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Bullying
PWCS is committed to creating an environment in which students are free from bullying. Bullying is any aggressive and unwanted behavior intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. Bullying includes cyberbullying. It does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict. Students who believe they have been bullied are strongly encouraged to report such conduct to the school administration. The school administrator will take appropriate steps to respond quickly and decisively to student reports of bullying. Students or parents can report incidents of bullying online.
Cyberbullying and any mistreatment or bullying behavior that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored activity, or that prevents a student from going to or from school safely violates the COB and will be investigated and responded to by school officials. However, not all mistreatment or bullying behavior constitutes discrimination or discriminatory harassment.
All complaints will be followed by an investigation. Those accused and the parent(s) of students involved will be informed of complaints, witnesses will be interviewed, and all information will remain confidential except for that which must be shared as part of the investigation.
School administrators must notify parents of any student involved in an incident of alleged bullying as soon as practically possible but no later than 24 hours after learning of the allegation of bullying.
Discrimination
Discrimination occurs when one or more individuals are treated differently or not given fair consideration or the same opportunity as others because of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including lactation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. Discrimination against students or staff is strictly prohibited. Students who believe they have been discriminated against are encouraged to report the matter to the school principal or to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Compliance at TitleIXEquity@pwcs.edu or 571-374-6839.
Report discrimination or harassment online.
Harassment
Harassment is a form of discrimination. Harassment is a course of conduct that targets one or more individuals based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including lactation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. Harassment:
- Demeans, threatens, intimidates, or harms an individual or group in such a way as to cause anxiety or fear for safety.
- Creates an intimidating, hostile, and/or offensive environment; substantially or unreasonably interferes with a student’s education; or otherwise limits a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from a PWCS educational program.
- May target an individual even when the individual does not actually possess any characteristic that is the basis for the harassment (so long as the harassment is based on the belief that the target possesses such characteristic).
- May be expressed in various ways, including through physical actions or through verbal, nonverbal, electronic, or written communications, and may take various forms, including but not limited to:
- Offensive comments, name-calling, gestures, “jokes,” or rumors.
- Demeaning drawings, cartoons, or graffiti.
- Acts of aggression toward individuals or their property, including threats or physical assaults.
Students who believe that they have been subject to discrimination or harassment are encouraged to report the matter to the school principal or to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Compliance Department at TitleIXEquity@pwcs.edu or 571-374-6839.
Report discrimination or harassment online.
Sex-Based Harassment and Sex-Based Misconduct
Discrimination under Title IX means conduct on the basis of sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Sexual harassment under Title IX means conduct on the basis of sex that meets one or more of the following conditions:
- A PWCS employee or agent provides or offers to provide aid, benefit, or service to a person in exchange for the person’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct.
- A person is subjected to unwelcome sex-based conduct that is severe or pervasive enough to deny or limit the person’s ability to participate in or benefit from a PWCS educational program or activity.
- Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking as defined by federal regulations implementing Title IX.
Not all allegations of sex-based misconduct are considered discrimination or sexual harassment under Title IX but may still constitute a violation of the PWCS Code of Behavior. Sex-based misconduct is any misconduct of a sexual nature or mistreatment that is based on sex or sex stereotyping. Sex-based misconduct may be verbal, nonverbal, electronic, or physical and may target a person regardless of the person’s sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Sex-based misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
- Making sexual advances, including requesting sexual favors, leering, or engaging in unwelcome and repeated flirting.
- Engaging in sex-based verbal abuse, including using slurs or epithets or making graphic and/or degrading descriptions about an individual’s body.
- Making, sharing, and/or displaying sex-based jokes, gestures, objects, or images (including sexting, drawings, photographs, or video).
- Spreading sex-based rumors.
- Making sex-based threats or threats of a sexual nature.
- Impeding or blocking an individual’s movement in a sexually intimidating manner.
- Sexually assaulting or improperly touching another individual.
- Sex-based misconduct may constitute Sex-Based Harassment, which is prohibited by law. All sex-based misconduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored activity, or that prevents a student from getting to or from school safely violates the COB and will be investigated and responded to by school officials.