On District letterhead

Date

Re: Teen Dating Violence

Dear Parents/Guardians:

At our school, teen dating violence is unacceptable. We are committed to providing our students with a school environment where they can learn free from worries about school violence. The purpose of this letter is to inform you of School Board policy, 7:185, Teen Dating Violence Prohibited, which is a component of the District’s anti-bullying program.

Research has shown that teen dating violence can form lifelong, unhealthy habits during young adults’ formative years. Educating parents/guardians, students, and staff about teen dating violence can help us identify incidents of teen dating violence at school or school-related activities. The Board’s policy states that teen dating violence occurs whenever a student uses or threatens to use physical, mental, or emotional abuse to control an individual in the dating relationship; or uses or threatens to use sexual violence in the dating relationship.

Students in grades 7 through 12 will receive age-appropriate instruction on teen dating violence including its warning signs and prevention. School staff will also receive training on handling the signs and incidents of teen dating violence. I have asked our school staff members to respond immediately and with compassion to a student who reports teen dating violence. After evaluating the situation to determine if an immediate referral to my office is needed, a staff member will give the student our form for reporting bullying, 7:180-AP1, E5, Report Form for Bullying.

Finally, I have directed staff members to intervene immediately to stop incidents of teen dating violence occurring at school. They will proceed under our District’s procedures for responding to incidences of bullying and school violence. 

Below are some warning signs that your child may be involved in teen dating violence:

• Name-calling and put-downs. Does one individual in the relationship call the other person names? Does he or she use insults to put the other person down?

• Extreme Jealousy. Does one individual in the relationship act overly jealous when the other talks to peers? Does one person accuse the other of flirting even when it’s innocent conversation?

• Making Excuses. Does one individual in the relationship make excuses for the other? Does he or she have to apologize for the other person’s behavior?

• Canceling or changing plans. Does one individual cancel plans often, and at the last minute? Do the reasons make sense or sound untrue?

• Monitoring. Does one person call, text message, or check up on the other constantly? Does he or she demand to know the other person’s plans or with whom the other person was with?

• Uncontrolled Anger. Have you seen one individual lose his or her temper? Does he or she throw things – or break things – when angry? Does one person in the relationship worry a lot about upsetting the other?

• Isolation. Has one individual in the relationship given up spending time with friends? Has that individual stopped doing activities that used to be important?

• Dramatic Changes. Have either of the individuals in the relationship had appearance changes? Has he or she lost or gained weight? Have his or her grades dropped? Does he or she seem depressed?

• Injuries. Does one person in the relationship have unexplained injuries, or does he or she give explanations that don’t make sense?

• Quick Progression. Did the relationship get serious very quickly?

These signs do not necessarily mean that your child is involved in teen dating violence, but, if present, talk to your child about teen dating violence.

For more information about this issue, please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s educational materials at: 

    cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/intimatepa....

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely, 

Building Principal

UPDATED:    July 2018