Student Council Elections Handbook

For Students

  

Be sure to read the St. Ursula Student Council Constitution on the following pages—it will provide details and information that you will need to know and are responsible for knowing

 

  

 

 

Important Things to Know

B

  • All candidates run individually (instead of as teams)
  • All candidates must fill out election applications that will be available from Student Council Election Web page: http://www.saintursula.org/academy/studentclubs/StudentCouncilElections/Studentcouncilelection.htm
  • All PowerPoint presentations, self-evaluations, signed and dated Student Council Handbook (end of Handbook) must be handed in to Mrs. Schiller or Mrs. Curran by the date stipulated in the timeline
  • PowerPoint Presentations are not to exceed four minutes for Student Council officers and three minutes for Class officers.
  • Class officer candidates make speeches at their class meetings
  • Election campaigns run for five days
  • Candidates who are not elected are expected to run for other offices
  • You will be automatically added to the ballot so if you choose not to run you must inform your class moderator immediately
  • Candidates meet with administration and moderators for announcement of winners before the announcement to the school
  • Students must introduce themselves to their class moderators for next year by 3:00 pm on the day of the election.
  • Students elected to office are expected to attend the Ursuline Leadership Conference at the end of June (SC officers), and the St. Ursula Leadership Retreat in August
  • Student Council co-presidents co-ordinate, implement, complete the process for the school banner by August 15, 2008
  • Candidates are permitted to spend up to $20 of their own money for campaign materials (includes both donated and purchased materials)
  • Masking tape is the only permissible material for hanging materials & may not be hung on painted walls, glass windows, or in classrooms.
  • All posters and campaign material must be removed immediately after elections
  • Student Council meets on C-1 days
  • Class officers meet with class moderators on C-2 days
  • Student Council officers may not hold office in other clubs or school organizations—it’s a full time job
  • Class officers act as advisors and bring class issues and ideas to Student Council officers and the Administration
  • Class officers are expected to act with integrity, enthusiasm, and to be supportive of all events at St. Ursula Academy
  • All Student Council leaders are required to attend Open House in November, all Student Council dances and events and to support St. Ursula concerts, plays, athletic events, magazine drive, Victorian
  • Senior class co-presidents organize class reunions after graduation 
  • Student Council leaders will be given special nametags that display their office and are to be worn daily instead of the regular class nametag
  • Student council leaders are expected to be role models and to be in perfect uniform at all times
  • Students will be evaluated on their leadership performance

 

 

 

STUDENT COUNCIL CONSTITUTION

OF

ST. URSULA ACADEMY

ARTICLE I.     NAME

            The name of this organization is STUDENT COUNCIL OF ST. URSULA ACADEMY.

ARTICLE II     PURPOSE

To provide for training and experience in the skills and techniques of good citizenship and leadership through democratic procedure.

To provide learning experiences through the solution of meaningful problems.

            To develop positive attitudes regarding leadership and organization.

To promote good human relations in the school community by providing a forum for student opinion.

            To provide organized services for students and faculty.

            To promote harmonious student-faculty-school community relationship.

            To coordinate student activities.

            To develop school spirit, pride, and morale.

            To organize and conduct school social and recreational activities.

            To conduct student campaigns and elections.

            To work with the faculty on school problems and projects.

            To enhance the religious and spiritual growth of the school.

To lead by example with participation in school liturgies, school sponsored events both in and out of school.

 

ARTICLE III. JOB DESCRIPTION OF ALL OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES

                        Set agenda and calendar

                        Act as liaison to administration and community

                        Have power to initiate a committee

                        Work in cooperation with the moderators

Be committed to the philosophy and mission statement of ST. URSULA ACADEMY.

            Be Familiar with the teachings of ST. ANGELA MERICI.

            Lead by example.

            Be Responsible for opening day mass.

            Support and attend all religious services.

            Be Familiar with the Student Handbook.

            Follow the uniform code.

Meet with drama coach on how to present yourself at meetings and in front of groups.

With the co-presidents and secretary help supervise clean up in the dining room

 

IV. MEMBERSHIP

1)         MEMBERS

Student Council Co-Chairs

Secretary

Class Co-Chairs

Class Officers

2)         QUALIFICATIONS

PARTICIPATION

All students are eligible for Student council Membership. However, participation is contingent upon a student maintaining a passing grade in all classes. After consultation with the club moderator and teachers, the principal may declare a student ineligible.

RULES FOR HOLDING OFFICE

 

In order to be elected to any of the student offices, a student must have a 2.5 GPA for the current school year. She must have a disciplinary record and attendance record acceptable to the Principal, Dean of Students, teachers, and guidance counselor and may not be on probation or suspension. If, after being elected, a student is placed on probation or incurs more than one demerit, she must relinquish the office. The office passes to the student with the next highest number of votes. No student may hold more than one major office in a given year.

