Dinwiddie County Public Schools (DCPS) is committed to providing a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment where all students can thrive. Bullying is not tolerated and is a violation of the DCPS Code of Conduct. Students who engage in bullying will face appropriate disciplinary action and interventions.
We recognize that bullying can have serious impacts—causing absenteeism, mental and physical stress, poor academic performance, and low self-esteem. Nationally, 160,000 students miss school each day due to bullying.
To promote a positive school climate and prevent bullying, students participate in lessons and activities that teach how to build respectful, supportive relationships. These include Responsive Classroom practices, which focus on social-emotional learning, building strong peer connections, and fostering a safe, inclusive environment, and Botvin LifeSkills Training, which helps students develop strong decision-making skills, resist peer pressure, manage emotions, build empathy, and communicate effectively.
Creating a climate where bullying is not tolerated requires the partnership of schools, families, and the community. DCPS actively works with students, staff, families, and community organizations to promote a safe and welcoming environment. When adults and students stand together, bullying can be stopped.
What is Bullying?
According to Virginia Law, bullying is any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. “Bullying” includes cyber bullying. “Bullying” does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.
Behavior that does not meet the definition of bullying may still warrant intervention by school administration and may violate other provisions of the Code of Behavior.
Prevention
Dinwiddie County Public Schools utilizes developmentally appropriate prevention programs in grades K-10.
In grades K-5, students receive bullying prevention instruction through:
- Classroom guidance lessons (administered by school counselors),
- Social, emotional learning activities through Responsive Classroom practices (administered by classroom teachers),
- Botvin Lifeskills Training/Health curriculum (administered by Health and Physical Education teachers), and
- School-wide expectations of the Positive Behavior and Intervention System (PBIS).
In grades 6-8, students receive bullying prevention instruction through
- Classroom guidance lessons (administered by school counselors),
- Social, emotional learning activities through Responsive Classroom practices (administered by classroom teachers),
- Botvin Lifeskills Training/Health curriculum (administered by Health and Physical Education teachers), and
- School-wide expectations of the Positive Behavior and Intervention System (PBIS).
In grades 9-10, students receive bullying prevention instruction through
- Botvin Lifeskills Training/Health curriculum (administered by Health and Physical Education teachers), and
How to Report Bullying
We encourage students to report suspected bullying to the school principal, assistant principal, counselor, teacher, bus driver, or other staff members. Parents/guardians should call the school principal or assistant principal if they suspect bullying is occuring. The DCPS Bullying Report Form can also be used. The form should be given to the school principal or assistant principal.
If a bullying complaint is received, the principal, assistant principal, or principal’s designee will review the complaint and an investigation will be completed. If the complaint of bullying is substantiated, the school administration will assign consequences and interventions based on the DCPS Code of Conduct.
Schools notify parents and guardians of their student’s involvement in an alleged bullying incident within 24 hours of receiving a complaint of bullying.
How Can Parents Help?
What Parents Can Do to Help Prevent Bullying:
- Model kindness and respect: Children learn how to treat others by watching how adults behave.
- Talk regularly with your child: Ask about school, friends, and feelings to build trust and communication.
- Encourage inclusion and empathy: Teach children to celebrate differences and support peers who are left out.
- Teach assertiveness: Help your child develop confidence to stand up for themselves and others without being aggressive.
- Set clear rules about behavior: Make sure your child understands that bullying of any kind is not acceptable.
- Stay involved: Know your child’s friends, where they hang out, and what they do online.
- Partner with the school: Attend school events, volunteer, and communicate with teachers about your child’s social experiences.
How to Support and Protect Your Child If Bullying is Suspected:
- Stay calm and listen: Let your child share without judgment; thank them for opening up.
- Assure them it’s not their fault: Bullying is a choice made by the aggressor, not caused by the victim.
Report the bullying: Contact the school principal to report the concerns. - Help them develop coping strategies: Practice responses like walking away or seeking help from an adult.
- Boost their self-esteem: Involve them in activities they enjoy and are good at to rebuild confidence.
Follow up: Stay in contact with the school and your child to ensure the situation improves. Ask the school for supports that you feel are needed.
What to Do If Your Child Has Been Involved in Bullying as the Aggressor:
- Take it seriously: Avoid dismissing the behavior as “just teasing” or “normal.”
- Talk openly and calmly: Ask your child to explain what happened and why—listen without immediately blaming.
- Make clear it’s unacceptable: Explain the impact of bullying and enforce consequences for harmful behavior.
- Teach empathy: Help your child understand how their actions affect others; encourage apologizing and making amends.
- Set consistent boundaries: Reinforce positive behavior at home and make expectations clear.
- Monitor behavior: Keep an eye on your child’s peer interactions, online activity, and emotions.
- Seek help if needed. A counselor or other school staff can assist with underlying issues such as anger or peer pressure.
If Your Child Witnesses Bullying:
- Talk about what bullying looks like: Help them recognize different forms of bullying, including online.
- Emphasize that doing nothing supports the bully: Let them know they have power to help stop it.
- Practice safe ways to intervene: Teach them to speak out, help the victim get away, and report it to an adult.
- Praise courage. If they take action, support them and acknowledge their bravery.
- Partner with the school. Let the school administrator know what your child witnessed.
Resources
National Bullying Prevention Center