BROOKHURST ANTI CYBER BULLYING
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AntiCyberBullying Policy
Brookhurst International School fully recognizes the contribution it can make to protect children and support students in school and beyond. We are fully committed to safeguarding our students through prevention, protection and support. We are also committed to actively promoting the Brookhurst values of integrity, dedication, excellence, discipline, resilience and innovation. These values calls every member of the Brookhurst family to show love and tolerance. Students are encouraged to develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in the modern world. It is our duty to protect children and young people against the messages of hate, extremism and intolerance Any concerns should be referred to the designated school administration in cases that HARM our students.
Postal Address
P.O BOX 7526-00300 NRB KENYA
Email Address INFO@BROOKHURSTSCHOOL.OR.KE
School Website WWW.BROOKHURSTSCHOOL.OR.KE
https://www.facebook.com/BrookhurstInternationalSchool/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brookhurstinternationalschool/
Twitter https://twitter.com/BrookhurstInte1
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@brookhurstinternationals Phone
Introduction
Brookhurst International School recognizes that technology plays an important and positive role in everyone’s lives, both educationally and socially. It is committed to helping all members of the school community to understand both the benefits and the risks, and to equip children with the knowledge and skills to be able to use technology safely and responsibly.
Policy Aims
The aims of this policy are to ensure that we:
Safeguard the students in the real and virtual world.
Students, staff and parents are educated to understand what cyber bullying is and what its consequences can be.
Knowledge, policies and procedures are in place to prevent incidents of cyber bullying in school or within the school community.
We have effective measures to deal effectively with cases of cyber bullying. We monitor the effectiveness of prevention measures.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyber bullying can be defined as the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), particularly mobile phones and the internet, deliberately to upset someone. Cyber bullying can include a wide range of unacceptable behaviors', including harassment, threats and insults and, like face-to-face bullying, cyber bullying is designed to cause distress and harm. Cyber bullying can be an extension of face-to-face bullying, with technology providing the bully with another route to harass his/her target.
These elements must be clear in order to define actions are cyber bullying:
Willful: The behaviors' has to be deliberate, not accidental.
Repeated: Bullying reflects a pattern of behaviors', not just one isolated incident. Harm: The target must perceive that harm was inflicted.
Computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices: This, of course, is what differentiates cyberbullying from traditional bullying.
In addition:
It can be used to carry out all the different types of bullying; an extension of face-to face bullying.
It can also go further in that it can invade home/personal space and can involve a greater number of people.
It can take place across age groups and school staff and other adults can be targeted · It can draw bystanders into being accessories.
It includes: threats and intimidation; harassment or ‘cyberstalking’; vilification/defamation; exclusion or peer rejection; · Impersonation; unauthorized publication of private information or images and manipulation.
It might be an illegal act.
PreventingCyberBullying
Staff should complete training in identifying cyberbullying and understanding their responsibilities in developing e-safety. https://www.brookhurstschool.or.ke/training-catalogue
The delivery of personal, social, health and computing lessons are an important part of preventative strategy and will discuss keeping personal information safe and appropriate use of the internet.
It is desirable that the students will be involved in a response to cyberbullying. They will have a voice through the Student Council.
Pupils will be educated about cyberbullying through a variety of means: assemblies, conferences, anti-bullying Week, projects (Computing, Drama, English), etc.
Students will sign a Safe and Acceptable Use Policy & Anti bullying pledge before they are allowed to use school computer equipment and the internet in school and parents will be encouraged to discuss its contents with their children. Parents will be provided with information and advice on e-safety and cyberbullying via literature, talks, etc.
Pupils and staff will be involved in evaluating and improving policies and procedures through School Council, Staff Meetings.
Brookhurst International School shall ensure regular review and update of existing policies to include cyberbullying where appropriate. The school administration will keep good records of all cyberbullying incidents. School Heads will log all incidents using the Bullying Report Form. The school shall institute additional actions such as:
Publicize rules and sanctions effectively.
The IT department will use filtering, firewall, anti-spyware software, anti-virus software and secure connections to safeguard the pupils. Though electronic controls alone can never be 100% effective, and pupils should adhere to the anti bullying pledge and anti cyber bullying guidelines.
Promoting the positive use of technology
Brookhurst International School will:
Make positive use of technology across the curriculum.
