Lake Park School District

Be the Change…Make a Stand…Against Bullying

Bullying is abusive behavior by one or more students over time against a victim. It can be a direct attack – teasing, taunting, threatening, stalking, name-calling, hitting, making threats, coercion, and stealing – or more subtle through malicious gossiping, spreading rumors, and intentional exclusion. Both can result in victims becoming socially rejected and isolated.

Boys tend to use physical intimidation or threats, regardless of the gender of their victims. Bullying by girls is more often verbal, usually with another girl as the target. Cyber-bullying by both boys and girls – in online chat rooms, e-mail, and text-messaging – has been increasing.

Direct bullying seems to increase through the early elementary school years, peak in the upper elementary and middle school years, and decline during the high school years. Although direct physical assault seems to decrease with age, verbal abuse appears to remain constant. Whether the bullying is direct or indirect, the key component of bullying is physical or psychological intimidation that occurs repeatedly over time to create an ongoing pattern of harassment and abuse.

Lake Park School District takes incidents of bullying seriously and is proactive in implementing prevention strategies aimed at decreasing incidents of bullying. Counselors at each of our three schools have taken the lead in working with students and staff in recognizing incidents of bullying, understanding how to react to bullying, and developing strategies designed to prevent bullying from occurring in the first place. Cindy Nixon, the District’s Lead Counselor, is working closely with each of our school-based counselors to develop activities and programs that deal with this very important issue.

The Liberty Elementary school counselor meets with students in their classrooms to introduce topics and hold discussions related to preventing bullying. In the lower grades, books and children’s literature are used to increase awareness of differences, personal uniqueness, and understanding appropriate social behaviors. At the fourth and fifth grade levels, the counselor has worked with students to read, think about, write, and present skits dealing with name-calling, social exclusion, gossiping, aggression, and just plain kidding, joking, and teasing.

At John Glenn Middle School, students go into more depth with discussions about the painful effects of ridicule, disrespect, and bullying. They gain an understanding of when teasing crosses the line into bullying. In addition, small group sessions are held with students who have a history of teasing that crosses the line and information is provided to parents on how to recognize when bullying is occurring, along with ways to help their child.

Plans for the second semester at our schools include holding parent-information nights and student assemblies aimed at helping students understand diversity, respect, and the harmful effects of bullying.

The Lake Park School District has specific policies and procedures regarding student conduct, including bullying and harassment, and has procedures in place for students and parents to report incidents of bullying to school officials. The policies are detailed in the LPSD Code of Conduct. Students and parents can anonymously report bullying, drugs, weapons, or anything unsafe by calling the District Safe Hotline at 515-IAM-SAFE or by e-mailing safehotline@lakepark.com.

Student Dress Code

• The length of skirts, dresses and shorts should reflect modesty and good taste. If a student's fingertips touch the skin when the arms are held straight at the sides, then the clothing is too short and may not be worn.
• Muscle shirts, spaghetti strap shirts, tank tops, "off the shoulder" shirts, halter tops, tube tops, midriff, see-­through or backless shirts and blouses are not permitted.
• The top of the pants/skirt and the lower hem of the top must come together. The student's abdomen and back should not be exposed.
• Pants should be of the appropriate size and fit and must not expose undergarments.
• Clothing should be neat and free from inappropriate holes, writing, pins, chains, etc.
• Articles on clothing or personal items that exhibit advertising signs, symbols, or slogans or phrases about alcohol, drugs, weapons, or tobacco products are not considered appropriate for school dress for students.
• Clothing, outerwear, purses, or backpacks that exhibit slogans, phrases, or symbols such as swastikas or confederate flags that would be considered offensive because of their violent, sexual, or racial connotations are unacceptable and strictly prohibited.
• Gang clothing, symbols or other items associated with gangs may not be worn, displayed or carried.
• Hats, do-rags, and skullcaps or sunglasses may not be worn inside the building.
• Safe footwear should be worn at all times.

The dress code applies to all sponsored events, including dances, co-curricular events, etc. Exceptions may be made to the dress code based on religious restrictions but, we must have appropriate documentation. Students violating the dress code will be instructed to change and may receive disciplinary consequences.