Arlington High School and your class house office are committed to ensuring all students enjoy a safe, positive educational environment.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child's school counselor, House Principal, or Assistant Principal.

Treat Others the Way You Would Like to Be Treated!

What is bullying?

Bullying is deliberate behavior intended to hurt someone which usually happens over a period of time.

Why do people bully?

Often bullies do not understand the impact of their behavior and they may:

• feel powerful by bullying others;
• feel bad about themselves and hurting others may make them feel stronger or more popular;
• have been bullied themselves;
• blame the victim;

There are no acceptable reasons for bullying and no one deserves to be bullied.

Who gets bullied?

Anyone can get bullied! Both young men and young women can be bullied and can be bullies. Anything that makes a person stand out as being different can make them a target but remember that what bullies do not recognize is that these are the same things that make you special! Your best defense is confidence! and communicating with an adult you trust.

How are people bullied?

• Physical - hitting, shoving, kicking, making threats, etc.
• Verbal - teasing, name-calling, taunting
• Social - ignoring or excluding the person, spreading rumors or encouraging others to engage in those behaviors
• Cyber - using technology to harass, threaten, gossip or impersonate someone

Ways to stop a bully

• Avoid the person and places they may be
• Remain calm (self-control gives you power) and be confident but not aggressive
• Walk away and don't give them a reaction. Practice your reaction with a friend or adult
• Surround yourself with people who will support you. Join school clubs to make more friends
• Stand up for your friends if people mistreat them without putting yourself in harm's way
• Distract them by making a joke or changing the subject
• Don't bully back
• Avoid isolated places where no adults are present
• Leave expensive items at home
• Yell if the bully becomes physical or aggressive
• Tell an adult
• Block the person from your cell or social media sites

Speak Up

Ignoring bullying makes the bully think what they are doing is okay. If you see someone being mistreated, follow these tips:

• Don't join in or encourage the bully
• Try to calm the situation
• Offer support to the victim. Invite the person to spend time with you and your friends
• Tell an adult

How to handle cyber bullies

Cyber bullying occurs by texts, email, chat rooms, blogs, and social sites.  
Here are steps to prevent cyber bullying:

• Ignore the person. Do not respond to their texts or email but save them and show an adult
• Block messages, emails, screen names and phone numbers
• Talk to an adult.

Internet Safety Rules

• Don't use your full name, address, phone number or school name on the Internet or on social media sites
• Trust your gut. Don't respond to messages that make you uncomfortable and tell an adult if you see something that makes you uncomfortable
• Don't give your password to anyone
• Don't send pictures of yourself to anyone unless you're okay with it being made public
• Never arrange to meet anyone you've met online without your parents’ permission.