Student Conduct

Bullying, substance abuse, cheating and more - these behaviors are not okay! Lake Worth ISD is committed to helping our students stay safe.

These behaviors include bullying, cyberbullying, teen dating violence, suicide, gang activity, human trafficking, and substance abuse.

Lake Worth ISD has a safe and anonymous reporting tool if you need to report any of these items. Look for the Butterfly with an "A" for links to our Awarity Reporting Form.

For anything you read on this page that you would like to report to Lake Worth ISD, you can always use the link to Awarity or click the logo above.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

The use of alcohol tobacco or other illegal substances place a young person at great risk physically, emotionally and legally.

Simple tips for parents and other interested adults:

Set rules with clear consequences
Praise and reward good behavior for compliance and enforce consequences for non-compliance.
Know where your teen is and what he or she will be doing during unsupervised time.
Talk to your teen- find out more about school, their friends and interests.
Keep teens engaged in after school activities or programs.
Discuss your core values and expectations with your teen.
Spend time together as a family regularly and be involved in your kid's lives.
Learn the facts about marijuana, underage drinking and other drug use so you are able to talk to your teen about the harmful effects
Get to know your teen’s friends and their parents.
Stay in touch with the adult involved in your teen’s life (coaches, employers, teachers) and ask them to let you know of any changes in your teen.

It is also important to be aware of potential signs of substance abuse.

Changes in friends
Negative changes in schoolwork, truancy, or declining grades
Increased secrecy about possessions, activities and friends
Use of incense or room deodorizer to hide smoke or other odors
Change in clothing choices and or clothes that highlight drug use
Need to borrow money, missing money or unapproved ATM withdrawals
Evidence of drug paraphernalia such as pipes, rolling papers, etc. or inhalant products (common household products, rags and paper bags)
Use of eye drops to cover up bloodshot eyes or use of mouthwash or breath mints to cover up alcohol
Missing prescription drugs - especially narcotics and mood stabilizers.

Resources

Internet Resources

Being Mean

Everyone knows what being mean is. You have either been mean to someone or felt someone be mean to you. Whether it was rolling your eyes at someone or talking about someone, everyone has experienced meanness on some level. Being mean usually comes from the inability to control your anger. Anger is a natural human emotion and is nature's way of empowering us to protect ourselves against an attack or threat to our well-being. The problem is not anger, but the problem is how the anger is managed. Mismanaged anger and rage are the major cause of conflict in our personal and professional relationships, and often results in people being mean to one another.

Other names and terms: Anger, aggression, short tempered, hot tempered, mean-spirited

