Building a Safe and Respectful School Community:

Understanding and Preventing Bullying at Woodrow Wilson Academy.

Bully Prevention Week offers our entire school community—students, parents, and staff—a dedicated moment to focus on how we interact with one another and foster a positive environment. At Woodrow Wilson Academy (WWA), we are committed to providing a caring, friendly, and safe atmosphere where every student can learn and thrive.

Every human being is responsible for how they make others feel. Through our daily interactions, each of us holds a powerful influence over WWA’s school culture.

What is Bullying?

Bullying is defined as an intentional act to gain control over someone or to cause physical, mental, or emotional harm. It is repeated over time and typically occurs when there is an imbalance of power between the bully and the victim.

Bullying can take several forms, including:

• Written or Oral Expression: Verbal insults, mean notes, harassment, or threats.

• Physical Acts or Gestures: Intimidation, physical aggression, or unwanted physical contact.

• Cyberbullying: Using electronic devices to harass, threaten, embarrass, or exclude others. This includes sending,posting, or forwarding negative, harmful, or private content, as well as sharing private information to harm someone's reputation.

To maintain a fair and safe school, WWA also strictly prohibits retaliation (payback against anyone reporting bullying or interfering with an investigation) and false accusations (knowingly making untrue reports to cause harm).

Understanding the Difference: Peer Conflict vs. Bullying

Conflict is an inevitable part of human interaction. As children grow, their social skills develop at different stages, and disagreements naturally occur as they learn how to compromise and build friendships:

• Grades K–2: Children are beginning to develop empathy. They often view a "good friend" as someone who does what they want to do. Exclusion at this age frequently happens simply because children want to play different games.

• Grades 3–5: Friendships center on shared interests and mutual fun. However, when individual preferences conflict or needs are frustrated, disagreements erupt. Hurt feelings or taking sides can happen naturally as childhood friendships evolve.

• Grades 6–8: Social dynamics become more complex. Students share feelings and personal details, which can sometimes lead to gossip, cliques, or feelings of jealousy. Learning compromise and diplomacy is an ongoing process.

Normal peer conflict involves disagreements between peers of equal standing. Aggression or hurtful words can occur during a conflict, but they do not automatically mean a bully-victim dynamic exists.

Feature	Normal Peer Conflict	Bullying
Power Dynamic	Equal power between peers/friends	Imbalance of power; not friends
Pattern	Happens occasionally or situationally	Repeated negative actions over time
Intent	Accidental or spontaneous	Purposeful effort to gain control or cause harm
Severity	Low-level conflict; not ongoing	Serious threat of physical or emotional harm
Emotional Reaction	Equal emotional reaction from both sides	Strong emotional distress from the victim
Remorse & Resolution	Shows remorse; willing to fix the problem	No remorse; blames the victim; no effort to resolve

How to Report Bullying at WWA

No child deserves to be bullied, and WWA pledges to support any student who feels mistreated. While staff members stay observant, adults cannot see everything. Reporting concerns is an essential shared responsibility that helps keep our school safe.

You can report concerns through two main channels:

1. Let a WWA Adult Know (In-Person, Email, or Note)

• Best used for: Recess conflicts, classroom mistreatment, mean notes, or interpersonal concerns.

• How it works: Talk directly to a teacher, counselor, or administrator, or send an email or note. Staff members are trained to respond, support students, and escalate reports to administration when necessary.

2. Safe2Tell (safe2tell.org)

• Best used for: Anonymous reporting of serious safety concerns, dangerous behavior, weapons, or severe cyberbullying (such as sharing inappropriate photos or threats).

• How it works: Safe2Tell provides a completely anonymous way for students and parents to submit critical safety tips 24/7.

What Happens Next?

Every report of bullying is taken seriously and investigated promptly by school administrators to determine what occurred.

If an incident is determined to be bullying, WWA applies appropriate disciplinary actions in alignment with Jeffco’s disciplinary matrix. Beyond initial consequences, WWA focuses on ongoing support and guidance to help every learner grow and repair relationships.

By staying informed, understanding the differences between conflict and bullying, and speaking up when something isn't right, we can ensure Woodrow Wilson Academy remains a safe, welcoming place for all.

For more information, please read our Discipline Handbook under Parents resources.