Each organization keeps on file in the school office and with the student services moderators its goals and objectives, its main activities, and requirements for holding office. These are reviewed each year and updated when necessary. At the end of each school year, an activities calendar is planned for the following year by the principal, the club moderators, and the student representative. Check current year student handbook for updates on rules.

 

V. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

STUDENT COUNCIL CO-PRESIDENTS

                        Call and conduct meetings.

                        Set agenda and calendar.

                        Act as liaison to administration and community.

Work in cooperation with moderators.

Dividing duties in the beginning of the year and submitting this list to the Moderators.

Submit written reports for all activities to moderators .

Organize student council leadership workshop with the student services moderator in late May or early June.

Co-ordinate, implement, complete process for school banner by August 15 of the coming year.

 

 

SECRETARY

Keeps attendance and writes and posts minutes—sending copies to Principal, Vice-Principal and Moderator

Works closely with the co-presidents and the moderator

Writes thank you notes and condolence cards, get-well cards for serious illnesses.

Types various requests from the moderator.

 

 

CLASS CO-PRESIDENTS

Represent class to Student Council and Student Council to class

Performs duties of class officer in respective homerooms

Initiate projects within the class

Call, conduct, and set agenda for meeting

Appoint representatives for special duties and is responsible to oversee the completion of these duties.

Calls class officers’ meetings at least once a month

Work in cooperation with class moderators

Collect and turn in funds to class moderator raised by class

Post minutes for class activities and keep calendar up-to-date

Meet with the Principal, SC moderators, and the Student Council Officers once a week

 

CLASS OFFICERS

Represents homeroom to Student Council and Student Council to homeroom

Initiates and conducts homeroom activities in cooperation with homeroom teacher

Responsible for giving and posting information to homeroom from Student Council meetings

Serves as advisor and takes class issues and ideas to Student Council officers , moderators, and administration.

 

MODERATORS

Guide and assist

Serve as intermediaries for Student Council and administration

Deal with finances

            COMMITTEE HEADS

Be responsible for operation and duties of committee

                        Report back to Student Council

                        Submit to president written reports for all activities

 

INDIVIDUAL CLASSES

Certain activities will be assigned to individual classes at the discretion of the principal and the class moderator.

 

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

Student Council meetings will occur on C-1days with morning meetings as needed.

Class officer and class moderator meetings will occur on C-2 days with morning meetings as needed.

1.         Emergency meetings may be called.

2.         All members should attend unless excused.

3.         Two-thirds of the members must be present before voting on an issue

4.         Discussion during the meeting should be followed according to the modified parliamentary procedures.

5.         Meetings are open to the student body and faculty, they may speak but have no voting rights.

6. Board meetings consisting of Student Council Co-Presidents, Class Co-Presidents and advisor will be held as needs arise.

7. Senior class co-presidents and advisors will be held as needs arise.

 

 

ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS

A)        Any proposed amendments must be submitted to the Student Council co-presidents with reason for the amendment

B)        Any amendment must be written and approved by a two-thirds majority of the Student Council before it is put into the Constitution.

 

ARTICLE VIII. RATIFICATION

This Constitution shall go into effect when ratified by a two-thirds majority vote by the Student Council and approved by the advisor and principal.

 

ARTICLE IX. VETO POWER

A)        Veto power shall be held only by the principal of St. Ursula Academy

B)        The principal shall present a written statement of her objection to the Student Council Board and they in turn shall present it to Student Council.

 

ARTICLE X. PETITIONING THE ADMINISTRATION FOR PROPOSED CHANGES:

                                   

A)        Students gather the petition that must be signed by two-thirds of the student body.

B) The petition is presented to the Student council who votes as to whether the proposal is valid and may be sent to the principal. Two-thirds of the Student Council must be in favor of the proposed idea.

C)        The principal confers with Student council and concerned students and accepts the petition as presented or returns the petition to the Student council with a list of objections.

D)        If the petition is returned, the Student council and concerned students attempt to meet the objections of the principal. This revised petition is then presented to the principal. This procedure should be completed within two weeks.

E) After the principal has received the revised petition, a meeting is called within two weeks. Attending the meeting are concerned students, the three Student Council officers, the Student Council moderators and the principal. The outcome of the meeting is the final decision. The principal can use veto power.

 

 

 

St. Ursula Academy Student Council Elections Regulations and Policies

2008-2009

I have read the St. Ursula Academy Student Council Elections Handbook that includes the regulations, policies, and The Student Council Constitution and I agree to abide by the regulations and policies stated therein.

____________________________________________________________________(Signature of Student)

Date:__________________________________

Grade: _________________________________

Homeroom Teacher: ______________________