Trends Concerning Mean Behavior:
- In 2007, 5,764 young people ages 10 to 24 were murdered—an average of 16 each day.
- Homicide was the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 24 years old.
- Among 10- to 24-year-olds, homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans; the second leading cause of death for Hispanics; and the third leading cause of death for Asian/Pacific Islanders and American Indians and Alaska Natives.
- In 2000, 9% of the murders in the U.S. were committed by persons under the age of 18.
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents and teenagers.
- In 2008, 1,280 juveniles were arrested for murder, 3,340 for forcible rape, and 56,000 for aggravated assault
Key Points of Discussion: Parents, guardians, youth workers, and friends are ideal to help understand and deal with issues involving mean behavior. Listed below are key points that might be useful in discussing mean behavior:
- Find the root of the anger and meanness. Most people are mean for a reason, but often cannot or will not communicate why they are feeling the way that they do. Is the student mean because they arejealous of the other person? Has the other person treated them badly or hurt their feelings before in some type of way? Is there a difference of opinion between the two individuals? Is there simply a personality clash? It is always important to remember to stay positive while communicating about anger and anger management. Remember to remind the student that you often get back what you put out and meanness will rebound on you. Instead, learn coping skills let go of anger and resentment; seek professional help for your student, if necessary.
- Keep other people’s feelings in mind. Teach children the old saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. "It might be an old saying, but it stands true, even in today’s world. Teach children that words can be just as damaging and hurtful as actions. Make a point to ask students how they might feel if someone did or said something mean or hurtful to them.
- Help children develop coping skills. Even before students get into a situation where they are being mean or someone is being mean to them, have discussions with them about appropriate and inappropriate ways or dealing with certain “mean” situations. Ask them, “What would you do if…”, “How would you handle it when...”, or “What would you say if…” Give them appropriate skills to handle those tough situations. If you need assistance, see your school’s counselor.
- Don’t judge others. Teach children to be accepting of their friends. Remind them that not everyone has the same situation, circumstance, or opportunities that they might have.
Talking to Children:
When talking to children about being mean it is important to discuss several things: feelings, positive behavior, kindness, and choices. Talking to your children about feelings and positive reactions to those feelings will help them create healthy relationships with others. This is also a perfect time to teach your children about manners, being polite, and treating others the way they would like to be treated. Anger is usually the feeling associated with being mean to others. By teaching your children how to be kind to others will show them the importance of having good manners, being considerate of other’s feelings, and to be compassionate toward others.
- Talk to your children about anger, and things that can cause them to become angry. Tell them what anger is. Explain how anger is just another normal feeling people experience.
- Things that can cause people to become angry:
  - hitting,
  - teasing,
  - losing something that belongs to them, etc.
- Talk about how they can choose to respond positively when they experience anger:
  - taking a timeout to be alone,
  - breathing,
  - talking to a friend,
  - writing their feelings in a journal,
  - walking away,
  - drawing,
  - reading, etc.
- Talk to your children about being kind, and give your own examples of how you show your kindness, and praise them when you see them doing kind things for others:
  - sharing your belongings with others,
  - cooking for the family,
  - hugging,
  - giving compliments,
  - helping, etc.
- Talk to them about what feelings they experience when people are mean to them:
  - sadness,
  - loneliness,
  - left out,
  - angry, etc.
- Teach your child the golden rule and give them examples: treat others the way you would like to be treated.
  - share with others,
  - do not yell at others,
  - ask for permission before you take something that does not belong to you, etc.
Risk Factors:
- Violent or aggressive behavior
- Divorce, poverty, stress, single parenting, unemployment, exposure to violence (whether within the family, community, or media)
- Genetic
Warning Signs:
- Extreme anger
- Frequent outbursts
- Easily frustrated
- Easily irritated
Coping Skills and Techniques:
- Teach your children how to breathe deeply
- Teach your children how to count to ten when they are angry
- Encourage your child to do jumping jacks and other exercises
- Give your child examples of positive self-talk
- Encourage your children to talk to a friend/adult
- Suggest to your children to go to a quiet place to calm down

Bullying is a widespread and serious problem that can happen anywhere, anytime, anyplace. It is not a phase children have to go through, it is not just “boys being boys”, it is not a “rite of passage”, it is not "just messing around", and it is not something that kids just learn to grow out of. Bullying is a serious, nationwide problem that can have lasting harmful effects. In some cases, it has even resulted in death. Although definitions and severity of bullying can vary, most agree that bullying involves:

Imbalance of Power: people who bully use their power to control or harm and the people being bullied may have a hard time defending themselves
Intent to Cause Harm: actions done by accident are not bullying; the person bullying has a goal to cause harm
Repetition: incidents of bullying happen to the same the person over and over by the same person or group

What is Bullying?

To cause physical harm to a student, damaging a student’s property or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm or actions resulting in an intimidating, threatening or abusive environment for a student.

Engaging in written or oral expression or physical conduct that Lake Worth ISD determines:

to have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property; or
to be sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive environment for a student.

Harassment of a student is defined as physical, verbal or nonverbal conduct based on the student's race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or any other basis prohibited by law that is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that the conduct:

Affects a student's ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile or offensive educational environment.
Has the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with the student's academic performance; or
Otherwise adversely affects the student's educational opportunities.

Updates and Trends:

Today, an estimated 200 million children and youth around the world are being victimized by their peers.
It is estimated that 10-15 % of children repeatedly bully others, and 10-15% of
children are repeatedly bullied.
Gender differences have been found indicating that boys are bullied physically more often than girls. Girls are generally more often involved in indirect forms of aggression, such as excluding others, rumor spreading and unpleasant manipulating of situations to hurt those they do not like.
Although there is no consistent evidence that bullying overall is increasing, one area of growing concern among children is cyber bullying
Bullying has been reported as occurring in every school and kindergarten or day-care environment in which it has been investigated

Talking to children: Use the following tips to discuss the topic of bullying with your children:

Parent-to-child Communication: Ask your children how their day is going, what they did during recess, ask about their friends, and about their teachers. Maintaining an open line of communication is the key to knowing what is going on in their lives.
Self-esteem: A healthy self-esteem is one way to help them overcome a potential bully. Teaching your children to be confident in themselves, in what they accomplish, and praising their efforts are ways to a positive and healthy lifestyle. It is important for you to show your support by getting involved. Encourage them to play sports, take on a hobby, to volunteer their time helping others, and other fun and creative things.
Social Skills: Provide your children with plenty of opportunities to socialize and build healthy friendships. Encourage them to play sports, take on a hobby, to volunteer their time helping others, and other fun and creative things.
Open Communication: Teach your children it is okay for them to reach out to other adults for help when they need help. Reassure them they can turn to you or any other trusting adult when they are uncomfortable with any situation.

