Student Conduct:?

School staff, parents, and students are all responsible for

creating a culture of positive behavior. Discuss with your child

the student conduct information below:

Parents and students must follow the school district’s Student

Code of Conduct. A frequent form of misconduct is bullying.

What is bullying?

Unwanted and repeated written, verbal, or physical behavior,

including any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture

by an adult or student that is severe or pervasive enough to

create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational en­

vironment, cause discomfort or humiliation, or unreasonably

interfere with the individual’s school performance or participa­

tion.

Where Does Most Bullying Occur?

As with most harmful behavior among children, in general

bullying occurs wherever there is the least structure and adult

supervision. Most incidents tend to occur on the playground,

in bathrooms, in locker rooms, in cafeterias, in cyberspace, at

bus stops, and in the school bus.

What Parents and Students Can Do?

Tips for Par

ents:

a

Encourage your child to talk to you. Praise your child for

positive communication and behavior.

a

Provide/ensure adequate supervision.

a

Teach your child to be assertive rather than aggressive or

violent when confronted by a bully.

a

Verify that consistent messages about rules and safety are

practiced in your child’s school and staff is trained in bul­

lying prevention.

a

Build a relationship with your child’s teachers and admin­

istrators.

Tips for Students:

• Stay away from bullies.

• Tell an adult.

• Avoid bad situations.

• Make friends.

• If bullied, tell the bully to stop; then walk away.

Did you know

that r

esear

ch shows

that at least half of all bullying can be pr

evented?

Did you know

that according

to the National Mental Health and Education Center,

direct, physical bullying increases in elementary school,

peaks in middle school, and declines in high school?

Protecting Childr

en

and Predators – T

ips for

Parents and Students:

Florida has the strongest laws in the country to protect its

youthful citizens from being abducted. However, parents and

children themselves are the first line of defense. Talk to your

children about following these rules:

• Stay away from any unfamiliar person who is trying to trick

you or force you to go with him or her.

• Let your parents and other trusted adults know about any

suspicious persons or situations.

• Learn to describe people and vehicles.

• Know where to run and how to forcibly resist capture.

• Scream to be seen and to scare a stranger away.

• Stay with a buddy, a group, or parents at the bus stop.

• Report anyone hanging around or passing by regularly.

• Accept a ride only from someone approved by the school.

• Walk or bike only along a route that your parents or the

school has determined is safe.

• Lock the door and never tell callers you ar

e home alone.

For More Infor

mation:?

If you want more information on staying safe between home and

school, check out these websites:

Offices of School Transportation Management

http://www.fdoe.org/transportation & Safe Schools

(http://www.firn.edu/doe/besss/sdfs.html)

Safe Kids USA

http://www.usa.safekids.org/

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

www.missingkids.com

1-800-LOST (843-5678)

Missing Children Information Clearinghouse

www.fdle.state.f.us

1-888-FL-MISSING (356-4774)

Florida Department of

Transportation Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Program

http://www.dot.state.f.us/Safety/ped_bike/ped_bike.htm

Safe Routes to School Florida

www.srtsf.org

Community Traffic Safety Teams (CTSTs)

http://www.dot.state.f.us/safety/CTST/CTST.htm

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

(FDHSMV; licensing and teen drivers)

www.hsmv.state.f.us

Bullying Prevention

www.stopbullyingnow.org

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/kidswalk/

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

The Florida Department of Education and Florida’s school districts are

committed to the safety of Florida’s students and schools. Students often

walk, bike, or ride to and from school or the bus stop on their own or

with parents, guardians, or others. This brochure offers important tips

to parents, guardians, and students on how to stay safe, especially when

the students are not with school officials who can help protect them.

Please discuss these important tips with your children.

Florida Department of Education

Office of School Transportation Management

Office of Safe Schools

1

This information is designed to assist school districts in complying with require­

ments to provide safety information to parents, guardians, and students (Rule

6A-3.0121, Florida Administrative Code).

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A

Y

et?:

Between Home

and School

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