Giving Intentional Respect And Friendship For Everyone
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Van Duyn Elementary does not tolerate any violent or bullying behaviors. Our school’s antibully program is guided by the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program and the Positive Action curriculum. We use
the, “Giving Intentional Respect And Friendship For Everyone” (G.I.R.A.F.F.E.) theme to promote the anti-bully
program and encourage students to demonstrate good character. The list below shows the characteristics of
the giraffe that we encourage students to put into action to prevent bullying. Please speak with your children
about bullying and explain the characteristics below so that they can be good role models for Van Duyn
Elementary and the community! We will be selecting students monthly who demonstrate these traits and
recognizing them in the upcoming issues of our GIRAFFE newsletter. Future newsletters will be emailed home
and placed on the website. If you do not have access to either, please stop by and grab a copy in the office.
Thanks!
Have a big heart- Giraffes have the biggest hearts of any animal. This gives them the ability to love and treat
others with kindness and compassion. I will treat others with compassion. I will be respectful
and friendly to everyone.
Have giraffe vision- The giraffe has incredible eyesight which allows him to see great distance and see things
other animals may not. I will see the best in myself and others. I will help others to see the
best in themselves.
Accept differences- No two giraffes’ spots are the same, but all giraffes are accepted into the herd. I will
accept everyone and honor the difference in myself and others.
Protect others- Giraffes often alert other animals, like the zebras, antelope, and wildebeests of nearby
predators. I will work to help others in need.
Be unique- Each giraffe has a distinctive and unique spot pattern. I won’t blend in with the crowd. I
will love the qualities in me that make me special.
Set the pace- Giraffe means “one who walks swiftly”. They are always on the move in life. I will not simply
follow others down the path of life. I will lead by example.
Stick my neck out- The whole point of the giraffe’s size and specialized anatomy is to enable it to reach and
enjoy its main diet, the leaves of the acacia tree. In order to do this it must spread its front legs out for balance
which leaves it very vulnerable to predators. I will take risks even though I know this might not
always be the easiest or the most popular thing to do.
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What is bullying?
According to Indiana Code
20-33-8-0.2 and the Olweus Bullying
Prevention Program, bullying is
repetitive acts by a child or group
that are intentionally done to hurt
another child emotionally or
physically with a perceived or
evident imbalance of power present.
There are different types of bullying.
Physical- hitting, kicking,
pushing, poking, tripping,
spitting, threatening
gestures
Verbal- teasing, namecalling, taunting,
threatening words
Indirect- spreading
rumors, excluding
someone from a group on
purpose
Written or Images- mean
messages or images
transmitted in any
manner (Facebook, notes,
cell phones)
Bully Reports
Students and parents can make
verbal reports to the principal,
teachers, or the school counselor.
Students can submit a bully report
form on their own or with help
from parents. Bully report forms
can be turned into the principal,
teachers, school counselor, bus
drivers, or the bully report box in
the nurse’s office. All bully reports
are handled by the principal and
remain confidential. You need to
contact the school or help your
child fill out a bully report
immediately IF ALL FOUR
BOXES BELOW CAN BE
CHECKED!
The issue has happened over
and over again. The same child or children
are involved each time.
What happened was on
purpose to hurt the other child’s
feelings or to hurt the other
child physically.
There is a perceived or
evident imbalance of power.
Criminal or violent behaviors like
threatening, physical fighting,
damaging property, or racial/
sexual harassment ALWAYS
warrants an immediate report to
the school. Page three is
what the Student Bully
Report Form looks like.
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Anti-Bully Rules
and Pledge
ANTI-BULLYING RULES
1. We will not bully others.
2. We help students who are
bullied.
3. We will include students who
are easily left out.
4. When we know someone is
being bullied, we will tell an
adult at school and at home.
5. We will be responsible
reporters of
bullying.
ANTI-BULLYING PLEDGE
It’s the Van Duyn Pledge
That I won’t bully
These rules I will know
and follow them fully.
No pushing, No hitting,
No shoving, No spitting.
Let’s Get Rid OfName Calling,
Picking on,
Making fun of,
Laughing at,
And leaving others out.
Let’s show RESPECT
for all people and our friends.
Student Bully Report Form
Name:__________________________
First
Date:_________________
Last
Bully__________________________________________________________
Victim_________________________________________________________
Please circle or write where it happened?
Bus
Hallway
Classroom Bathroom
Playground
Recess
Gym
Lunch
Field Trip
Not at school
Art
Library
Music
Other:____________________________________________
-----------------------------------------------------------Please circle or write when it happened?
Before school
After school
Morning at school
Afternoon at school
Lunch
Recess
On bus to school
On the bus going home
Please write the date it happened if you remember.____________________
-----------------------------------------------------------Please circled what happened?
Physical- hitting, kicking, pushing
Verbal- teasing, name-calling,
taunting, threatening
Indirect- spreading rumors, excluding Written or Images- mean messages
or images transmitted in any manner
someone from a group on purpose
(Facebook, notes, cell phone)
Please write who was all there when it happened.
Please write what happened.
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