Risk Factors and Warning Signs:

Bruises or injuries
Anxiousness
Changes with eating, sleeping, and activity patterns
Avoiding situations (refusing to go to school, refusing to get on the bus, etc.)
Depression
Low-Self Esteem
Low grades
Suicidal thoughts
Health problems
Moodiness
Fear
Cry themselves to sleep
Refuse to talk about what is bothering them
Money is missing (bully takes it)
Start stealing or ask for money (to pay the bully)
Begin to bully other kids (siblings)
Become aggressive, unreasonable, and/or violent
Their possessions are missing.

Coping Skills and Techniques:

Ask your child(ren) directly if they are being bullied.
Refuse to keep the bullying a secret.
Arrange to meet your child(ren) at school when it is most likely to occur.
Make it clear to your child(ren) it is important to avoid the bully altogether.
Report the bullying to school officials.
Reassure your child it is not their fault they have been bullied.
Teach your child it’s okay to walk away, report it, and to stay away from the bully(ies).
Sign your child up for an activity they really like (it is important to build self-esteem).
Teach your child bullies are insecure, have a low self-esteem, and pick on others to make themselves look and feel better.
Encourage your kid(s) to talk and vent about the bullying.
Report the bullying to the bully’s parents if you have to.

Resources

Internet Resources

Cheating

Cheating is when a person misleads, deceives, or acts dishonestly on purpose. For kids, cheating may happen at school, at home, or while playing a sport. Cheating is so tempting, because it makes difficult things seem easy. In many cases, cheating only makes the original situation worse. For example, cheating on a test might help you pass the test, but it will not help you to understand or comprehend the information. Cheating is a bad choice, and there are many negative consequences that could follow cheating.

Other Names and Terms: mislead, con, deceptive

Trends Concerning Cheating: Because cheating trends are on the rise in the United States, parents, guardians, youth workers, and children should be aware of trends related to the topic. They should also be prepared to discuss them. The following trends are important to remember:

Academic cheating is defined as representing someone else's work as your own. It can take many forms, including sharing another's work, purchasing a term paper or test questions in advance, paying another to do the work for you, downloading the assignment from the internet, or copying someone’s homework answers down.
Research about cheating among middle school children (Ages 12-14) has shown that: There is increased motivation to cheat because there is more emphasis on grades; Even those students who say it is wrong, cheat; If the goal is to get a good grade, they will cheat.
Cheating may begin in elementary school when children break or bend the rules to win competitive games against classmates. It peaks during high school when about 75% of students admit to some sort of academic wrong doing.
Cheating has the potential to increase due to pressure for high grades.
Math and Science are the courses in which cheating most often occurs.
Computers and technology can make cheating easier than ever before. For example, students can download term papers and other assignments from the internet.
Grades, rather than education, have become the major focus of many students.

Key points of Discussion: Parents, guardians, youth workers, and friends are ideal to help understand and deal with issues involving cheating. Listed below are key points that might be useful in discussing cheating:

Stay cool. Don’t ignore the issue of cheating, but try not to overreact. If you overreact, you may risk the opportunity to have an open, honest discussion about the real reason the student chose to cheat.
Let your child know you are disappointed, but follow that up with a calm, measured discussion, which includes questions like this: “Would you feel better getting a good grade because you earned it or because you copied someone’s paper?” “How would you feel if you found out that (name a hero or role model) had cheated?” “How would you feel if someone was copying from a paper that you worked hard on?” Do not ask questions that could be answered with yes or no.
Look for the reasons behind the cheating. Was this a one-time mistake or a call for help from a stressed-out kid?
Show your child that you support the school’s consequences, but at the same time truly care how he is dealing with the whole situation. You will send a clear message that the cheating was wrong and you are invested in helping him move past it. Learning why your child cheated should give you some tools to help. Options at that point might include trimming down the extracurricular activity list, enlisting the help of a tutor, or simply having a talk about the importance of honesty.

