To view the FRSD Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Policy in its entirety, please click here: Policy 5512
 

Under New Jersey law, “harassment, intimidation, or bullying” means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act or any electronic communication, whether it is a single incident or a series of incidents, that:

1. Is reasonably perceived as being motivated by either any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic;
2. Takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds, as provided for in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-15.3;
3. Substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students;and that
4. A reasonable person should know under the circumstances will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property;or
5. Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students;or
6. Creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student.

Procedures for reporting an act of Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying (HIB):

The Flemington-Raritan Regional School District prides itself on being a safe and caring environment for all learners.  If you witness or learn of an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying, please follow the procedures below.

1. In a situation where a staff member or parent witnesses an act of HIB, they should take the appropriate actions to stop the behavior.
2. The person who witnessed or learned of the act of HIB will make a verbal report to the building principal immediately after they learned of the act of HIB (no later than the end of the day).
3. The person who witnessed or learned of the act of HIB will complete the 

   HIB 338 Form: Families/Caregivers

   HIB 338 Form: Local Educational Agency (LEA) Personnel (or Contracted Service Provider)

    and return it to the principal as soon as possible, but no later than two school days after the verbal report. When completing a referral form, simply report the facts and give an accurate description of the events.

Characteristics of Bullies:

Bullies come in all shapes and sizes.  They can be large or small, athletic or not, popular or not, boys or girls.  It is important to remember that you cannot tell if someone is a bully by what he or she looks like.  The only way to identify a bully is by how they act.  A bully can be anyone. There is no one profile, but here are some typical behaviors.

Typically, bullies:

• Create or manipulate a situation where there is an imbalance of power
• Have a need to control and dominate others
• Are quick tempered and impulsive
• Take pleasure in seeing someone or an animal in distress
• Find it difficult to see a situation from another person’s point of view
• Refuse to take responsibility or deny wrong doing
• Blame the target or say they deserved what they got
• Are good at talking their way out of situations
• Are intolerant of differences
• Feel superior
• Are insensitive to the feelings or needs of others (lack of empathy)

What Bullying is Not:

The following behaviors (some of which can be inappropriate and should be addressed) in and of themselves are not considered bullying:

• Arguments/conflict
• Not liking someone
• Refusing to be friends with someone
• Teasing
• Making others play things a certain way (being bossy)
• Expressing unpleasant thoughts or feelings regarding others
• Rivalry 

*Some information on this website was adapted from Strauss Esmay Associates, LLP