2008/2009 School Year
President - Matthew Doyle
Vice President - Brandon Gaal
Secretary - Veronica Parkinson
Treasurer - Faith DeVileger
Spirit Coordinators - Jacqueline Tuzio/Michael Crouse
CONSTITUTION for Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
ARTICLE I – NAME
Section I – This organization shall be the Student Council of Our Lady of
Perpetual Help School, Morton, Pennsylvania.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
Section I – The purpose of this organization shall be to encourage student
participation as leaders within the school community. The Student Council
will work to improve school spirit and pride, provide a forum for student
expression, promote the importance of Catholic Education, assist in the
planning and management of school activities and promote the general welfare
of the school.
ARTICLE III – POWER AND AUTHORITY
Section I – All powers of the Student Council are delegated to it by the
school administration. The principal has the right to veto any act of the
Student Council or to revoke any of the powers held by it. All decisions
made by the Student Council shall be subject to approval by the
administration.
ARTICLE IV – OFFICES AND QUALIFICATIONS
Section I – The student body of grades three through seven will elect a six
member Executive Board that will serve as school representatives of the
Student Council. The student body of Grades Four through Eight will elect
two Class Representative for each homeroom for each of the respective grades.
Section II – Qualifications of Officers
A. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Spirit Coordinator
( 1 boy, 1 girl)
1. Must be in the Eighth Grade while in office
2. Must have attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help School for at least
one year prior to the election.
3. Must have had an overall average of at least an 85 with no grade
lower than an 80 in all trimesters of the seventh grade year.
4. Must maintain a grade of at least a 3 in conduct and effort all
trimesters.
5. Must have had at least a 3 in conduct, effort, and specials in your
seventh grade year for all trimesters.
B. Class Representatives
1. Must have achieved an overall average of at least an 85 with no
grade lower than an 80 in all 3 trimesters of the previous report card.
2. Must have achieved a grade of at least a 3 in conduct, effort, and
specials in all three trimesters of the previous year’s report card.
Section VI – Duties of Class Representatives
1. Communicates activities of the Student Council to the
homeroom he or she represents:
Executive Board will represent Kindergarten and Pre-K
Grade 8 will also represent Grade 1
Grade 7 will also represent Grade 2
Grade 6 will also represent Grade 3
Grade 5 will only represent their homerooms
Grade 4 will represent only their own homerooms.
2. Communicates students’ suggestions to the Executive
Board.
3. Assists the Executive Board when needed.
4. Collect money and keep records of students who participate in
fundraisers.
5. Attends monthly meeting of the Student Council.
ARTICLE V – DUTIES
Section I - PRESIDENT:
1. Liaison between the administration, Student Council and the student
body.
2. Supervise all student council activities.
3. Preside over general student council meetings as any executive board
meetings.
4. Represent the school/student body at various school related
functions.
5. Address the student body when necessary.
6. Oversee all committees.
Section II - VICE PRESIDENT:
1. Take over for the president in the event that she/he is unable to
perform his/her duties.
2. Aid in the supervision of Student Council activities.
3. Update Student Council webpage. (minutes from meetings, dress down
days, fundraiser, etc.)
4. Represent the school/ student body at various school related
functions.
Section III - TREASURER:
1. Takes charge of all Student Council funds and fund-raising
activities.
2. Keep accurate count and record of all money spent and raised
throughout the year.
3. Report all expenditures at Student Council meetings.
4. Represent the school/student body at various school related
functions.
Section IV - SECRETARY:
1. Keep accurate records of all Student Council meetings,
Type up minutes from last meeting.
2. Work in conjunction with the rest of the executive board
in planning agenda for next meeting.
3. Distribute agenda minutes prior to each meeting.
4. Take attendance at each meeting.
5. Make sure office has a copy of everything that is going on,
fundraisers, dress down days, etc.
6. Prepares any written correspondence, in conjunction with the rest of
the executive board.
7. Represent school/ student body at various school related functions.
Section V - SPIRIT COORDINATOR:
1. Be a liaison between the Athletic Director and the
Student body.
2. Copy and distribute info sent by the athletic director.
(reminders for pictures, banquet, etc.)
3. Keep schedules of all sporting events and announce
games prior to their scheduled times.
