Westside High School Student Council Chain of Command And Organizational Structures

1. Westside High School Student Council Chain of Command And Organizational Structures

2. Student Council Objectives *Provide a democratic forum in which students can address school-related issues affecting their lives. *Maintain a continuous communication channel from the students to both the faculty and administration, as well as among other students within the school. *Offer a yearlong program of social functions and community involvement projects for students. *Train students in duties and responsibilities of good citizenship, using the school environment as the primary training ground. All Student Council members are expected to: Attend monthly General Meetings and actively participate in meetings and attend/support STUCO events Follow Code of Conduct, abide by Student Honor Code and lead by example Obtain a minimum of 20 service hours annually (these hours are reported class level secretary.) Officer candidates for the following year must meet at least 30 hours of service. These hours must be school leadership activities or activities conducted to benefit the majority of Westside Students (weekday field trips for class assignments do not count however weekend activities that benefit the student body will be considered.) Maintain UIL eligibility and have satisfactory attendance (fewer than 10).

3. Principal Administrative Advisors Sponsor Coordinator And Class Sponsors Elected by the WHS Student Body Student Body Officers Elected by Grade Level Student Council Representatives Student Council Class Presidents Student Council Class Officers Students volunteer for leadership positions during class meetings throughout the year. If needed the class reps vote for candidates Student Council Committee Chairs Nominated and Elected by Peers Sub-Committee Members (can be all grade levels) Student Council Sub-Committee Chairs Student Council Committee Members Student Council Body of Representatives Westside Student Body

4. Member Responsibilities Principal, Administrative Advisors, Class Sponsors – Provide leadership and direction for student members. Student Body Officers: Work with class level leaders, sponsors and school administration to create a cohesive and unified Student Council Organization . Represent the values and integrity of the Westside Way in all encounters. Exemplify the best that Westside has to offer. Student Body President: Develops agenda and presides over Executive Board meetings (as needed) and monthly STUCO meeting; represents the student body at school wide functions and in the community; works closely with Principal, PTO, STUCO Coordinator, Class Sponsors and Class Presidents on school wide issues, has the option of participating in grade level meetings as they deem necessary, creates a visible presence at most of the activities, fundraisers, community service projects conducted by their class members. (One Senior Only) Student Body Vice President: Represents the student body at school district, civic events, and other meetings requested by the president; Coordinates Committee work; Presides over the full school student council meetings in the absence of the president; Meets with helps to direct the work of the Vice Presidents in the class level structure. (One Senior Only) Student Body Secretary/ Parlimentarian: Maintains the student body files; prepares agendas for the meetings; takes and distributes meeting minutes; represents the student body at school district, civic events, and other meetings requested by the president; Types materials for the student body officers and chairpersons as needed; Provide advice on questions of parliamentary procedures. (One Junior Only) Student Body Treasurer: Coordinates the preparation of the annual budget; Presents the proposed budget for student council adoption; maintains the financial records of the student council; Assists the Class Fundraising VP’s as needed; Coordinate all fundraising activities with student council sponsors and members; Sign all purchase orders. (One Junior Only) Student Body Reporter/Historian: Write, edit, and submit stories about the Council to the school paper, yearbook and media. Organize publicity of events throughout all levels of student council; Gather materials in preparation for the Student Council Scrapbook; Maintain files of materials about activities of the school for future reference; arrange for pictures from all Student Council Events; (One Junior or One Senior Only)