Talking to Children: Cheating is a very important topic to discuss with your children. Cheating on a test, plagiarizing on a research paper, looking at another child’s paper and copying their information, or cheating while playing a game are all examples of possible ways they may choose. Not only will they suffer the negative consequences if they are caught, they will have to deal with their own guilt. Teaching your children honesty is the best policy, will help keep them out of bad situations. Children may cheat for several reasons:

The task may be too difficult.
They may feel the need to win.
Their own personal expectations may be unrealistic, etc.

Parents are their children’s first teachers, and modeling positive and healthy behavior is a very important and powerful way to reach them. Whether or not your child has been caught and disciplined for cheating, you should discuss the topic and the consequences associated.

They may get caught, and adults will view them as an untrustworthy child. Usually, the chances of them being accused of other negative behavior are higher.
Other children may treat them differently. Their reputation and trustworthiness may be compromised among their peers and adults.
They are cheating themselves out of an education and a learning experience. Whether they cheat on a test or while playing a game, if they cheat they will not know how well they could have done without cheating.

Risk Factors and Warning Signs:

If your child comes home with unusually high grades, and you know they do not demonstrate mastery of the subject/questions.
If your child’s language on class work/homework does not reflect their level of understanding.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is when a child, preteen, or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet (Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, or X (formally known as Twitter)) interactive and digital technologies (Skype, FaceTime, etc.), or mobile phones. It has to have a child on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a child against another child.

Once adults become involved, it is defined as cyber-harassment or cyber stalking. Adult cyber-harassment or cyber stalking is NEVER referred to as cyberbullying. Cyberbullying affects many adolescents and teens on a daily basis.

According to the Lake Worth ISD Code of Conduct, "students are prohibited from Send, post, deliver, or possess electronic messages that are abusive, obscene, sexually oriented, threatening, harassing, damaging to another’s reputation, or illegal, including cyberbullying and “sexting,” either on or off school property, if the conduct causes a substantial disruption to the educational environment or infringes on the rights of another student at school." Any person taking, disseminating, transferring, or sharing obscene, sexually oriented, lewd, or otherwise illegal images or photographs will be disciplined according to the Student Code of Conduct and may, in certain circumstances, be reported to law enforcement.

Affects a student's ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile or offensive educational environment.
Has the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with the student's academic performance; or
Otherwise adversely affects the student's educational opportunities.

Cyberbullying can take place in many forms, examples may include the following:

Sending mean messages or threats to a person's email account or cell phone
Spreading rumors online or through texts
Posting hurtful or threatening messages on social networking sites or web pages
Stealing a person's account information to break into their account and send damaging messages
Pretending to be someone else online to hurt another person
Taking unflattering pictures of a person and spreading them through cell phones or the Internet
Sexting or circulating sexually suggestive pictures or messages about a person

Unfortunately, in most cases, cyber bullying goes unreported by adolescents and teens, and unnoticed by adults.

Other Names and Terms: Cyber stalking, cyber harassment, cyber threats

Trends Concerning Cyber Bullying:

Over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying.
More than 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyber bullying online (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or e-mail).
Over 25 percent of adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through their cell phones or the Internet.
Over 50% of young people do not tell their parents when cyber bullying occurs.
Fewer than 1 in 5 cyber bullying incidents are reported to law enforcement.
1 in 10 adolescents or teens have had embarrassing or damaging pictures taken of them without their or their parents’ knowledge or permission. Often these pictures are taken using cell phone cameras.
About 1 in 5 teens have posted or sent sexually suggestive or nude pictures of themselves to someone else.
Girls are more likely than boys to be involved in cyber bullying, serving as both cyber bullies and victims.
Over 80 percent of teens use a cell phone regularly, therefore, making it the most popular form of technology and a common medium for cyber bullying.
Cyber bullying affects all races.

