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St. Hilda's Boys' School - Ooty

St. Hilda's Boys' School - Ooty

Anti-Bullying Policy

Respect • Inclusion • Zero Tolerance for Bullying

1. Our Commitment

Our school is committed to providing a safe, caring, and protective environment where every student is respected and valued. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

2. What is Bullying?

Bullying is intentional, repeated behavior that causes physical, emotional, or psychological harm to another person. It may involve an imbalance of power.

Bullying includes:

  • Physical bullying – hitting, pushing, kicking, damaging belongings
  • Verbal bullying – calling names, teasing, insults, threats
  • Social/Relational bullying – exclusion, spreading rumors, public humiliation
  • Cyberbullying – bullying through phones, social media, messages, emails, or online platforms
  • Discriminatory bullying – targeting someone based on appearance, ability, gender, language, religion, or background

3. Where This Policy Applies

  • School campus and classrooms
  • School buses and transport
  • School events, trips, and activities
  • Online spaces when student interactions affect the school environment

4. Rights and Responsibilities

Students have the right to:

  • Feel safe at school
  • Be treated with respect
  • Report bullying without fear

Students are responsible for:

  • Treating others with kindness
  • Refusing to take part in bullying
  • Reporting incidents they witness

Teachers and staff will:

  • Act immediately on reported incidents
  • Supervise students actively
  • Provide guidance and support

Parents/Guardians are encouraged to:

  • Talk to children about respectful behavior
  • Inform the school about concerns
  • Support school actions

5. Reporting Bullying

Students can report bullying by:

  • Informing a teacher or class teacher
  • Contacting the school counselor (if available)
  • Reporting to the school office

Reports may be made by students, parents, or staff. All reports will be taken seriously and handled confidentially.

6. How the School Responds

  1. The incident will be investigated promptly
  2. Both the victim and the student involved will be heard
  3. Parents/guardians may be informed
  4. Appropriate action will be taken

7. Consequences

Consequences depend on seriousness and frequency and may include:

  • Verbal warning
  • Counseling and guidance
  • Written warning
  • Parent meeting
  • Loss of privileges
  • Disciplinary action as per school rules

8. Support for Students

  • Provide emotional support to affected students
  • Offer counseling where needed
  • Monitor the situation to prevent further incidents
  • Help students develop positive social skills

9. Prevention Strategies

  • Value education and life-skills programs
  • Awareness programs on kindness and empathy
  • Classroom discussions on respect and inclusion
  • Active teacher supervision in common areas

10. Conclusion

We believe that every child deserves to feel safe, accepted, and happy at school. Working together — students, staff, and parents — we can prevent bullying and build a respectful school community.