Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

The Barrington schools are committed to reduce bullying and educate our students about the roles of victim, aggressor, and bystander.  As a parent, you can:

• Assure your child that the problem can be solved.
• Let the school know that your child is being bullied.
• Communicate and cooperate with the school until the problem is solved.
• Bullies are often victims themselves.
• Bullies often have poor social skills and do not know how to behave towards others in a positive way.
• Develop your child's sense of humor and tolerance of others
• Positively reinforce your child's self esteem and sense of self worth
• Develop your child's social skills by teaching him or her to share and to cooperate with others in group situations. 

The most appropriate action is to tell someone at the school and work with the school staff to solve the problem.  If bullying is reported, the school will:

• Assure the student that the problem can be solved and then provide ongoing support.
• Investigate the problems raised.
• Treat everyone involved with fairness.
• Take appropriate action.  This may include.
• Mediation
• Disciplinary action
• Warnings
• Social skills instruction or counseling
• Parent-student conference