Key Points of Discussion:

If you discover that your child is being cyber bullied, be sure to discuss it with them. Get the all of the important details in regards to the cyber bullying. Offer assurance that it's not your child's fault. Talking to school administrators, school counselors, and teachers also may help.
Many schools, school districts, and after-school clubs have established protocols for responding to cyber bullying; these vary by district and state. Before reporting the problem, discuss your intents with your student. As he or she could have concerns about "tattling" or being a snitch and prefer the problem be handled at home.
Block your student’s availability to the cyber bully. Most devices have settings that allow you to electronically block emails, IMs, or text messages from specific people. If the cyber bullying continues after blocking has occurred, report that contact to the authorities.
Many kids who are bullied cannot resist the temptation to check web sites or phones to see if there are new messages. Keep the computers and laptops in a public place in the house (family room, living room, and kitchen) and limit the use of cell phones and online games. Some online media companies allow you to turn off text messaging services during certain hours.
Know who your students are in their online world. Check their postings and the sites they visit. Be aware of how they spend their time online and know their online friends. Talk to them about the importance of privacy and why it is a bad idea to share personal information online. Encourage them to safeguard passwords, and require they share their passwords with you.
Tell children to get an adult involved as soon as the bullying starts.Start talking early, especially with the purchase of cell phone or laptop. Cyber bullying can start with children as young as 8 or 9 years old.

Risk Factors and Warning Signs: Risk factors and warning signs may be used to identify children who are more at risk of cyber-bullying than others.

Risk Factors:

Children who have a computer in their bedroom are more susceptible to online predators than those who do not. Set up your computer in a family room where your child’s online behavior can be easily monitored.
Children who do not know about online safety. Teach your children they should never share any personal information online: phone number, home address, school address, personal pictures, etc. Also, make sure your children know they should never meet an online “friend” in person. Share factual stories with them about the dangers of meeting cyber “friends” in person.
Children who are free to use the internet however they choose. Make a list of internet rules, and make sure children understand the consequences if these rules are broken. Also, make sure you limit their online use daily.

Warning Signs:

Children who abruptly stop using the computer/internet. Ask your child about what has caused them to lose interest in the computer/internet. Ask open-ended questions like:
What made you want to stop using your computer?
What is your least favorite thing about using your computer?
Children who seem scared or nervous while on the computer.
Children who seem scared, nervous, or angry after using the computer.
Children who abruptly lose interest in going to school.
Children who lose interest in family activities and or socializing with their peers.

Resources

Internet Quick Reference and Downloads

Internet Links

Cyberbullying Research Links and Downloads

Disrespect

Disrespect means to have little or no respect for something or someone. Disrespect can be displayed, not only by the way that you talk to someone or treat someone, but also by your attitude and actions towards someone. When thinking about disrespect, it is vital that we take into consideration the importance of relationship building between all people. Remember, different is not better or worse. Different is just different.

Other Names and Terms: Talking back, rolling eyes, stomping feet, name calling, being rude, constant complaining

Key Points of Discussion: Parents, guardians, youth workers, and friends are ideal to help understand and deal with issues involving disrespect. Listed below are key points that might be useful in discussing disrespect:

Model respectful behavior. Before approaching a situation that's making your blood boil, take a moment to calm down and regain your composure. Find out what is going on with the student to make him display this type of behavior. Typically a child who is hurting others is feeling hurt herself; the goal then is revenge. Some children may be disrespectful to get attention or to show power. Identifying the likely hidden message helps figure out the best way to respond.
Give lessons on respectful behavior. Demonstrate respectful ways to approach and respond to others, and let the children practice them. If your student was in a situation where they disrespected someone, ask them what they could have done differently in the situation.
Role-play a problem situation with a child individually or during a class meeting. Allow the child to play the role of the adult and to practice both unacceptable and acceptable choices. Encourage the child to openly express the feelings he experienced when in the adult role. Reverse roles, and go through the process again.
Avoid lectures, shaming, and blaming children. Such adult tactics create disrespectful responses. It is important to keep an open mind.
Take time to connect with each other. It is easy to be disrespectful to a person you perceive only as an object that you can control or manipulate. It is difficult to be disrespectful toward someone who is an asset to you or who sees you as an asset. Take time for giving compliments, appreciations, and words of encouragement.
Discuss the students' understanding of disrespectful and respectful behavior. Identify and role-play ways in which people can behave respectfully in specific situations. Correct inappropriate behavior and give examples of appropriate solutions.
Develop an atmosphere of trust. Help students to see that you are more interested in solutions to problems than in identifying or punishing those who misbehave. Learn to trust the process of working with children rather than trying to control them.

Risk Factors and Warning Signs:

Outwardly disobeying the rules.
Makes fun of or mocks you.
Does not respond when they are greeted or asked a question.
Making rude remarks and talking under their breath.
Complaining.
Rolling their eyes when they have been asked to do something.
Talking back.
Barging into a room without knocking or asking for permission.
Yelling or screaming when asked a question.

