Bully Prevention

The Indiana statutory definition (per IC 20-33-8-.2) of bullying is as follows: overt, unwanted repeated acts or gestures, including verbal or written communication or images transmitted in any maner (including digitally or electronically) physical acts committed; aggression; or any other behaviors committed by a student or group of students against another student with the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the targeted student, creating for the targeted student an objectively hostile school environment that places that targeted student in reasonable fear or harm to his or her personal or property; has a substantially detrimental effect on the targeted student's physical or mental health; has the effect of substantially interfering with the targeted student's academic performance; or has the effect of substantially interfering with the targeted student's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the school.

We use the following criteria to determine if a student is being bullied:

- aggressive behavior involving unwanted actions

- a pattern of behavior repeated over time

- an imbalance of power (the student cannot defend himself or herself)

Pages 26-27 of the ZWMS Handbook provides comprehensive, board approved information about bullying.