Anti-Bullying

Bullying harms student well‑being and can make it harder for students to feel safe, included, and ready to learn. Guided by the AMDSB Equity Action Plan and the Culturally Relevant Responsive Sustaining Pedagogical Framework, anti‑bullying work recognizes that bullying often happens when there is an imbalance of power or when students are excluded because of a difference. AMDSB focuses on building strong relationships, respecting identity, and teaching students how to treat others with care. This approach supports students in speaking up, seeking help, and taking positive action to create welcoming and respectful school communities.

How to Recognize and Prevent Bullying

There are various forms of bullying that exist:

Physical: hitting, shoving, stealing or damaging property

Verbal: name calling, mocking, or making sexist, racist or homophobic comments

Social: excluding others from a group or spreading gossip or rumours about them

Electronic or Cyberbullying: spreading rumours and hurtful comments through the use of cellphones, e-mail, text messaging and through social media

Racial: treating people badly based upon their ethnic or racial background, teasing them because of their cultural background and/or making racial jokes and using racist names about them or towards them

Religious: treating people badly based upon their religious background and/or beliefs, making negative comments about them or towards them in regards to their religious beliefs, calling someone names or telling jokes based upon their religious beliefs in efforts to hurt them

THINK: Is it True? Is it fact or an opinion/feeling? Know and be clear before you speak. Is it Helpful? Does it help you, them or the situation? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Would it be better left unsaid? Is it Kind?

The Parents’ Role

Schools alone cannot stop bullying and/or change the behaviour. Although every school has the responsibility to develop a safe school environment while at school, it takes a community to help prevent and stop bullying.

Please help us by:

Fostering and creating healthy relationships and helping children recognize healthy relationships
Helping children develop the essential social skills to navigate peer conflicts and by minimizing opportunities for negative peer interactions
Acting on inappropriate behaviours you see - don’t just assume that a problem will work itself out if you sense there is a serious conflict occurring
Supporting and sharing our messaging with your child
Finding out more: What Parents Need to Know (PREVNet)

Anti-Bullying Resources

Anti-bullying resources are important because they help students understand how to treat others with kindness, respect, and care. These resources teach what bullying looks like, how it can hurt others, and what to do if it happens. They also remind students that everyone deserves to feel safe and included at school. When students know how to get help and stand up for others, it helps build a school community where everyone belongs and feels valued.

Anti-Bullying Posters

Anti-Bullying Webinar

Anti-Bullying Books

Anti-Bullying Videos

Cyberbullying

What is Cyberbullying?

“Cyberbullying is when a child or teen becomes a target of actions by others – using computers, cell phones or other devices – that are intended to embarrass, humiliate, torment, threaten or harass. It can start as early as age eight or nine, but the majority of cyberbullying takes place in the teenage years, up to age 17.” (Public Safety Canada).

Tips for Preventing Cyberbullying

Use privacy settings. It is important to keep your content on your social media as private as possible.
Take a moment before sending an image of yourself. Is it an image you would want everyone to see?
Start the conversation about cyberbullying with your friends. Support those who have been targeted by cyberbullying and if you know cyberbullies, encourage them to stop.
It’s important that you don’t participate in negative comments towards someone online. Take a stand. Be the person who supports the person who is being attacked. Be the role model people need! Others may follow your kind actions.
Always remember to log out of your accounts on your phone or your electronic device when you are not using them.

Video: What Kids Want Parents to Know About Cyberbullying

In this video, middle school students talk about their experiences on the internet. They provide insight into how online interactions can sour, as well as what they want their parents to know about cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying Resources

Cyber-Bullying Videos

Cyberbullying Information

Online Child Sexual Exploitation

Media Smarts Cyber-Bullying Resources

Common Sense - Choose Digital Literacy and Citizenship > Grade > Cyberbullying & Online Harms

What Is a Bystander?

Bystanders are people who witness an action like bullying, either in person or online. Bystanders don’t get involved when they witness bullying because they are worried they cannot help, that others won't approve and they are afraid of being the bullies’ next target.

We want all students to be safe at AMDSB. When having these conversations with students, please remind them to step in and help only if it is safe to do so.

Encourage your child to stop being a bystander and help stop bullying by taking these steps:

Tell the person who is bullying to stop
Speak up for the person who is being bullied
Find someone who has the skills and authority to help, such as an adult
Let them know that they do not deserve to be treated that way and it is not their fault.

Learn more: How to help a friend who is experiencing bullying (Kids Help Phone)

How to Help a Friend Who Is Experiencing Bullying

When students find out their friend is being bullied, it is never easy. Students may feel a lot of emotions. They may be sad, angry or even scared. Remind students to be kind to themselves. They are not the whole solution to the problem. Support students. Encourage them to be supportive for their friends and to also take care of themselves.

Here are 5 ways to help a friend who is experiencing bullying:

Reach out: Check in and see how your friend is doing. Remind them that you care about them and are there for them.
Stay Safe: Encourage your friend to make a safety plan with an adult. Their physical and emotional health is important.
Stick Together: Together with friends, you can help show your friend they’re not alone.
Step In: If you witness bullying you can step in and let the person who is bullying know that their behaviour is not okay. With this step it is important to ensure your own safety. If you feel that you are unsafe, go get an adult to help.
Get Support: Remember, you have to take care of yourself first before you can help others. Helping a friend who is being bullied is serious and can be hard on your own mental health. It is important to take care of yourself and speak with a friend, teacher, parent or safe adult about how you are feeling.