School-Based Child Protection and Anti-Bullying Policies-signed.pdf

Republic of the Philippines Region IX, Zamboanga Peninsula DIVISION OF ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE Katipunan II District

School-Based Child Protection and Anti-Bullying Policies

Submitted by: SERAPINO E. ESTEBAT, JR. Head Teacher III

Katipunan II District BASAGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION and anti-bullying policies Basagan Elementary School Mission statement underpins all our beliefs and practice with regard to bullying and the aim to ensure that our school is a safe learning environment for all of our pupils.  

As a school our mission is to be one where each individual is valued and respected. We meet the needs of all our learners by offering them every opportunity to learn and develop in order to fulfil their potential.

Statement of Intent We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our pupils so they can learn in a positive and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our school. If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. As a school we will aim to respond promptly and effectively to all issues of bullying. Objectives of this Policy 

To ensure that all teaching staff including the school head, pupils and parents have an understanding of what bullying is.

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To ensure that all teaching staff including the school head know what the school procedure is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.

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To ensure that all pupils and parents know what the school policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.

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To ensure that as a school we take bullying seriously. Pupils and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.

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To ensure that bullying is never tolerated.

Katipunan II District BASAGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

School Child Protection Committee 1. SERAPINO E. ESTEBAT, JR.

-Chairperson

School Head/HT-III

2. ESTERLITA I. LACLAC

-Vice Person

3. ERNESTO A. RUFA

-Representative of the Parents (PTA)

Guidance Counselor/T-II PTA President

4. GINA D. SAILE

-Faculty Club

5. KATHERINE A. ENDEREZ

-Pupils representative

6. GONZALO O. GALVEZ, JR.

-Barangay Official

Faculty Club President/MT-I SPG President

Barangay Captain

A. Prohibited acts 1. Being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding books, threatening gestures) 2. Pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence; 3. Racial taunts, graffiti, gestures 4. Unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments; 5. Homophobic because of, or focusing on the issue of sexuality 6. Name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumors, teasing 7. Mobile threats by text messaging & calls; misuse of associated technology , i.e. camera &video facilities B. Preventions and intervention programs Initial intervention: 1. Pupil/parent reports an incidence of bullying to any member of the school child protection committee. 2. The committee member should make it clear to the victim that revenge is not the solution. 3. The committee member will record the details of the incident and discuss it with the pupil to ensure accuracy.

Katipunan II District BASAGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

4. The bullying behaviour or threats will be investigated. 5. Witness statements may be taken from other pupils. 6. Every effort will be made to resolve the problem through counselling of both parties. 7. A restorative meeting will take place between the pupils involved so that the both pupils can understand the behaviour. The outcome will include agreed strategies for ensuring there is no further occurrence of bullying and to improve the working relationship between the individuals involved. 8. Following the restorative meeting a contract of behaviours may be put into place to support both the victim and the pupil(s) leading the bullying. 9. In all cases parents will be informed and there will be an opportunity to discuss the problem. 10. Actions will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour. 11. A review meeting with take place to assess how successful initial intervention has been and to decide whether any further action needs to be taken. Further intervention 1. If there is no significant change in behaviour of the bully a further restorative meeting will be arranged. The outcome will include a contract of behaviour. 2. Parents will be updated regarding interventions and will be informed of future actions which may need to put into place. 3. Further actions will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour. 4. If the bullying behaviour continues, and counselling has not worked, then sanctions follow. Appropriate sanctions will be applied to the bully and if necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted. 5. It is important that counselling is maintained for both parties, even when sanctions have been applied. Outcomes 1) The bully (bullies) will be asked to genuinely apologise and must engage in the restorative process with the victim(s) in order to reconcile the pupils. 2) Appropriate consequences will also be put into place to sanction the behaviour and to educate the bully regarding appropriate behaviours. In serious cases, suspension or even exclusion will be considered 3) After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.

