Evergreen Park School District Bullying Prevention & Intervention

EPSD 124 is deeply committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive school environment where all kids can learn, feel welcomed and most importantly, feel that they belong! Through school-wide positive behavior approaches (PBIS) and participation in the district's social and emotional learning curriculum, students are taught to behave respectfully and to resolve conflicts in positive ways. Creating a culture of acceptance and providing safe opportunities to discuss concerns will continue to be encouraged through class meetings, interactions, and relationships with all staff members.

Bullying is defined as any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is 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 DOES NOT Include teasing, horseplay, peer-to-peer arguments, or peer conflict. 

It is a good reminder that teasing, horseplay, peer conflict and arguments are common in schools and adolescence as students continue to develop and learn how to form and maintain relationships. Conflict is a natural part of human relationships as people grow and change. Even though these behaviors can cause stress and can hurt relationships or feelings, it is not bullying. Conflict occurs between two people who are equal in relationships (think: friends or classmates or co-workers) but they have two different points of view. Sometimes this escalates into a disagreement that’s so strong that people become emotional and tense words are exchanged.

With bullying, the person or group of people who is doing the bullying intends to hurt or embarrass the other person. The hurt or harm is done intentionally to make the bullying target feel like less of a person. There is always something unequal about the relationship between the two people in instances of bullying. 

The district will be providing more resources about bullying in the coming months and will continue to create a school community built on inclusion, support, and trust. View the Bullying and Harassment Prevention document for an overview of the district's plan for reporting, responding and communicating when it comes to issues of bullying. 

Additional Resources

• ParentGuidance.org - On demand resources and courses for parents
• Safe2Help Illinois - Safe2Help Illinois offers students a safe, confidential way in which to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety.