Bronx Arts and Science DASA
Mission Statement
Mission Statement- It is the goal of the administration, faculty, staff and parents of iLearn Schools to provide a safe, secure and friendly educational environment for students. iLearn Schools has developed and implemented a School Climate Team, chaired by the DASA coordinator, that provides leadership and direction to achieve this goal. The School Climate Team serves as a professional learning committee (PLC) to implement programs and procedures to have iLearn Schools in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Dignity for All Students Act.
What is DASA?
The Dignity for All Students Act, effective July 1, 2012, requires that “No student shall be subjected to harassment by employees or students on school property or at a school function; nor shall any student be subjected to discrimination based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex by school employees or students on school property or at a school function.”
A web page with additional information and downloadable resources is available at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/.
School Psychologist
“Harassment or bullying” means the creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by [verbal] threats, intimidation or abuse, including cyberbullying as defined in Education Law section 11(8), that either:
(a) has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional [or] and/or physical well-being [; or] including conduct , [verbal] threats, intimidation or abuse that reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause emotional harm; or
(b) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause physical injury to a student or to cause a student to fear for his or her physical safety [; such conduct verbal threats, intimidation or abuse includes but is not limited to conduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse]
(c) Such definition shall include acts of harassment or bullying that occur: (i) on school property, as defined in section 100.2(kk)(1)(i) of this Part; and/or (ii) at a school function, as defined in section 100.2(kk)(1) of this Part; or (iii) off school property where such acts create or would foreseeably create a risk of substantial disruption within the school environment, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation or abuse might reach school property.
(d) For purposes of this subdivision, the term “threats, intimidation or abuse” shall include verbal and non-verbal actions. Acts of harassment or bullying shall include, but not be limited to, acts based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex.
(e) “Emotional harm” that takes place in the context of “harassment or bullying” means harm to a student’s emotional well-being through creation of a hostile school environment that is so severe or pervasive as to unreasonably and substantially interfere with a student’s education.
School Psychologist
iLearn Schools Core Values
The purpose of the iLearn Schools core values is to promote positive student behavior(s) and build a positive school culture and climate. Positive behaviors and demonstrations of good character will be anchored and evaluated by the iLearn Schools’ core values: Honesty, Integrity, Respect, Community, Compassion, and Excellence. It has been stated by Steve Ellenwood, the director of Boston University’s Center for Character and Social Responsibility, that “teaching character education in schools is actually unavoidable … [E]verything the school chooses to do or not do in terms of curriculum choices” (qtd. in Barnwell, par. 13). The 2010 Josephson Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth reveals a dire need to integrate character education in public-school education.
To protect the social-emotional and moral health of students, iLearn Schools has proactively established core values, outlined below, to promote actions that are representative of productive, honest citizens from each of its students. It is believed that iLearn Schools core values will contribute to a confident, encouraging school culture where acts of good character are expected and recognized by all stakeholders.
Honesty – We tell the truth and admit wrongdoing. We are trustworthy and act with integrity.
Integrity – We exhibit integrity by doing what is right. We are role models for other students by carrying ourselves with dignity.
Respect – We show high regard for our teachers, our classmates and ourselves. We treat others as we would want to be treated. We understand that all people have value as human beings and we respect differences and embrace others’ perspectives.
Community – We demonstrate pride in our school. We offer assistance to our fellow classmates and teachers. We are a family.
Compassion – We are compassionate through both word and deed. We care deeply about others and respect differences of opinions. We are kind and show empathy towards our classmates and teachers.
Excellence – We strive for excellence by exemplifying positive leadership, responsibility and organization, and a consistent positive attitude.