Katipunan II District BASAGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Signs and Symptoms A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child: 1. is frightened of walking to or from school 2. is unwilling to go to school (school phobic) 3. begins to truant 4. becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence 5. starts stammering 6. cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares 7. feels ill in the morning 8. begins to do poorly in school work 9. comes home with clothes torn or books damaged 10. has possessions which are damaged or " go missing" 11. asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully) 12. has unexplained cuts or bruises 13. comes home starving (money / lunch has been stolen) 14. becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable 15. is bullying other children or siblings 16. stops eating 17. is frightened to say what's wrong 18. gives improbable excuses for any of the above 19. Developing sleep problems and having nightmares Roles and Responsibilities 1. The Role of School Child Protection Committee  supports the school head in all attempts to eliminate bullying from our School. The commitee will not condone any bullying at all in our School, and any incidents of bullying that do occur will be taken very seriously, and dealt with appropriately;  If a parent is dissatisfied with the way the School has dealt with a bullying incident, they should follow the DepEd’s Complaints Procedure. 2. The role of all staff  All forms of bullying are taken seriously, and proactive measures are taken to prevent it from taking place.  Teachers are responsible for reporting any incidents of concern.  The member of staff must report the incident to the School Child Protection Committee, this is encouraged to be done as soon as possible.

Katipunan II District BASAGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

3. The role of the Pupils What can a Pupil do if they are being bullied?      

Remember that your silence is the bully’s greatest weapon. Tell yourself that you do not deserve to be bullied and that bullying is wrong. Be proud of who you are. Try not to show that you are upset or scared. It is hard, but a bully thrives on someone’s fear. Be strong inside – say “No!” Walk confidently away. Let a teacher know as soon as possible. Fighting back will make things worse.

What do you do if you know someone is being bullied? 

Take action! Watching and doing nothing looks as if you are on the side of the bully. It makes the victim feel more unhappy and on their own.

C. Mechanism and Procedures 1. Adopt and implement this child protection/anti-bullying policy in accordance with the IRR of RA 10627 and submit the same to the Division Office. 2. Provide pupils and their parents or guardians a copy of this child protection/ anti-bullying policy 3. Educate pupils on the dynamics of bullying, the anti-bullying policies of the school as well as the mechanisms for the anonymous reporting of acts of bullying or retaliation; 4. Educate parents and guardians about the dynamics of bullying, the child protection or anti-bullying policy of the school and how parents and guardians can provide support and reinforce the said policy at home; 5. Devise prevention, intervention, protective and remedial measures to address bullying; 6. Conduct the capacity building activities for guidance counselors/teachers and the members of the Child Protection Committees; 7. Ensure effective implementation of the anti-bullying policy and monitor compliance therewith; 8. Ensure the safety of the victim of bullying, the bully, and the bystander and determine the students' needs for protection;

Katipunan II District BASAGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

9. Ensure that the rights of the victim, the bully, and the bystander are protected and upheld during the conduct of the investigation; 10. Accomplish the Intake Sheet prescribed in Annex "B", whenever there is an incident of bullying, maintain a record of all proceedings related to bullying, and submit reports prescribed in "Annex A," of DepED Order No. 40, s. 2012, to the Division Office; 11. Maintain a public record or statistics of incidents of bullying and retaliation; 12. Coordinate with appropriate offices and other agencies or instrumentalities for appropriate assistance and intervention, as required by the circumstances. Our ethos as a schools aims to create an atmosphere where pupils who are being bullied, or others who know about it, know that they will be listened to and believed, and that action taken will be swift but sensitive to their concerns. We must ensure that pupils feel safe to tell and understand that by not telling the bully or bullies are protected and gives them the message that they can continue, perhaps bullying others too. 

Information for pupils

If you are being bullied, or you know that someone else is, please tell us straight away, and it will be dealt with. Not telling means the victim will continue to suffer and the bully will carry on, probably with others too. We all have a responsibility to make sure that bullying is not allowed to continue in our school. 

Information for parents

If you think your son/daughter may be being bullied, or s/he tells you that s/he is, please let us know straight away. Please reassure him/her that we will deal with it sensitively but firmly. If your son/daughter tells us s/he is being bullied, or we discover that s/he is bullying others, we will contact you, and will discuss together how the situation can be improved.