Preamble
The Student Council of East Woods School is a student organization whose members are elected to represent the students and therefore serve their best interests. All East Woods School students have the right to join Student Council if they meet the requirements set forth by the constitution of the Student Council. Students shall not be excluded from membership on the basis of race, sex, or national origin. It is the goal of the Student Council to foster unity within the student body through leadership, responsibility, good citizenship and to fulfill the other objectives laid out herein. The Student Council of East Woods establishes this constitution as a declaration of its means, methods, and responsibilities.
Article I
Section I – Name
The name of this organization is the East Woods Student Council.
Section II – Objectives
a) The objective of this body government shall be to faithfully adhere to the
ideals set forth by the preamble and to promote student life and activities by the cooperative efforts of its members, the rest of the student body and administration.
b) To facilitate effective communications within the school.
c) To promote and instill the qualities of leadership, responsibility, and consideration of others.
d) To provide a democratic representative student government for the school.
e) To offer assistance to the school in other areas as agreed to by the Student Council and the administration.
f) To organize and manage social, service, and other activities within and out of school, taking responsibility for set-up and clean-up of all Student Council activities.
Article II
Section I – Membership
a) Two representatives of either gender from Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Grade Representative elected annually.
b) Two non voting representatives of either gender from Fifth Grade elected twice a year.
c) Two team captains of either gender from Eighth or Ninth Grade, elected annually to lead the Green and White teams.
d) Five officers elected annually: President (ninth grader or eighth grader in case that there is no ninth grade class), Vice President (ninth grader or eighth grader in case that there is no ninth grade class), Treasurer (ninth grader or eighth grader in case that there is no ninth grade class), Secretary (eighth or ninth grader), and Media officer (eighth or ninth grader).
e) Two faculty advisors appointed by the Headmaster.
Section II – Elections
a) Elections for the Student Council will be held in spring term of previous year. This section of the Constitution will be read prior to the start of the process. Speeches and the election will follow as soon as possible. The same procedure will be used for the election of Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Media officer and Green and White captains. Once all the officers have been chosen, the election of the Green and White Captains will take place in team meetings and the elections of class representatives will be carried out in appropriate homeroom meetings.
b) Campaign speeches (held prior to the election of the officers) must be prepared in writing, in good taste, consisting of no degradation of other candidates. Other forms of campaigning are not permitted.
c) Students who know in advance that they will be absent for an election for such reasons as boarding school visits, family obligations, or other excused absences, may vote in advance by giving a written ballot to one of the two Council advisors.
d) Procedure:
i) Officers are elected by a silent ballot and a simple majority of all students present in Grades Fifth through Eighth. Other departing students may not vote.
ii) Green and White Captains are elected by a simple majority of all students present on their respective teams.
iii) Two Representatives from either gender from each grade shall be elected by a simple majority of their classmates present.
e) In the event of a tie after three votes, those candidates who tied will be seated on the Council but will be required to share only one vote (in a manner of their own choosing). In the election of an officer, revote will be conducted until the tie is broken.
f) No student will be allowed to hold more than one position on the Student Council.
Section III – Duties and Power
All officers are responsible to encourage and motivate fellow classmates to support Student Council activities.
a) The President shall plan, organize and preside over all business meetings.
Oversee completion of all Student Council responsibilities, projects and activities. The President may delegate responsibilities to the Vice-President and the Secretary.The President shall not vote except to break a tie.
b) The Vice President prepares the agenda to be approved by the President, finds chaperones at least a week prior to school events, types the minutes when the Secretary is absent, and completes assignments as specified by the President. The Vice President assumes the responsibilities of the President in his/her absence.
c) Treasurer keeps clear, accurate records of all Council income and expenses, an accurate balance of Student Council funds. He gives regular financial reports to Council and oversees all fund-raising projects. He provides change and a cash box for each event, counts the funds, and reports of all proceeds to advisors and Mr. Connolly in the business office. The treasurer is also available to help the President and the Vice President.
d) The Secretary shall record the proceedings and take attendance at all meetings. He handles and relates all Student Council correspondence. The Secretary helps the Vice-President find chaperones and completes assignments as specified by the president. The Secretary and the Vice President shall assume each other’s duties if one is absent.
e) A Media officer (eighth or ninth grader) is responsible for announcements, creating signs related to Student Council events, taking pictures, and posting information in the weekly bulletin. All written documents need to be reviewed by the advisors and approved by the head of Upper School at least two weeks prior. All events involving fund raising need to be approved by the headmaster.
f) All Representatives are expected to represent the opinions of their respective constituencies to the best of their abilities and to encourage and motivate fellow classmates to support all Student Council activities.
g) All members, excluding the Fifth Grade observers and the President, have one vote on the Student Council.
Article III
Section I – Meetings
The Council will meet on a regular weekly basis when possible and necessary. There must be a quorum of one officer and half of the membership in order to transact business. Robert’s Rule of Order shall prevail. All members are expected to attend all meetings, unless excused in advance by an officer.
Section II – Removal
If any member of Student Council has three unexcused absences or behaves in a manner not fitting Student Council standards three times or does not perform his/her duty three times, he/she is subject to a removal by a two-thirds majority vote by a secret ballot. Members of the Student Council must maintain an overall average of at least a C+ and may not receive one effort grade of “4” per term in any course.
In event of such a removal, the position will be offered to the runner-up, or a replacement member will be elected in the regular manner. The member removed will not be eligible for election in that year.
Amendment: Excused absences include a chess or scrabble tournament, a sports or family obligation, or a term abroad or visiting an alternative school.
Section 3 – Amendments
An amendment to the Constitution may be proposed by any member of the Council. If the Council accepts the proposal by a two-thirds majority vote, the amendment will be presented to all students in Grades Fifth through Ninth. It shall require a two-thirds majority vote of all upper school students present to adopt an amendment.
Please click here to review the Student Council Contract.
Revised 2009