Use training opportunities to help staff develop their practice creatively and support students in safe and responsible use.
Ensure all staff and students understand the importance of password security and the need to log out of accounts.
Making reporting easier. Students may contact teachers directly, through administration staff or by email when they are concerned about a bullying issue. Ensure staff can recognize non-verbal signs and indications of cyberbullying with regular safeguarding training.
Publicize and promote the message that asking for help is the right thing to do and shows strength and good judgement.
Publicize to all members of the school community the ways in which cyberbullying can be reported.
Provide information for all students including reassurances about ‘whistleblowing’ and the appropriate way of informing staff or parents about incidents they have witnessed.
Evaluating the effectiveness of prevention measures ·
Identify areas for improvement and incorporate student ideas derived from Student Council.
It is desirable to conduct an annual evaluation including a review of recorded cyberbullying incidents.
Responding to cyber bullying
Most cases of cyberbullying will be dealt with through the school’s existing Antibullying Policy and this must remain the framework within incidents of bullying are investigated However, some features of cyberbullying differ from other forms of bullying and may prompt a particular response. The key differences are:
Impact: the scale and scope of cyberbullying can be greater than other forms of bullying.
Targets and perpetrators: the people involved may have a different profile to traditional bullies and their targets.
Location: the 24/7 and anywhere nature of cyberbullying
Anonymity: the person being bullied will not always know who is bullying them. Intent: some students may not be aware that what they are doing is bullying.
Evidence: unlike other forms of bullying, the target of the bullying will have evidence of its occurrence.
The responses to bullying applies to members of staff who are victims of bullying
Support for the person being bullied
Offer emotional support by reassuring them that they have done the right thing in telling someone.
Advise the person not to retaliate or reply. Instead, keep the evidence and take it to their parent or a member of staff (in the case of staff they should take it to the administration or ICT head).
Advise the person to consider what information they have in the public domain. If hurtful or embarrassing content is being distributed, try to get it removed from the web. If the person who posted it is known, ensure they understand why it is wrong and ask them to remove it. Alternatively, contact the host provider and make a report to get the content taken down.
The safeguarding of the student is paramount and staff should investigate in accordance with the Brookhurst International School Child Safety & Protection Policy.
Members of staff should contact the appropriate Head for the purposes of investigation · All cases(with the exception of Child Protection issues) will be referred to and logged by the School Head.
Interviews will be held in accordance with the Brookhurst International School Anti Bullying Policy.
Staff and students should be advised to preserve evidence and a record of abuse; save phone messages, record or save-and-print instant messenger conversations, print or produce a screenshot of social network pages, print, save and forward to designated staff email.
If images are involved, determine whether they might be illegal or raise child protection concerns. If so, contact the school, who may involve the local police in cases of actual/suspected illegal content.
Identify the bully.
Any allegations against staff should be handled as other allegations following guidance in Keeping Child Safety Law article 53.
Confiscate device(s)if appropriate.
Working with the bully and applying sanctions
Sanctions will be applied by the Head of School or Department as appropriate. The aim of the sanctions will be:
Help the person harmed to feel safe again and be assured that the bullying will stop.
Hold the perpetrator to account, getting them to recognize the harm caused and deter them from repeating the behavior.
Demonstrate to the school community that cyberbullying is unacceptable and that the school has effective ways of dealing with it, so deterring others from behaving similarly
In applying sanctions, consideration must be given to type and impact of bullying and the possibility that it was unintentional or was in retaliation. The outcome must include helping the bully to recognize the consequence of their actions and providing support to enable the attitude and behaviors' of the bully to change.
A key part of the sanction may well involve ensuring that the student deletes files.
AdviceforParents
Don’t wait for something to happen before you act. Make sure your child understands how to use these technologies safely and knows about the risks and consequences of misusing them.
Make sure they know what to do if they or someone they know are being cyber Encourage your child to talk to you if they have any problems with cyber bullying. If they do have a problem, contact the school or the authorities in cases of threat to harm.
Make it your business to know what your child is doing online and who your child’s online friends are. It is important that parents, guardians & carers ensure that their children are engaged in safe and responsible online behavior.
Moderated screen time & Parental control software can limit who your child's access to certain platforms & forums. It can also block access to some chat rooms.
Suggestions for parents to stay involved:
Keep the computer or other electronic devices in a public place in the house.
Periodically check on what your child is doing.
