Concerns

Have a concern?

At the ELC/PC, we will…

• Build strong, positive connections with and among students as we instill honesty, respect, and empathy
• Empower students to think critically and reach their highest potential
• Establish collaborative partnerships that encourage our students to positively contribute to our society

Throughout the course of a school year, concerns will still arise and it is vital that we problem-solve together. Please don't hesitate to reach out to staff if you have concerns. We are on the same team and want to hear from you and find a solution that works for everyone.

Classroom Concern? - Contact your child's teacher

Lunch or Recess Concern? - Contact Katie Hardyman
Social Emotional Concern? - Contact Jordyn Van Zeeland
School Concern? - Contact Rachael Johnson
Special Education Concern? - Contact special education teacher or Nicole Tepe

Bus Concern? - Contact the Bus Garage at 608-437-7106

Bullying

Bullying, harassment, or intimidation in any fashion is unacceptable behavior and is prohibited at school. The Intermediate Center strives to create a school community where all people are welcome and students learn to be respectful, responsible, and ready when working with others. To learn more about our proactive efforts, please visit our Guidance page.

Despite our best efforts, peer conflict will happen. When it does, it is important to know when it reaches the level of bullying.

According to stopbullying.gov, “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. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

• An Imbalance of Power: Individuals who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or social status—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
• Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.”

Bullying is not perceptions of rudeness, criticism, “not getting your way,” healthy peer conflict, isolated and unintentional physical contact, or lack of consideration. These are examples of conduct that are unlikely to constitute bullying, harassment, and/or intimidation.

Regardless of whether the problem is bullying or not, we want to know about it so we can address it. Please notify the Dean of Students, Katie Hardyman, if your student is struggling with a peer conflict.

If you believe the concern does constitute bullying, we need you to document your concern by completing this form and submitting it to the Dean of Students or the Principal, Rachael Johnson. When this form is submitted, an investigation into the issue will begin and will be completed within 10 school days.

To learn more about our Anti-Bullying/Harassment/Intimidation Procedures, read the administrative regulations here to learn more.

See something? Say something!

One of the best ways to improve school safety is for students, families, and staff to share concerning behavior with school administrators when they see it. If you have traveled by airplane, you are familiar with the regular announcements to report any suspicious activity to the Department of Homeland Security. “If you see something, say something” also applies at school.

When students hear of situations where someone might get hurt or they see someone harming another person, they are taught to report the issue to the supervising adult. This could be the classroom teacher or the supervising adult at lunch or recess. If students hear something outside of school or on the bus, they can still come to the office to report the issue directly to Mrs. Johnson, the ELC/PC principal, or share what they heard or saw to the office staff.

Parents or community members can also report issues of safety or concern to the school. This could be via phone at 437-7506 or 437-7606, via email to Mrs. Johnson or another staff person, or stopping into the office in person.

Speak Up, Speak Out School Resource Center

Students, parents, school staff, or any community members can submit a school safety concern or threat via a website, mobile phone application, or toll-free number. Resource center staff work around-the-clock to respond to tips and to deploy a response locally by communicating directly with school administrators, law enforcement, and counselors.