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Definitions:

• Aggressor:

  • Is a student or school staff member who engages in bullying, cyber-bullying, or retaliation.

• Bullying:

  • As defined in M.G.L. c. 71, § 37O, is the repeated use by one or more students or by a member of a school staff including, but not limited to, an educator, administrator, school nurse, cafeteria worker, custodian, bus driver, athletic coach, advisor to an extracurricular activity or paraprofessional, of a  written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a victim that: (i) causes physical or emotional harm to the victim or damage to the victim's property; (ii) places the victim in  reasonable fear of harm to himself or of damage to his property; (iii) creates a  hostile environment at school for the victim; (iv) infringes on the rights of the  victim at school; or (v) materially and substantially disrupts the education process  or the orderly operation of a school. For the purposes of this section, bullying  shall include cyber-bullying.

• Cyberbullying:

  • As defined in M.G.L. c. 71, § 37O, is bullying through the use of  technology or any electronic communication, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo electronic or photo optical system, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, internet communications, instant messages or facsimile communications. Cyber-bullying shall also include (i) the creation of a web page or blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or  (ii) the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages, if the creation or impersonation creates any of the conditions enumerated in clauses (i) to (v), inclusive, of the definition of bullying. Cyber-bullying shall also include the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the  distribution or posting creates any of the conditions enumerated in clauses (i) to  (v), inclusive, of the definition of bullying. 

• Discrimination:

  • “Discrimination” means discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, age, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or religion by which an individual is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of the school district.

• Harassment:

  • “Harassment” means unwelcome conduct on the basis of race, age, color, national origin, disability, or religion that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive to create or contribute to a hostile environment for the individual at school.  Harassment may include insults, name-calling, off color jokes, threats, comments, innuendoes, notes, display of pictures or symbols, gestures or other conduct which rises to the level of a hostile environment. A hostile environment is one which unreasonably interfered with  an individual’s  participation in, denied the individual the benefits of, or otherwise subjected the individual to discrimination under any program or activity of the District.

• Retaliation:

  • Any form of intimidation, reprisal, or harassment directed against a student or member of school staff who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying. If harassment (unwelcome conduct on the basis of race, age, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or religion) is alleged, the school will utilize the district's applicable harassment procedures to investigate. 

• Target/Victim:

  •  Is a student against whom bullying,  cyber-bullying, or retaliation has been perpetrated.