Click HERE to download a copy of Natura Academy's Anti-Bullying Policy.

Natura Academy is committed to ensuring that all students feel safe and respected at school. Bullying is a behavior that is not tolerated at Natura Academy in any capacity, as it takes away a student’s ability to feel safe or comfortable while in attendance at school. Bullying has harmful short-term and long-term consequences, can contribute to symptoms of depression, can lower one’s self-esteem, can contribute to school anxiety or avoidance, and can contribute to lower academic success. Bullying is also contrary to State law, and can have legal implications outside of the disciplinary action Natura Academy may take in cases of bullying.

The General Assembly finds that a safe and civil school environment is necessary for students to learn and achieve and that bullying causes physical, psychological, and emotional harm to students and interferes with students' ability to learn and participate in school activities. The General Assembly further finds that bullying has been linked to other forms of antisocial behavior, such as vandalism, shoplifting, skipping and dropping out of school, fighting, using drugs and alcohol, sexual harassment, and sexual violence. Because of the negative outcomes associated with bullying in schools, the General Assembly finds that school districts, charter schools, and non-public, non-sectarian elementary and secondary schools should educate students, parents, and school district, charter school, or non-public, non-sectarian elementary or secondary school personnel about what behaviors constitute prohibited bullying.

Bullying on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status, sexual orientation, gender-related identity or expression, unfavorable discharge from military service, association with a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics, physical appearance, socioeconomic status, academic status, pregnancy, parenting status, homelessness or any other distinguishing characteristic is prohibited in all school districts, charter schools, and non-public, non-sectarian elementary and secondary schools. No student shall be subjected to bullying:

● During any school-sponsored education program or activity.

● While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles, at designated

school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events

or activities.

● Through the transmission of information from a school computer, a school computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment.

● 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 a school district or school if the bullying

causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of a school. This

item applies only in cases in which a school administrator or teacher receives a report that

bullying through this means has occurred and does not require a district or school to staff or

monitor any non-school-related activity, function, or program.

Nothing in this Section 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 United States Constitution or under Section 3 of Article I of the Illinois Constitution.

In this Section, "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:

● Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student's or students' person or

property.

● Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student's or students' physical or mental health.

● Substantially interfering with the student's or students' academic performance.

● Substantially interfering with the student's or students' ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school. 

Bullying, as defined in this policy, 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, posting or distributing sexually explicit images, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying. This list is meant to be illustrative and non-exhaustive.

"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 in this Section. 

"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 in this Section. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, pursuant to Section 22-110 of the Illinois School Code, cyber-bullying also includes the posting or distribution of an unauthorized digital replica by electronic means if the posting or distribution creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying per this policy.

REPRISAL OR RETALIATION AND FALSE ACCUSATIONS

Any sort of reprisal or retaliatory behavior against any person who reports a bullying incident is

prohibited by Natura Academy. An individual that reports an incident of bullying to school staff or school administrators in good faith will not be penalized in any way. However, an individual that knowingly makes false accusations of bullying as a means of retaliation or bullying behavior may be subject to consequences, as determined by Natura Academy administrators. Additionally, if individuals knowingly support bullying by passively witnessing it or by actively supporting it, they may be subject to consequences as determined by Natura Academy administrators.

CURRICULUM AND TRAINING

Students and staff will receive separate, age appropriate curriculum on bullying prevention on an annual basis. Staff may also receive updated training throughout the school year as needed, or if it is determined that additional resources are needed to address specific bullying concerns in the school.

RESPONSE PROCEDURES

Natura Academy staff will do everything possible to ensure that bullying does not occur. Students are under close supervision of school staff at all times, and are not to be left unsupervised in the classroom or other spaces. Natura Academy staff are expected to intervene and immediately address any behaviors that may be considered mildly inappropriate, in order to prevent an escalation of behaviors from occurring. Additionally, all Natura Academy staff are expected to report any incidence of bullying, or any inappropriate conduct between students, to school administrators. All incidents of reported/suspected bullying will be investigated, making reasonable efforts to complete the investigation within 10 school days. Parent(s) and guardian(s) of all students involved in an incident of bullying will be informed within 24 hours of the incident of bullying being reported to school staff or administration. They will also be provided with relevant information pertaining to an investigation, and will be given the opportunity to meet with Natura Academy administrators to discuss the findings of the investigation, and actions that are being taken to address the reported incident of bullying. Throughout these discussions, Natura Academy administrators will comply with Federal and State laws regarding a student’s right to privacy.

CONSEQUENCES

When determining appropriate consequences for bullying behavior, Natura Academy will take into consideration a number of factors, including but not limited to the student’s age, the presence of any developmental concerns, disabilities, relevant circumstances, previous behavior, the severity of present behavior, the relationship between involved parties, and the context in which the incident occurred.

Therapeutic services, restorative measures, social-emotional skill building, and community-based services will be available to all parties directly involved in an incident of bullying. A hierarchy of consequences may be used as a basis for determining the disciplinary action.

NOTIFICATION AND REVIEW PROCESS

Students, parents and staff will be made aware of this policy. The policy will be incorporated into the Natura Academy Student/Parent Handbook and the Employee Handbook. Both handbooks are distributed at the beginning of each school year. Student/Parent Handbooks are also distributed upon enrollment, and Employee handbooks are distributed upon hire. This policy will be reviewed annually by Natura Academy administrators to determine the degree to which this policy is or is not effective, and what changes can be made to make this policy more effective in the future. Natura Academy will gather behavioral data and information from school staff to determine the effectiveness of this program.

If any changes are made to this policy mid-year, Natura Academy will promptly notify students,

families, and school staff of these changes.

CONDUCT OFF SCHOOL GROUNDS

Natura Academy will do its best to support students with any concerns relating to bullying that occur outside of school. If any bullying behavior as outlined in this section occurs between Natura Academy students off school grounds, students that engage in bullying behaviors may still be subject to the conditions set forth in this policy.

SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have any questions, concerns, or would like additional information on how Natura Academy addresses bullying, please contact Natura Academy’s Director of Education.

Dana Fair

(224) 501-1364

dfair@naturaacademy.net