will respond accordingly.
Notification to Parents and Guardians
Schools notify parents and guardians of their student’s involvement in an alleged bullying incident within 24 hours of receiving a complaint of bullying.
Bullying Prevention in PWCS
Developmentally appropriate bullying prevention and other Code of Behavior review activities take place in all PWCS schools beginning in kindergarten.
Bullying Prevention Lessons
PWCS' school counseling program aims to help every student acquire an understanding of, and respect for, self and others, and the skills to be responsible citizens. Through school counseling lessons, students in grades K-12 learn to:
- Understand how to make and keep friends and work cooperatively with others
- Demonstrate good manners and respectful behavior toward others
- Understand decision-making and problem-solving strategies
- Use strategies for handling conflict in a peaceful way
Bullying Prevention Activities in PWCS
PWCS schools conduct bullying prevention activities each school year to promote positive peer relationships, responsible use of technology, and conflict resolution.
Examples of Bullying Prevention Activities in PWCS
- Anti-bullying assemblies and motivational speakers
- Bullying Prevention Month
- Digital Citizenship Week
- No Place for Hate
- Random Acts of Kindness Week
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is bullying?
- 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 cyberbullying. Bullying does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.
- What is cyberbullying?
-
Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that involves sending, receiving, or displaying electronic messages and/or images. Cyberbullying can include any threats by one student toward another, typically through emails, texts, or websites (e.g., blogs, social media sites). Electronic communications that support deliberate, hostile, and hurtful messages intended to harm others are also examples of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can include such things as sending mean, vulgar, or threatening messages or images; posting sensitive, private information about another person; pretending to be someone else to make that person look bad; and using defamatory online personal polling websites.
Cyberbullying using the PWCS internet, PWCS computers, or other wireless communication devices in schools, on school property, or at school-related activities will not be tolerated. Cyberbullying which occurs off school grounds and/or does not involve the use of the PWCS internet or computers may also result in disciplinary action if it causes, or is likely to cause, a material disruption to the operation of the school or the school division, threatens the safety or mental/physical well-being of students or staff, or threatens the safety of school buildings or school property.
- What behaviors are considered to be bullying behaviors?
- Some examples of bullying behaviors may include purposely excluding others, taunts, threats, gestures, insults, gossip, humiliation, teasing, cyberbullying, physical aggression, stealing or destroying property, or cursing or laughing at someone. Bullying takes many forms. For example: Sometimes, bullying is people making other people feel left out; other times, bullying may involve hitting, teasing, or threatening to hurt someone. Stealing or damaging someone's lunch or books could be bullying, too; so is laughing at people because they wear glasses or different kinds of clothes, or because they aren't good at sports. Using the internet or computers to harm people is another form of bullying.
- What if the bully is threatening and intimidating a student? What can school officials do to help keep the student safe?
- Any student who is being threatened or intimidated (or who is aware that another student is being threatened or intimidated) is strongly encouraged to report the misconduct to a school administrator, counselor, or a trusted school staff member. The allegations will be promptly investigated and reported to the school's Threat Assessment Team, which, among other things, will take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of students and the school environment.
- How can I report bullying?
- Any student can report bullying by talking to an administrator or a trusted school staff member or by completing the Complaint of Bullying Form. Any school staff member who receives a report of bullying must tell the school administration.
- What should I do if the bullying continues?
- Report this to a school administrator or a trusted school staff member immediately. It is also important to tell your parent(s) that the bullying is continuing. Administrators will take disciplinary action if the student accused of bullying attempts to get back at the victim for reporting the bullying behavior.
- What steps can I take if my student experiences retaliation?
-
Students, parents, and guardians should report retaliation to a school administrator. Any attempt of retaliation will be addressed by appropriate corrective action.
- Are there immediate actions that I can take if I am bullied?
-
Yes. These actions include:
- Telling the bully very firmly to stop.
- Talking with a staff member, counselor, administrator, or parent about the incident immediately.
Bullying Prevention Resources
Resources for Students
Respond to Bullying: Stop Bullying on the Spot - StopBullying.gov
What Teens Can Do - StopBullying.gov
Resources for Families
What Parents Should Know About Bullying - PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center
Cyberbullying
Parenting, Media, and Everything in Between (Cyberbullying Information and Resources for Families) - Common Sense Media
Resources for Educators
Bullying Prevention - Virginia Department of Education
Bully Prevention Manual (Elementary Level) - Center on Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports
Bullying Prevention in PBIS: Expect Respect (Middle & High School Level) - Center on Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports
Schoolwide Bullying Prevention and School Counselors
Student Activities
Featured Videos for Kids - What Can They Do - StopBullying.gov
Student Activity Kit (PDF) - PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center
Student Activity Book (PDF) - PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center
Bullying Statistics
National Statistics | Virginia Statistics
National Bullying Statistics
Bullying is widespread in the United States. Bullying negatively impacts all youth involved including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who witness bullying, known as bystanders.
- Bullying is common. About 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied on school property. More than 1 in 6 high school students reported being bullied electronically in the last year.
- Some youth experience bullying more than others. Nearly 40% of high school students who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual and about 33% of those who were not sure of their sexual identity experienced bullying at school or electronically in the last year, compared to 22% of heterosexual high school students. About 30% of female high school students experienced bullying at school or electronically in the last year, compared to about 19% of males. Nearly 29% of white high school students experienced bullying at school or electronically in the last year compared to about 19% of Hispanic and 18% of Black high school students.
- Bullying is a frequent discipline problem. Nearly 14% of public schools report that bullying is a discipline problem occurring daily or at least once a week.
- Reports of bullying are highest in middle schools (28%) followed by high schools (16%), combined schools (12%), and primary schools (9%).
- Reports of cyberbullying are highest in middle schools (33%) followed by high schools (30%), combined schools (20%), and primary schools (5%).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Virginia Bullying Statistics
- 32% of students surveyed reported that bullying is a problem at their school, and 4% reported being bullied once or more per week at school this year.
- 35% of students surveyed reported that another student stole something from them.
- 22% of students surveyed reported being physically attacked, pushed, or hit by another student.
- 26% of students surveyed reported being threatened by another student.
- 29% of students told a teacher or another adult at school when they were bullied or harmed at school this year.
Another set of questions asked students about the prevalence of teasing and bullying in their school. Students reported observing that their peers get teased or put down about:
- "Their sexual orientation" (40%)
- "Their race or ethnicity" (32%)
- "Their clothing or physical appearance" (61%)
- "Sexual topics" (51%)
Source: Technical Report of the Virginia Secondary School Climate Survey, 2020 (PDF)
The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
The Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741