4. Announce results if available.
5. Design bulletin board to keep record of game times and results.
6. Represent school/ student body at various school related functions.
ARTICLE VI – NOMINATION PROCEDURES AND ELECTIONS
Section I – Nominations
A. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Spirit
Coordinators.
1. Any student interested in being a candidate for office must
meet all the qualifications for that particular office and have a full
understanding of all duties he or she would be responsible for while in
office.
2. Any student interested in being a candidate for the
Executive Board must obtain nomination form from a Student Council
Moderator. The candidate must have:
a. the signature of a parent
b. the signature of all teachers familiar with the student’s
capabilities (Students must have
an overall average of at least 80 in all subject
areas in order to run for office, this will be verified
by the teachers at the time of elections.)
c. the signatures of ten fellow classmates
d. a short essay (50 – 100 words) explaining their reasons for running
in office
3. The candidate must submit their nomination form and
essay to the Moderator by a specified date. If the candidate is eligible,
his/her name will be placed on the ballot.
B.Classroom Representatives
1. Any student interested in being a candidate for classroom
representative must meet all the qualifications listed in the qualifications
section of the constitution.
2. The candidate must have a note signed by his/her parents
or guardian that gives them permission to run.
3. The candidate must get a signature from his/her previous year’s
teacher familiar with their capabilities.
Article VII – MEETINGS
Section 1 –
1. The Executive Board shall meet prior to each monthly meeting.
2. The General Council shall meet after dismissal at least once a month.
3. Special meetings may be called by the President or Moderator(s) when
necessary.
4. The Student Council Moderator(s) shall attend all meetings and will
be kept informed of all developments. The President, however, will preside
at each meeting.
Section II – Elections
A. Executive Board
1. The candidate will have a week prior to the election to campaign for
office. All posters, buttons, etc. must be approved by a Student Council
Moderator. Students may not give out candy, pencils, etc. during the
campaign.
2. Each candidate will deliver his/her speech to the voting student
body, grades 3 through 7 on Election Day.
3. A select ballot system will be used in all Student Council
Elections. Students must vote for ONE person per office. Two people will be
elected as Spirit Coordinators, one male and one female.
4. The voting ballot system will be tallied by the Student Council
Moderators. If a tie should occur, a “tie breaker” election will be held.
5. Regular election of the Student Council Executive Board will take
place during the Spring. (Usually the week before Memorial Day)
B. Classroom Representatives
1. Elections for Classroom Representatives will
take
place by the end of September. Each year a
specific
date will be chosen by the Student Council
Moderators and the Principal.
2. Speeches will be given, in each classroom, prior to the
election date. (The day and time of speeches will be
determined by the homeroom teachers.)
3. Write-in-candidates will not be honored.
4. Students will vote for 2 representatives per class.
The
two students with the most votes will be elected.
5. In case of a tie, the homeroom teacher will hold a
second election between the tied students.
ARTICLE VIII- REMOVAL, RESIGNATION, VACANCIES
Section I - REMOVAL
1. Failure to meet the qualifications and responsibilities as
described in this Constitution shall be considered just cause for removal
from office.
2. The Principal, the Moderator, and concerned Faculty shall make the
final decisions concerning any member’s removal from office.
3. Missing two meetings- a total of two excused or unexcused absences
from meetings is a cause for removal.
4. Once on student council, you must maintain an 80 average in each
subject every trimester.
a.) If you drop below an 80, you will be put on probation to give you
time to pull up your grade.
b.) If you drop below an 80 in a second trimester, you will be asked to
resign from Student Council.
5. Receiving ten demerits in one trimester is grounds for immediate
removal from Student Council.
6. Anyone removed from Student Council will not be allowed to run for
any position during the following school year.
Section II - RESIGNATION
1. In order for an officer to resign, he or she must submit a written
resignation at a formal meeting of the Executive Board.
Section II - VACANCIES
1. In the case of a vacancy of the office of President, the Vice-
President will assume the duties of the President. If any other Executive
Board vacancies arise, the other board members will assume their
responsibilities. Class Representatives will not be replaced.
ARTICLE IX – RATIFICATION
Section I – This Constitution shall become ratified when the Principal, the
Faculty, and two-thirds of the voting student body approve of its contents.
ARTICLE X – AMENDMENTS
Section I – Amendment to this Constitution may be proposed by any member of
the Student Council, faculty, or administration. Amendments are ratified by
two-thirds of the voting student body.