Discuss the kinds of Internet activities your child enjoys.
Search for your child’s name online, look at his or her profiles and postings on teen community sites, review web pages or blogs.
Watch out for secretive behavior as you approach your child when they are online, such as rapidly switching screens, changing passwords and for attempts to hide online behavior.
AdviceforStudents
If you are being bullied, remember bullying is never your fault. It can be stopped and it can usually be traced.
Don’t ignore the bullying. Tell someone you trust, such as a teacher or parent. Report the bullying to the school, school ICT head or administration.
Try to keep calm. If you are frightened, try to show it as little as possible. Don’t get angry, it will only make the person bullying you more likely to continue.
Exercise your ability to report the content and then block it. Remember you are not to engage with the bullying content.
Never give out your name, address, phone number, school name or password online. It’s a good idea to use a nickname. Do not give out photos of yourself either.
How students can report cyber bullying:
Send the content to your preferred teacher's phone number or school email address.
Send the content to the school's official emails info@brookhurstschool.or.ke, bislavington@brookhurstschool.or.ke.
Report the information to the school administration (Principal, Deputy Principal, Head of ICT).
Anonymous reporting through the school suggestion box.
Open up to your parent on the bullying and both of you can come forward and report it.
ConsequencesToOffenders & Supporters
Brookhurst International School holds a zero tolerance stance to all forms of bullying against Brookhurst students, students of other schools, school staff and members of the general public. Cyber bullying is considered a form of bullying under our anti bullying policies and procedures. The school will follow its investigative procedures to identify offenders and their supporters. Supporters of bullying are individuals who facilitate, encourage or partial participate in the acts of bullying. Upon conclusion of investigations by the school and consultations with the offender(s), victim, parents and/or the student council the school reserves the right to institute the following measures against offenders and supporters based on the severity of the case at hand:
EXPULSION: The school reserves the right to expel students for violation of its anti cyber bullying policies. Expulsion is the act of dismissal, withdrawal or permanent exclusion of the student from our school environment, its precincts due to persistent violation of our policies or for a single offense of marked severity. A consultative forum shall be had with the parent and student whereby the parent will be issued with the following:
A letter of expulsion from the school administration
A case report detailing the reasons of expulsion (Attached bullying incident form)
All remaining personal effects belonging to the student might have left on school grounds
The student(s) final academic report (Upon request from parent or guardian)
SUSPENSION: The school reserves the right to suspend students for violation of its anti cyber bullying policies. Suspension is the act temporarily removing a student from our school environment due to violation of our policies. Suspensions for students who have been found to participated in acts of bullying or supported it carry a suspension period of no less than eight (8) days.
A consultative forum shall be held with the parent(s) and student(s) whereby they will be issued with the following:
A letter of suspension (Attached the relevant bullying incident form).
DATE OF INCIDENT:
LOCATION OF INCIDENT
Name of Victim (S)
BULLYING INCIDENT REPORT FORM
TIME OF INCIDENT: Repeat Infraction? YES NO
Name of Student (s) Bullying
Name of Witnesses/Bystanders
TYPE OF BULLYING
Verbal
Physical: Result in Injury? YES NO Reported to Nurse? YES NO Reported to Police YES NO
Cyber Bullying
BULLYING BEHAVIOUR(S) (Tick all that apply):
Shoved/Pushed Hit, Kicked, Punched Threatened Stole/Damaged Possession(s)
Staring/Leering Excluded Inappropriate Contact Taunting/Ridiculing
Writing/Grafitti Lies/Rumors Demeaning Comments Intimidation/Extortion
Cyber-bullying using: Text messages Website Email Other _____________________________
Racial, Sexual, Religious or Disability Tick one and describe:
REPORTED TO SCHOOL BY (Tick all that apply):
Teacher Student Bystander Victim/Target Parent Bus Driver Anonymous Other: ____________________
DESCRIBE THE INCIDENT(S):
Physical Evidence? Notes Email Graffiti Video/audio Website Other _________________________________________
ACTIONS TAKEN (see Protocol for Guidelines):
Consequences:
Remediation:
Referral for additional support:
Parent(s) Contact: Date Time Person Making Contact Result
Today's Date: ________________________Reported By: ________________________Signature: _____________________________
BULLYING INCIDENT FOLLOW UP
Student Name:
Signature:
Date: