Bullying & Harassment – Info & Reporting
Bullying & Harassment
As a safe and respectful learning community within in the Washoe County School District, we at AACT recognize our important role to play in the prevention of bullying, cyber-bullying and harassment. We encourage you to report suspected incidents of bullying, cyberbullying and harassment, and our school has various methods to do this. We will make every effort to investigate reports, install remedies, use prevention efforts and offer interventions and supports to your student.
"Bullying" vs. "Conflict"
It is important to understand the difference between bullying and conflict. Conflict is a normal part of life, and learning to cope with conflict helps children learn the social skills they will need as adults. When peer conflict occurs, both people involved have equal power in the relationship. While both people may be upset and emotional, neither is seeking power or attention. It is also usually not serious or emotionally damaging to either person.
In contrast, bullying is generally characterized by deliberate, unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived imbalance of power and is designed to hurt, insult or threaten another person. When determining if a student’s actions constitute “bullying” we apply a “3 Point Criterion” analysis that asks:
As a safe and respectful learning community within in the Washoe County School District, we at AACT recognize our important role to play in the prevention of bullying, cyber-bullying and harassment. We encourage you to report suspected incidents of bullying, cyberbullying and harassment, and our school has various methods to do this. We will make every effort to investigate reports, install remedies, use prevention efforts and offer interventions and supports to your student.
"Bullying" vs. "Conflict"
It is important to understand the difference between bullying and conflict. Conflict is a normal part of life, and learning to cope with conflict helps children learn the social skills they will need as adults. When peer conflict occurs, both people involved have equal power in the relationship. While both people may be upset and emotional, neither is seeking power or attention. It is also usually not serious or emotionally damaging to either person.
In contrast, bullying is generally characterized by deliberate, unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived imbalance of power and is designed to hurt, insult or threaten another person. When determining if a student’s actions constitute “bullying” we apply a “3 Point Criterion” analysis that asks:
- Did the behavior in question harm another student?
- Was the behavior unwelcome?
- Was the behavior severe, persistent, or pervasive?
- Call our school at 775-861-4418 and ask to speak with an administrator, or your student's counselor.
- Report verbally to any WCSD staff member. Such reports will be forwarded to the appropriate school administrator.
- Report online at .
- Notify school police at 775-348-0285.
- Contact the district's Head of Counseling, Katherine Loudon, at , or 775-850-8011.