At Montessori Academy of North Hoffman, the issue of bullying is treated with utmost seriousness. It is our firm belief that every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and included in our school and community. At this time we have established the comprehensive Montessori Academy of North Hoffman anti-bullying policy to guarantee that all students can learn and flourish while in a positive and nurturing environment.

The Montessori Academy of North Hoffman anti-bullying-policy outlines clear expectations for student behavior and consequences for those who engage in bullying. We define bullying as any unwanted, aggressive behavior that is repeated or has the potential to be repeated. This includes verbal, physical, and cyberbullying.

Above all, we encourage students to speak up and report any incidents of bullying to a trusted adult, such as a teacher, counselor, as well as any administrator. We take all reports seriously and thoroughly investigate them to ensure that we take appropriate action to address the issue.

Furthermore, in addition to addressing incidents of bullying, we actively focus on prevention. Moreover, we provide comprehensive education and resources to students, staff, and parents on recognizing and preventing bullying behavior. Additionally, we actively promote kindness, empathy, and inclusivity within our school community to foster a culture of respect and acceptance.

Overall by working together to uphold our anti-bullying policy, we can create a safe and welcoming environment for all students to learn and grow. Together we can stand up against bullying and collectively make our school a place where everyone feels valued and respected.

You can find the Montessori Bullying Policy below and download it here.

Bullying Policy (Approved by School Board 02/06/2024)

● Bullying, as defined in 105 ILCS 5/27- 23.7, may take various forms, including
without limitation one or more of the following: harassment, threats, intimidation,
stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, public
humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of
bullying. This list is meant to be illustrative and non-exhaustive.
● Bullying on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, military
status, unfavorable discharge status from military service, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity, gender-related identity or expression, ancestry, age, religion,
physical or mental disability, order of protection status, status of being homeless, or
actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy, association with
a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned actual or perceived
characteristics, or any other distinguishing characteristic is prohibited in each of
the following situations:
1. During any school sponsored education program or activity.
2. While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles,
or at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities.
3. Through the transmission of information from a school computer, a school
computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment.
4. Through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at
a non-school-related location, activity, function, or program or from the use
of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by
school if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational
process or orderly operation of a school. This paragraph (item #4) applies
only when a school administrator or teacher receives a report that bullying
through this means has occurred; it does not require staff members to
monitor any non-school-related activity, function, or program.

Definitions from Section 27-23.7 of the School Code (105 ILCS 5/27-23.7

Bullying includes cyber-bullying and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or
conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a
student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or
more of the following:

1. Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s or
students’ person or property;
2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s or students’
physical or mental health;
3. Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic
performance; or
4. Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ ability to participate
in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.

Cyberbullying

● Cyber-bullying means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic
communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing
images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by
a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photo-electronic system, or photo-optical
system, including without limitation electronic mail, Internet communications,
instant messages, or facsimile communications.
● Cyber-bullying includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator
assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another
person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation
creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying.
● Cyber-bullying also includes the distribution by electronic means of a
communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic
medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting
creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying.
● Restorative measures means a continuum of school-based alternatives to
exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, that: (i) are adapted to
the particular needs of the school and community, (ii) contribute to maintaining
school safety, (iii) protect the integrity of a positive and productive learning climate,
(iv) teach students the personal and interpersonal skills they will need to be
successful in school and society, (v) serve to build and restore relationships among
students, families, schools, and communities, and (vi) reduce the likelihood of future
disruption by balancing accountability with an understanding of students’
behavioral health needs in order to keep students in school.
● School personnel means persons employed by, on contract with, or who volunteer in
a school district, including without limitation: school administrators, teachers,
school guidance counselors, school social workers, school counselors, school
psychologists, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, school
resource officers, and security guards.

Bullying Prevention and Response Plan

The Head of School or designee shall develop and maintain a bullying prevention and
response plan that advances the school’s goal of providing all students with a safe learning
environment free of bullying and harassment. This plan must be consistent with the
requirements listed below:

1. Bullying is contrary to state law and the policy of this school and District.
However, nothing in the school’s bullying prevention and response plan is
intended to infringe upon any right to exercise free expression or the free
exercise of religion or religiously based views protected under the First
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or under Section 3 of Article I of the
Illinois Constitution. Bullying is contrary to state law and the policy of this
school and District. The bullying policy is consistent with other policies of the
school.
2. Students are encouraged to immediately report bullying. A report may be
made orally or in writing to the Head of School or any staff member. All staff
members are available for help with a bully or to make a report about
bullying. The goals of any investigation and the supportive measures that
follow are to correct the situation to the extent possible and prevent future
repetition. Students are encouraged to immediately report bullying. A report
may be made orally or in writing to the Head of School or any staff member.
All staff members are available for help with a bully or to make a report about
bullying. Contact information is as follows: The School’s Main Phone Number
is 847-705-1234. Sara Motlagh, Head of School can be reached at
847-705-1234, ext. 301, or at motlagh@manh.org.
3. Consistent with Federal and State laws and rules governing student privacy
rights, includes procedures for promptly informing parents or guardians of
all students involved in the alleged incident of bullying through an in-person
meeting, phone call and/or email. Discussion, as appropriate, of the
availability of social work services, counseling, school psychological services,
other interventions, and restorative measures will be done through a
scheduled in-person meeting with the Head of School or alternatively by
other agreed upon method such as phone call, Zoom meeting, Google Meet,
FaceTime, etc.
4. The school shall promptly investigate and address reports of bullying, by,
among other things:
a) Making all reasonable efforts to complete the investigation within 10
school days after the date the report of a bullying incident was
received and taking into consideration additional relevant information
received during the course of the investigation about the reported
bullying incident.
b) Involving appropriate school support personnel and other staff
persons with knowledge, experience, and training on bullying
prevention, as deemed appropriate, in the investigation process.
c) Notifying the Head of School or school administrator or designee of
the reported incident of bullying as soon as possible after the report is
received. When a complaint is made the Head of School or designee
will determine the initial steps to protect those involved and to
prevent further disruption in the learning environment. Increased
supervision, separation of the involved parties or other strategies may
be employed. A determination will be made as to whether the
reported act of bullying is within the permissible scope of the school’s
jurisdiction. An impartial, fact-finding review of the complaint will be
made. All persons deemed to have knowledge of the incident(s) may
be interviewed.
d) Consistent with federal and State laws and rules governing student
privacy rights, providing parents/guardians of the students who are
parties to the investigation information about the investigation and an
opportunity to meet with the school administrator or his or her
designee to discuss the investigation, the findings of the investigation,
and the actions taken to address the reported incident of bullying.
e) Following the determination of whether or not the complaint is
substantiated and to what extent, the Head of School will determine
the appropriate corrective measures to implement. Information may
be shared with the school community but may be limited by
confidentiality laws or privacy considerations. In certain instances,
such as crime or abuse, government agencies will be appropriately
notified.
f) Interventions to address bullying may include, but are not limited to,
school social work services, restorative measures, social-emotional
skill building, counseling, school psychological services, and
community-based services.
g) The school will provide the victim with information regarding services
that are available within the district and community, such as
counseling, support services, and other programs.
5. A reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an act of bullying is
prohibited. A student’s act of reprisal or retaliation will be treated as
bullying for purposes of determining any consequences or other remedial
actions.
6. The school will not punish a student for reporting bullying or supplying information,
even if the school investigation concludes that no bullying
occurred. However, knowingly making a false accusation or providing
knowingly false information will be treated as bullying for purposes of
determining any consequences or other appropriate remedial actions.
7. The school bullying prevention and response plan is based on the
engagement of a range of school stakeholders, including students and
parents/guardians not limited to those who serve on the Board, PTO, and
other such groups.
8. The school shall post this policy on the school’s website and include it in the
student handbook, and where applicable, post it where other policies, rules,
and standards of conduct are currently posted. The policy must be
distributed annually to parents/guardians, students, and school personnel
(including new employees when hired) and must also be provided
periodically throughout the school year to students and faculty.

This policy is evaluated annually to assess outcomes and effectiveness including but
not limited to, factors such as: the frequency of victimization; student, staff, and family
observations of safety at the school; identification of areas where bullying occurs; the types
of bullying that are common or occurring; and bystander intervention or participation.

The evaluation process may use relevant data and information that the School already
collects for other purposes. The school must post the information developed as a result of
the policy evaluation on the school’s website, the information must be provided to school
administrators, Board members, school personnel, parents/guardians, and students.

Bullying/Safety Tip Line

● MANH Bullying/Safety Tip Line (847-705-1234, ext. 53) provides parents and
students with an additional option to report bullying and/or other safety concerns
within their campus. Similar to making a report in person or over the phone, when
making an online report, please include as much detailed information as possible
because doing so will greatly assist administrators in investigating and addressing
the concern(s).
● Although it is usually best to speak directly with an administrator when making a
report about bullying and/or other safety concerns at your school, sometimes
students and parents are not comfortable doing so. Toward that end, this tool also
allows for anonymous reporting.
● Please keep in mind that online reports received outside of school hours will not be
reviewed and acted upon until school is back in session. With that said, if your
concern(s) require(s) immediate attention, please contact local law enforcement.