Coping Skills and Techniques:

Model respectful behavior. When your child is disrespectful toward you, it is highly important you stay calm. The last thing you want to do is yell, threaten, or shame your child.
Keep the lines of communication open with your child. Talk to them about specific disrespectful behaviors you do not approve of, and make the consequences of such behaviors very clear.
Set your plan in motion, do not correct disrespectful behaviors, ignore them instead, follow through with the consequences, and praise respectful behavior.
Do not allow reward disrespectful behaviors by giving in.

Gangs

What is a gang? According to Section 71.01(d) of the Texas Penal Code, it is “three or more persons having a common identifying sign or symbol or an identifiable leadership who continuously or regularly associate in the commission of criminal activities.”

According to the Lake Worth ISD Student Code of Conduct, students are prohibited from:

Involvement in a public-school fraternity, sorority, or secret society, or gang including participating as a member or pledge, or soliciting another person to become a pledge or member of a public-school fraternity, sorority, secret society, or gang.
Involvement in criminal street gang activity

Signs of possible gang involvement:

change in friends
changes in dress (wearing the same color combination, etc.)
gang type symbols writing on books, clothing, etc.
tattoos
money or new expensive items that cannot be explained
carrying a weapon
losing interest in school and family
truancy
legal problems such as arrest and other police involvement
alcohol and other drug involvement
talking in gang style language
using hand signals when communicating with others

Are you concerned your child may be involved in a gang?

talk to your child and discuss the consequences of being in a gang
talk to school officials and counselors about local gang intervention programs and counseling
contact your local law enforcement agency, juvenile authority, and local youth organizations to get more information on anti-gang programs
take immediate action if you experience graffiti on your property-report it to the police, take photos and remove immediately

Resources

Local and State Resources

National Resources

Sexting

What is sexting?

Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones. This activity is frequently a “courtship ritual” behavior but can also been seen in the context of an abusive relationship. Sexting can also evolve into cyberbullying when the photo is distributed with the intent to damage the reputation of the victim.

According to the Lake Worth Student Code of Conduct, students are prohibited from sending or posting electronic messages that are abusive, obscene, sexually oriented, threatening, harassing, damaging to another’s reputation, or illegal. This prohibition applies to conduct off school property if it results in a substantial disruption to the educational environment. Any person taking, disseminating, transferring, or sharing obscene, sexually oriented, lewd, or otherwise illegal images or photographs will be disciplined according to school policy and may, in certain circumstances, be reported to law enforcement.

Did you know that:

39% of all teenagers (37% of teen girls and 40% of teen boys) have been involved in sexting.
15% of teenagers who have sent or posted nude or semi-nude images of themselves say they have done so to someone they only knew online.
48% of teenagers say they have received such messages.
71% of teen girls and 67% of teen guys who have sent or posted sexually suggestive content say they have sent or posted this content to a boyfriend or girlfriend.
21% of teenage girls and 39% of teen boys say they have sent such content to someone they wanted to date or hook up with.
36% of teen girls and 39% of teen boys say it is common for nude or semi-nude photos to get shared with people other than the intended.

Source: National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and Cosmogirl.com (October 2008 Sex and Tech Survey)

Resources

Internet Links

Sexual Harassment

What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment of student to student includes any unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, sexually motivated physical, verbal or nonverbal conduct. It is also includes making persistent or repeated sexual advances to another or otherwise engaging in any actions of a sexual connotation causing embarrassment, humiliation or intimidation.

According to the Lake Worth ISD Student Code of Conduct, the harassment of a student is defined as physical, verbal or nonverbal conduct based on the student's race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or any other basis prohibited by law that is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that the conduct:

Affects a student's ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile or offensive educational environment.
Has the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with the student's academic performance; or
Otherwise adversely affects the student's educational opportunities.

How is Flirting Different from Sexual Harassment?

People agree to flirt. Sexual harassment is forced talk that feels cruel, demeaning or threatening to a student or adult.
Flirting feels like fun. Sexual harassment feels like an insult.
Flirting is easy going and friendly. It makes people feel appreciated and liked.
Sexual harassment is attention that is not wanted by at least one person because it feels rude, abusive and disrespectful.

