Join FCUSD and Empire Oaks Elementary in taking a stand against bullying! CLICK HERE to review our school’s Bullying Prevention Message that will be shared with our students. Educate yourself on the terminology and explore the resources THIS site offers. Work with your children to develop healthy character, attitudes and environments free of bullying. Where bullying exists, report it: In person or via e-mail or the online form found on our website.  

Bullying Is:

Bullying is generally repeated over time and involves a real or perceived imbalance of power with more powerful student(s) attacking the less powerful student(s).

Bullying Definition:

Bullying is any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct including, but not limited to:

• Written and digital communication that can be reasonably predicted to place a student in fear of harm to that pupil's person or property.
• Causing a pupil to experience a substantially detrimental effect on his or her physical, mental health, interferes with a pupil's academic performance.
• Restricting pupils' ability to participate in services, activities or privileges provided by school.

Cyberbullying Definition:

Cyberbullying includes communication in writing or by means of electronic act including the transmission of messages, text, sound, image, video, website, burn page or social networking activity that has a substantial effect on a person's physical or mental health, academic performance or ability to participate in school.

Upstander vs Bystander

Upstander Definition:

An “upstander” is someone who recognizes when something is wrong and acts to make it right. When an upstander sees or hears about someone being bullied, they speak up. Being an upstander is being a hero: we are standing up for what is right and doing our best to help support and protect someone who is being hurt. In many ways, this is another word for being socially responsible.

At Empire Oaks, we encourage our students to be upstanders, not just bystanders.  How can students be upstanders?

Ways to be an Upstander

1. Help others who are being bullied. Be a friend, even if this person is not yet your friend. Go over to them. Let them know how you think they are feeling. Walk with them. Help them to talk to an adult about what has happened. (Just think for a moment about how great this would be if someone did this for you when you were being picked on or hurt!)
2. Stop untrue or harmful messages from spreading. If someone tells you a rumor that you know is untrue or sends you a message that is hurtful to someone else, stand up and let the person know this is wrong. Think about how you would feel if someone spread an untrue rumor about you. Don’t laugh, send the message on to friends or add to the story. Make it clear that you do not think that kind of behavior is cool or funny.
3. Get friends involved. Let people know that you are an upstander and encourage them to be one, too. Bullies often target people who are alone. You and your friends can help prevent a bad situation by creating a group of support for the person being bullied.
4. Make friends outside of your circle. Eat lunch with someone who is alone. Show support for a person who is upset at school, by asking them what is wrong or bringing them to an adult who can help.
5. If someone is new at your school, make an effort to introduce them around and make them comfortable. Imagine how you would feel leaving your friends and coming to a new school.
6. Refuse to be a bystander.  If you see friends or classmates laughing along with a bully, tell them that they are contributing to the problem. Let them know that by laughing they are also bullying the victim.
7. Respect others’ differences and help others to respect differences. It’s cool for people to be different and that’s what makes all of us unique. 

Every day we have the opportunity to make our school (and our world!) a better place. Putting an end to bullying is everyone’s responsibility!