Winona Middle School Counselors

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY for Winona Area Public Schools

A. An act of bullying, by either an individual student or a group of students, is expressly prohibited on school premises, on school district property, at school functions or activities, or on school transportation. This policy applies not only to students who directly engage in an act of bullying but also to students who, by their indirect behavior, condone or support another student’s act of bullying. This policy also applies to any student whose conduct at any time or in any place constitutes bullying or other prohibited conduct that interferes with or obstructs the mission or operations of the school district or the safety or welfare of the student or other students, or materially and substantially interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or performance or ability to participate in school functions or activities or receive school benefits, services, or privileges. This policy also applies to an act of cyberbullying regardless of whether such act is committed on or off school district property and/or with or without the use of school district resources.

For purposes of this policy, the definitions included in this section apply.

A. “Bullying” means intimidating, threatening, abusive, or harming conduct that is objectively offensive and:

1. an actual or perceived imbalance of power exists between the student engaging in the prohibited conduct and the target of the prohibited conduct, and the conduct is repeated or forms a pattern; or

2. materially and substantially interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or performance or ability to participate in school functions or activities or receive school benefits, services, or privileges.

The term, “bullying,” specifically includes cyberbullying as defined in this policy.

B. “Cyberbullying” means bullying using technology or other electronic communication, including, but not limited to, a transfer of a sign, signal, writing, image, sound, or data, including a post on a social network Internet website or forum, transmitted through a computer, cell phone, or other electronic device. The term applies to prohibited conduct which occurs on school premises, on school district property, at school functions or activities, on school transportation, or on school computers, networks, forums, and mailing lists, or off school premises to the extent that it substantially and materially disrupts student learning or the school environment.

Counselors believe that the primary purpose of the school is to help you acquire skills, knowledge and values which will help you succeed in today’s world and to reach your full potential as a person. We realize that such learning cannot take place while personal and academic difficulties are foremost in your mind--problems which can have an adverse affect on behavior, conduct, or academic performance in school. Your counselor is here to help you deal with a problem that may concern you as a middle school student.

Discussing something in private with your counselor gives you a chance to explore thoughts, ideas and feelings about your concerns. The ideas you explore are held in strict confidence. Your counselors can not make decisions FOR you, but help YOU make sound decisions based on reasoning, logic and accurate information.