The Dana Hall School fully supports and complies with the Massachusetts Anti-Bullying Bill.

The Massachusetts Anti-Bullying Bill defines bullying as follows: “‘Bullying,’ the repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a victim that: (i) causes physical or emotional harm to the victim or damage to the victim’s property; (ii) places the victim in reasonable fear of harm to himself or of damage to his property; (iii) creates a hostile environment at school for the victim; (iv) infringes on the rights of the victim at school; or (v) materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school. For the purposes of this section, bullying shall include cyber-bullying.”

Dana Hall strictly adheres to the policies below which are printed in the Student/Parent Handbook:

Bullying and Harassment Policies

All Dana Hall community members have the right to be treated with respect and sensitivity. It is School policy that no member of the community may bully, haze or harass another through any means. This includes, but is not limited to, individual or group face-to-face interactions, via telephone or cell phone, through text- or video-messaging, or through the use of various Internet technologies. Dana Hall defines bullying, harassment, and hazing as conduct that: denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of her protected status, or that of her relatives, friends, or associates; has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive school environment; or has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's comfort level in the daily course of school life, or otherwise adversely affects an individual's daily life. Harassment is illegal when based on age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, ancestry, or sexual orientation. A severe act of cruelty, repeated socially cruel acts, or act of disrespect, including harassment of any type, may result in a student’s suspension or expulsion from Dana Hall School.

Any member of the Dana Hall School community is encouraged to promptly report any behavior perceived as harassment to the Head of School, Director of the Middle School, or school Counselor so that the incident can be investigated. It is unlawful to retaliate against a community member for filing a complaint of sexual or other harassment or for cooperating in an investigation of such a complaint. The School will not tolerate any retaliation against anyone who in good faith reports an incident of alleged harassment. If an individual is found to have violated the policy, she is subject to disciplinary action.

Digital Responsibility

We encourage parents to take a proactive role in monitoring cell phone and Internet use and talk with their daughter to establish acceptable guidelines. We also recommend that Internet and cell phone use be eliminated or actively supervised during established homework hours.  Laptops and cell phones left in middle schoolers’ bedrooms at night can present both temptation and distraction. Students also are reminded that all communication on the Internet is public; many people, including School administrators and parents, have access to what is posted.  Students are encouraged for safety and other reasons not to share information about themselves on the Internet.

Topics of relational aggression and bullying are addressed in the following grade level Forums:

6^th- Friendships, relationships, peer pressure, bullying and Peer Education

7^th- Full of Ourselves, Peer Education

8^th- Exclusion and Respect

The Middle School also brings in an Internet Detective from the Dover Police Department as a guest speaker to discuss dangerous websites and cyberbullying.

9^th- Bullying and Peer Education

10^th- Tolerance and respect

12^th- Bullying in college, insensitive behavior

Julia Taylor is a high school counselor, highly endorsed by Rosalind Wiseman, who specializes in helping girls deal with issues of relational aggression, body image, and self-empowerment.

Rachel Simmons supports this reading list for girls to help them sort through friendships and bullying.

A Thin Line is a great resource for students. It is a social marketing campaign from MTV that address the "thin line between what may begin as a harmless joke and something that could end up having a serious impact on you or someone else."

Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC)

The Bully Project

Voices Against Violence

Deana's Educational Theater