District Policy

"The Cashmere School District strives to provide students with optimal conditions for learning by maintaining a school environment where everyone is treated with respect and no one is physically or emotionally harmed. In order to ensure respect and prevent harm, it is a violation of district policy for a student to be harassed, intimidated, or bullied by others in the school community, at school sponsored events, or when such actions create a substantial disruption to the educational process. The school community includes all students, school employees, school board members, contractors, unpaid volunteers, families, patrons, and other visitors. Student(s) will not be harassed because of their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability, or other distinguishing characteristics. Any school staff who observes, overhears, or otherwise witnesses harassment, intimidation or bullying or to whom such actions have been reported must take prompt and appropriate action to stop the harassment and to prevent its reoccurrence."

Some helpful things you can do to support your child is to encourage them to talk about their day at school. If you believe your child is under stress from peers, encourage them to discuss it. Research indicates that children are often reluctant to talk about bullying because they fear that adults will not believe them. Assure them that their school has procedures in place to help end this stressful experience and that they can report what is happening to a counselor, teacher, or principal they trust. Cashmere staff members understand that there are steps in place to investigate and ultimately resolve these situations. To read more about Cashmere's zero-tolerance policies on bullying, please click here.

Definition of harassment, intimidation, or bullying (HIB)

According to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Washington State defines harassment, intimidation, or bullying (HIB) as, "any intentionally written message or image—including those that are electronically transmitted—verbal, or physical act, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability or other distinguishing characteristics, when an act commits any of the following violations:

• Physically harms a student or damages students property
• Has an impact that substantially interferes with a student's education
• Is so severe, peristent, or pervasize that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment
• Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school

Report any harassment, intimidation, or bullying by clicking HERE

For more information on the topic of bullying, please visit stopbullying.gov.