Characteristics or Signs of Sexual Harassment:

sexual advances
touching intimate body parts or coercing physical contact that is sexual in nature
jokes or conversations of a sexual nature
spreading rumors or talking disrespectfully about people’s bodies, personal habits or sexuality and other sexually motivated conduct, and communications

Are you experiencing sexual harassment? Talk to a school official you trust such as a teacher, counselor, nurse, intervention specialist or administrator for help. You can also file a report with the Awarity Program.

Resources

Lake Worth ISD Student Code of Conduct

Internet Links

National Center for Victims of Crime

Suicidal Thinking

Suicide can often be the tragic end to extreme sadness, feelings of hopelessness and loneliness. Did you know that:

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people.
Boys successfully complete suicide more often than girls, but girls have more attempts.
1 in 6 high school students experience thoughts of suicide
1 in 11 has made a suicide attempt in the last 12 months

Signs of Suicide

If a young person has been depressed, look closely for possible signs of suicide:

Dramatic personality change
Problems with relationships
Deterioration of schoolwork
Problems concentrating or focusing
Acting in a rebellious manner or engaging in more risky behavior
Stressful life events such as interpersonal losses, legal or disciplinary crisis or changes for which the teen feel unprepared to cope
Running away from home
Abusing drugs and/or alcohol
Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
Changes in appearance
Giving away prized possessions
Writing notes or poems about death
Talking about suicide, even in a joking manner
Previous suicide attempts

If you suspect that a teenager might be thinking about suicide, do not remain silent. Never agree to keep that information secret. Suicide is preventable, but you must act quickly.

What to do

Ask about it. Don't be afraid to say the word "suicide." Getting the word out in the open may help the student think someone has heard the cries for help.
Reassure him/her that you care and remind them that no matter how difficult the problems seem, they can be worked out, and you are willing to help.
Ask him/her to talk about her feelings. Listen carefully and do not judge or dismiss his/her problems or get angry.
Ensure that the young person is never left alone.

The student can be taken to the Student Support Services person on the school campus (school counselor, intervention specialist or LSSP).

Resources

Internet Resources

Teen Dating Violence

Did you know that according to the Lake Worth Student Code of Conduct, Dating violence occurs when a person in a current or past dating relationship uses physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control another person in the relationship. Dating violence also occurs when a person commits these acts against a person in a marriage or dating relationship with the individual who is or was once in a marriage or dating relationship with the person committing the offense, as defined by Section 71.0021 of the Family Code?

Quick Facts on Teen Dating Violence?

Both girls and boys are victims of abuse
Both girls and boys are perpetrators of abuse
Abuse almost always reoccurs in a relationship.
Most abuse gets more severe with time.
Between 10 and 38% of high school students have been victims of dating violence.
Among students who are currently dating, as many as 59% have experienced physical violence, and 96% have experienced psychological or emotional abuse.
Adults who use violence with their dating partners often being doing so during adolescence, with the first episode typically occurring by age 15.

Characteristics or signs of the behaviors:

Physical abuse – hitting, pinching, shaking, choking, shoving, pushing, biting, spitting, pulling hair, threatening, throwing things.
Psychological/Emotional abuse – ignoring your feelings, insulting your beliefs or values, calling you names, isolating, displaying inappropriate anger, scaring you/driving recklessly, keeping you from leaving, putting down your family/friends, humiliating you in public/private, and threatening to hurt oneself.
Sexual abuse – forcing a date to have sex, forcing a date to do other sexual things he or she doesn’t want to do. Includes any behavior by a dating partner that is used to manipulate, gain control, gain power over someone, makes a person feel bad about self or others, makes a person afraid of her/his boyfriend/girlfriend.

Guidelines for helping people who are being abused:

Believe your friend’s story.
Make sure they are safe.
Let them know that they don’t deserve to be abused.
Ask them lots of questions to get them to think about the problem.
Ask them what their options are and what they can do. (Stay, leave, talk to partner, get advice)
Let them know that abuse almost always gets worse in a relationship if it’s ignored. If the abuse is to stop, the person being abused has to be willing to take actions to end it.
Encourage them to seek help. (See community resources below)

Community Resources:

Call 911 in an emergency
Counselors, Interventionist, Principal, or Teacher
Women’s Center Crisis Hotline: 817-927-2737
Safe Haven: 877-701-7233
National Teen Dating Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Resources

Local and National Agency Information

Internet Resources

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In This Section

Student Conduct

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

Being Mean

Bullying

Cheating

Cyberbullying

Disrespect

Gangs

Sexting

Sexual Harassment

Suicidal Thinking

Teen Dating Violence

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Links & Resources