Westlake Academy Bullying Policy

Prohibited Conduct Bullying, which includes cyberbullying, means a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that:

1. Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or of damage to the student's property;
2. Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student;
3. Materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or
4. Infringes on the rights of the victim at school.

Cyberbullying means bullying that is done through the use of any electronic communication device, including through the use of a cellular or other type of telephone, a computer, a camera, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messaging, a social media application, an Internet website, or any other Internet based communication tool.

The prohibited conduct identified in this policy applies to:

1. Bullying that occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property;
2. Bullying that occurs on a publicly or privately-owned school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school or a school-sponsored or school-related activity; and
3. Cyberbullying that occurs off school property or outside of a school sponsored or school-related activity if the cyberbullying:

                a. Interferes with a student's educational opportunities; or

                b. Substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a class

The Westlake Academy policy on Bullying can be found at the link below in the Town of Westlake Town Council Policy Manual, Pages 30-32.

Town Council Policy Manual

Westlake Academy follows the Texas State Bullying checklist, which can be found at the link below.

Texas State Bullying Checklist

• Facts About Bullying

  • Definition and Facts from The Bully Free Program

• Stop Bullying

  • U.S. Government Web site that helps you create, maintain, and strengthen effective youth programs

• Common Sense Media

  • Age-based media reviews for families 

• Tips for Students

  • Practical tips for kids from The Bully Free Program

• Cyberbullying

  • Definitions and information from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

• Teens Against Bullying – Secondary

  • National Bullying Prevention Center

• LGBTQ+ Resources

  • Information from the CDC

• MYP Character Support