anti-bullying policy

Bullying, intimidating behavior, sexual and other harassment is expressly prohibited at the Hunterdon Preparatory School. Students begin their placement at the Hunterdon Preparatory School only after agreeing to abide by the school's Good Faith Agreement. The Good Faith Agreement requires students to make a personal commitment to be actively involved in helping to maintain a healthy school community. This is accomplished by showing respect and tolerance for others, and a willingness to resolve conflicts with peers and staff members.

Bullying or intimidating behavior, sexual or other harassment or offensive conduct directed toward another person or persons, whether based upon a person's gender, sexual orientation or other basis, such as race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status or age, clearly violate the Good Faith Agreement and are therefore strictly prohibited.

Sexual harassment includes any sexual advances or suggestions, requests for sexual favors, and verbal, nonverbal or physical contact of a sexual nature whenever such contact has the purpose or effect of intimidation, or tends to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment. Prohibited conduct includes, but is not limited to, sexual or rude comments or jokes, drawings or pictures, gestures or looks. Furthermore, any inappropriate behavior based upon a person's gender or sexual orientation, or involving or relating to sexual functions or conduct, is prohibited.

Any student who feels that he/she is the object of any form of harassment should report his/her concern to any member of the teaching, counseling or administrative staff, including the Principal. The Hunterdon Preparatory School’'s Anti-Bullying Specialist, Ms. Brennie Villafane (bvillafane@hunterdonprep.org), will take appropriate measures both to investigate the matter and to prevent further offensive conduct. No student complaining of harassment will be the subject of any retaliatory or reprisal conduct, whether by the Hunterdon Preparatory School, its staff or fellow students, and any such retaliatory or reprisal conduct will result in severe consequences.

Failure or refusal to comply with the Hunterdon Preparatory School Good Faith Agreement and Anti-Bullying Policy may result in proceedings that will lead to termination of placement.

Harrassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Defined

When trying to determine if an incident is HIB, compare it against the definition.

Does the incident meet all of the following?

✓ Harassment, intimidation, or bullying means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act , or any electronic communications, whether it be a single incident or series of incidents that:

✓ ... is reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or mental, physical, or sensory disability; or by any other distinguishing characteristic,

✓ ... takes place on school property, at any school sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds.

✓ ... substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students.

And, does it meet one of these?

✓ A reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, that the act(s) will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a pupil or damaging the pupil’s property, or placing a pupil in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property.

✓ Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students

✓ Creates a hostile educational environment for the pupil by interfering with a pupil’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student.

If so, continue to the HPS HIB Incident Form document.

Guidance for Parents on the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act

Contact information for the NJ Department of Education, School Climate State Coordinator: HIB@doe.nj.gov