Concerning behaviors

The following behaviors warrant the submission of a Behavior of Concern form:

• Threatening words or actions, writings or online postings or transmissions (clearly transmitting a desire or plan to harm self or others)
• Fascination with weapons
• Obvious signs of self-injury (cutting, burning, etc.)
• Acts motivated by hatred or discrimination
• Paranoid statements or behaviors
• Descriptions of fantasies that include violence
• Interest in current or past shootings and violent events in the news
• Extreme or sudden personality changes
• Excessive absenteeism or any dramatic change in a student’s normal attendance pattern
• Unusual interest in the police, the military or terrorist activities and events
• Odd or aberrant behavior, such as "acting out"

If in doubt, submit a form to the BIT, which will assess the situation fully and determine an appropriate response.

Signs of distress

A distressed student is one suffering from anxiety, sorrow or pain. Loud and disruptive behavior can be a sign of distress; however, more subtle signs may go unnoticed:

• Excessive absences from or tardiness to class
• Withdrawing from class participation and interaction with friends
• Lack of concentration, even sleeping, in class
• Decline in academic performance
• Verbally or physically aggressive and easily agitated
• Start to dominate discussions
• More emotional in responses
• Incessant talk about violence, threats or death
• Speaking or writing about doing harm to self or others or make disparaging remarks about self
• Giving away possessions
• Gaining or losing an excessive amount of weight
• Noticeable changes in personal hygiene or dress
• Changes in speech pattern, such as rapid, disjointed or fragmented speech or speech not based on reality
• Red, swollen or bloodshot eyes
• Appear to be sad or extremely tired