Sun, 06 May 2012 02:16:32 -0800WeeblyThu, 08 Sep 2011 21:15:45 -0800http://www.vcss.ca/3/post/2011/09/student-council-elections.htmlNominations for class reps is happening until Monday, September 12th.

Campaigning can occur September 12-15th.

Elections of 2 reps per grade (8-12) will be on Friday, September 16th.
]]>Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:13:04 -0800http://www.vcss.ca/3/post/2011/09/first-post.htmlStudent Council Constitution 
I. Purposes 
•Encourage students to initiate and participate in school affairs
•Plan and promote activities that provide opportunities for as many students to become involved as possible and bring our school community together 
•Create and maintain school spirit 
•Act as a voice for student concerns
•Maintain a liaison between administration, staff and students

II. Powers and Authority
All Student Council activities are subject to the administration’s approval. The administration, as the central authority in the school, has the right to veto decisions made by the Student Council.

III. Membership 
A. Structure
The Student Council shall consist of the Executive Officers, the Extra•curricular Group Representatives, the Grade Representatives, Members at Large and the Staff Advisors.

Executive Officers:
  Co-Chairs (2)
  Secretary
  Treasurer

Grade Representatives:
 Grade 8 Representatives (2) 
 Grade 9 Representatives (2) 
 Grade 10 Representatives (2) 
 Grade 11 Representatives (2) 
 Grade 12 Representatives (2) 

B. Regulations 
All Student Council Members must:
  •Be full•time students
  •Maintain regular attendance at school
  •Maintain average of no less than 60% 
 •Show a willingness to cooperate and participate in activities of the Student Council 

All Executive Officers shall: 
  •Be in grade 11 or 12

IV. Duties
A. Overall Duties of Student Council Members 
  •Speak on behalf of the student body
  •Be approachable and open to listening to all students
  •Participate in discussions of issues at council meetings
  •Assist other members with Student Council initiatives as needed
  •Promote upcoming events 

B. Specific Duties
The Co•Chairs will:
  •Set the agenda for each meeting by meeting with the Executive Officers and the Staff Advisors prior to the meeting 
  •Prepare a written agenda for each meeting 
  •Call additional meeting if needed
 •Chair meetings: follow the agenda, maintain order and dignity of meetings, recognize members wishing to speak, follow precise format for voting
 •Attend additional meetings and act as the official representatives of the Student Council (for example: administration meetings, other school student council meetings, school council meetings etc.)
  •Over look activities of the council 
 •Maintain a binder of Student Council materials (agendas, minutes, etc)

The Secretary shall:
  • Set the agenda for each meeting by meeting with the Executive Officers and the Staff Advisors prior to the meeting
  •Take minutes of each meeting, including recording the exact wording of each motion after it has been proposed  
 •Maintain a binder of Student Council materials (agendas, minutes, other paperwork, correspondence, notes regarding activities)
  •Maintain a public record of meeting minutes (on-line)
  •Take and record attendance at each meeting
  •Email members at the request of Co•Chairs to give information
  •Write announcements and advertisements 
  •Write and send letters, responses, thank•you cards, etc. 

The Treasurer shall:
  •Set the agenda for each meeting by meeting with the Executive Officers and the Staff Advisors prior to the meeting
  •Maintain financial records to be able to report the balance of the Student Council account each month
  •Prepare bank deposits, cheques and financial statements 
  •Maintain a binder of Student Council materials (agendas, minutes, etc)
  •Obtain receipts and keep a copy in binder
 •Notify groups requesting funds within the school whether their request was approved of defeated within (3) days of the meeting

Grade Representatives shall:
  •Voice concerns of students in their grade
 •Report back to students in their grade regarding Student Council meetings
 •Promote Student Council events to students in their grade

The Staff Advisors shall:
  •Advise the council of the administration’s rules and regulations
  •Keep the administration informed of council activities
  •Assist the Executive Officers with coordinating council activities with other school activities 
  •Consult with the Executive Officers about the agenda for each meeting
  •Assist the Treasurer with maintaining financial records
  •Be a non-voting member of council
  •Count ballots for elections 

