Anti-Bullying
At Somerset Academy West Vero, every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported at school. Bullying, harassment, intimidation, and other behaviors that interfere with a student’s ability to learn and feel safe will be taken seriously.
We are committed to creating a positive school environment where students are encouraged to show kindness, respect others, speak up, and seek help when they need it.
What Is Bullying?
Under Florida Statute § 1006.147, bullying includes cyberbullying and is defined as systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students.
Bullying may involve:
- Teasing
- Social exclusion
- Threats
- Intimidation
- Stalking
- Physical violence
- Theft
- Sexual, religious, or racial harassment
- Public or private humiliation
- Destruction of property
The Florida Department of Education further identifies three elements when classifying bullying for school incident reporting: the behavior is repeated, intentional, and involves a power imbalance.
It is important to understand that not every disagreement, conflict, or isolated incident between students constitutes bullying. However, inappropriate or harmful behavior that does not meet the definition of bullying may still violate school rules and will be addressed accordingly.
Cyberbullying
Bullying may also occur through technology or electronic communication. Cyberbullying can include harmful or intimidating behavior through electronic messages, online communications, social media, or other digital platforms.
Report a Concern
Students and families are encouraged to report bullying, suspected bullying, or other concerning behavior to a teacher, school administrator, or other trusted staff member.
All reports will be reviewed and addressed in accordance with school policies and applicable requirements. Students should never feel that they have to handle bullying on their own.
What Happens After a Report?
When a concern is reported, school administration will gather information, review the circumstances, and determine the appropriate next steps. Families will be contacted as appropriate while maintaining the privacy of all students involved.
Additional Resources
For additional information regarding Florida's bullying and harassment requirements, families may review Florida Statute § 1006.147 – Bullying and Harassment Prohibited.
See something. Say something. Choose kindness.