5. Member Responsibilities Class President: (If possible, this office should be a co-president position)/Develops agenda and presides over class meetings; represents the class at Executive Board and at STUCO meetings; shares information from class to governing body and vice versa; represents the class at school functions as requested; works closely with Class Sponsor, Student Body President and Principal on school wide issues; creates a visible presence at all the activities, fundraisers, community service projects conducted by their class; pre-approves all announcements, emails, and newspaper articles regarding class activities, fundraising, and community service prior to the final approval of the sponsor. This commitment requires many hours on and off campus working before school, after school and during lunches with many stakeholders. Class VP Activities (If possible, this office should be a co-VP position) Gathers input and makes recommendations for class participation in Prom, homecoming, spring fling, etc…; takes the lead in carrying out assignments for these activities; reports at STUCO Meetings and gathers volunteers from general membership as needed; provides publicity information as needed (including having pictures taken at the event and writing up general announcements, newspaper articles and mass emails - to be pre-approved by class president); creates a visible STUCO presence at all the activities conducted by their class. This commitment requires many hours on and off campus working before school, after school and during lunches. Class VP Fundraising (co-VP optional) Gathers input and makes recommendations for one class fundraiser; takes the lead in organizing the fundraiser and solicits committee members and/or parent support if needed; creates a visible STUCO presence a the fundraisers conducted by their class; meets with Mrs. Neal and sponsor to discuss fundraiser timelines and requirements; assists sponsor in completion of fundraising paperwork; reports at STUCO Meetings (status and results); provides publicity information as needed (including having pictures taken at the event, writing up general announcements, newspaper articles and mass emails - to be pre-approved by class president and student body council).

6. Member Responsibilities Class VP Community Service(co-VP optional) Gathers input and makes recommendations for class and/or school wide community service projects; serves as the primary contact/liaison when working with outside organizations (food bank, homeless shelter, etc…); creates a visible STUCO presence a the service projects conducted by their class; responsible for class participation; provides publicity information as needed (including having pictures taken at the event and writing up general announcements, newspaper articles and mass emails - to be pre-approved by class president and student body reporter). Class Secretary-Records (If possible, this office should be a co-president position) Records minutes of all meetings and emails those minutes to the Student Body Secretary; keeps records of all class activities (including fundraisers and community service projects) in binder; keeps record of student service hours and submits those updated hours to the president every semester; provides information for class web page/FACEBOOK; sends out announcements and communication to class members via email and text messages after they are approved by the Student Body Reporter. This office requires many hours of service, often working at home on the computer and attending all meetings for the class and student body. Student Council Representatives: Represent their class and the student body at monthly general meetings; participate fully in student government; serve on committees for STUCO activities, events and projects; may be asked to co-chair a specific event with a VP or take on additional leadership roles.

7. Duties of Committee Chairs, Sub-Committee Chairs and Sub-Committee Secretaries/Recorders Committees and Sub-Committees : vote on a Chairperson to work as a leader and organizer for meetings conducted as a group and to make sure that timelines for work product are being met. The “Chair” will organize meeting times and locations for their group. They will confirm those times and places with the Class VP of Activities, VP of Community Service, or VP of Fundraising who will send it to the advertising committee to be published in multiple locations online, around the school and in the announcements. Please note that to make the school announcements these must be approved and submitted to the Student Body Reporter at least 5 days in advance. “Emergency” announcements can only be approved and submitted by the class sponsor. The Chairperson: Will create agendas to be handed out a each meeting explaining what goals were accomplished since the last meeting, and what goals are going to be accomplished by the end of the current meeting. They may email them to the sponsor in advance to be printed for the meeting. They will send an electronic copy to their committee/sub-committee secretary. The class sponsor should work with them to create the first meeting agenda (to get them started). The Chairperson will also collect contact information from the members of their committee, the VP of Activities, VP of Community Service, or VP of Fundraising (dependant upon the activity) as well as the class sponsor so that they can be in contact outside of meetings. The Chairperson will update the Homecoming Committee at the bi-weekly meetings on the progress of their group and any concerns or challenges they may be facing. The Chairperson will contact the VP of their project and/or the Class Sponsor with any urgent matters and consult them on “emergency” decisions to obtain approval (last minute changes in meeting times, or event plans that have already obtained approval). The Secretary/Recorder: (for that Committee/Sub-Committee): will be responsible for taking notes during all of their meetings. If they cannot attend a meeting it is their responsibility to communicate this to the Chair and find a member of the group to fulfill their tasks. They will send an electronic (emailed) copy of the meeting attendance, minutes and the agenda to the Class Secretary, the Class VP of their project, the Advertising Committee Chair, and all class sponsors (including the Dean of Instruction – Mrs. Lambropoulos). This is essential since we must all work together to make each event a success.