V. Meetings
 •Regular meetings shall be held once a week at a set time and place.
 •Meetings shall be open to all students, staff and administration.
 •Council members must attend each meeting. If a member is absent from school due to illness or other valid reason, they must inform the Co•Chairs and/or the Staff Advisors as early as possible. 
 •The Order of Business shall be as follows:
  •Secretary will record attendance
 •Co•Chairs will give a copy of the agenda to all members, ask for additions and then approval of agenda
  •Council will discuss Old Business
  •Council will discuss New Business
  •Adjournment 

Voting Procedures shall be as follows:
 •Voting Members are: Executive Officers and Grade Representatives
 •The Co•Chairs shall follow the precise voting procedure as follows:
 •Allow all discussion to conclude 
  •Read the motion
  •State, “All in favor raise your hand”, then “All opposed raise your hand”
  •Tally the votes
  •A two•thirds majority is required 
  •Declare if the motion has been passed or defeated

VI. Elections 

A. General
 • Co-Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer and Grade Representativesare elected by the student body. 

B. Eligibility
 •Candidates must fulfill the requirements in Article III., Section B, and be familiar with the Constitution.
 •Candidates for Executive Officers must collect signatures of supporters: 20 students in grades 10•12, and three staff member. 
 •Candidates for Grade Representatives must collect signatures of supporters: 10 students in their grade, and one staff member.
 •Student and staff supporters must sign only one nomination form per position. If a supporter signs more than one nomination form, the supporter’s signature is eliminated from the form and candidates must find new supporters to replace the eliminated supporter.
 •The nomination form must be submitted by the date specified. 

C. Campaign Rules
 •Candidates must campaign only during the designated Campaign dates. 
 •Candidates must run as an individual, not as a team. 
 •Candidates may campaign through posters and by talking to students on their own time 
 •Candidates must limit the number of posters to a maximum of 25 and must post posters on bulletin boards only 
 •Candidates shall not interfere with the campaigns of other candidates or speak or print any negative material about fellow candidates. 
 •Candidates will be asked to remove posters or stop distribution of campaign materials if the Staff Advisors rules them inappropriate. 
 •Failure to comply with any of these regulations may result in the candidate being disqualified. 
 •Candidates are responsible for removing their own posters by the end of the school day when the vote is conducted.

D. Executive Council Elections
 •All students in grades 8-12 will get two votes for Co•Chairs, which must be used for two different candidates. Students vote once for Secretary and once for Treasurer.
 •Voting will be done anonymously
 •Voting will be conducted on ballots distributed by Staff Advisors or members of the former student council who are not candidates.
 •The Staff Advisors will count ballots.
 •In the Co•Chair election, the two candidates with the highest number of votes win. In the Secretary and Treasurer election, the candidate with the highest number of votes wins.

E. Grade Representatives Elections
 •Elections for Grade Representatives will occur after the Co-Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer have been elected
 •The positions will be advertised to the student body
 •Interested students will apply in writing to the Executive Officers and Staff Advisors.
 •Candidates must fulfill the requirements in Article III., Section B, and be familiar with the Constitution.
 •The student body will vote for the Grade Representatives in their own grade. Each student will get two votes, which must be used for two different candidates.
 •Voting will be conducted anonymously on ballots distributed by Staff Advisors
 •Staff Advisors will count ballots.
 •The candidates with the highest number of votes win.
 F. By•Elections 
 •If any council member leaves the council for any reason, a by-election will be held within the student council.  

VII. Discipline
Student Council members are expected to act in a responsible manner. The council may take disciplinary action against members who:
  •Are absent from meetings without a valid reason
  •Are tardy to meetings without a valid reason
  •Fail to fulfill their duties
  •Break the constitution
 •Disciplinary action will follow the following steps:
 1 • Verbal warning by Staff Advisors and conference to determine improvements required 
 2 • Written warning by Staff Advisors and opportunity for member to make a written explanation to council for his/her irresponsible behavior. 
 3 • Further failure to improve behavior within a reasonable timeframe will result in a vote by council to remove the member from Student Council. This vote will be done anonymously. Staff Advisors will count ballots. 

VIII.  Amendments to the Constitution
 •Any Student Council member may make a suggestion to update and improve the Constitution. 
 •Once all opinions have been expressed, voting will take place. A 75% majority is required for the recommendation to be passed. The amendment will take effect immediately. 
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