A Student Council is a representative structure through which students can become involved with the operation of the school. It provides an opportunity for students to engage in a structured partnership with school leadership, staff members and parents for the benefit of the students. Students have a valuable contribution to make in decision making, organization and the effective running of a school and a Student Council gives a voice to all students in order to maintain a fair and positive environment and to create a sense of ownership among the student population and support leadership skills.

Role of Student Council

The role of the Student Council is to provide a forum for Students, Leadership, Staff and Parents to liaise on matters of importance to the students of the school. To ensure students have a say on matters that affect them and to help plan and organize events for the school community.

Organization of Student Council

Years 3 to 13 students are represented on the 3 student Councils (Primary, Secondary and High School).  The election of Student Council Members will be organized by the Student Council Facilitators in consultation with Homeroom Teachers. Elections will be held in the second week of September and classes can elect 2 or 3 representatives in Primary and no more than 2 per class in Secondary and High School. Elected student’s names will be given to the student council facilitator by the HRT.  The first meeting should be held during the last week of September.

When homeroom teachers introduce the Student Council to students, they are to use the Student Council Handbook to provide classes with the important information by a date specified by the facilitators.  (White slides are for all classes, Blue slides are for Primary, Green slides are for Secondary and Orange are for High School.)

If a representative leaves the school during the year, the class should elect a new representative before the representative student’s final day.

Election Process

Early Years

• No Representatives

Primary

• 2 Representatives are elected from each homeroom in Year 3-6
• Homeroom teachers introduce the Student Council using Primary Student Council Presentation
• All students are invited to prepare a speech to outline why they would make an ideal Student Council Representative
• Students in the homeroom vote for their favorites based on the speeches once a year - September
• Younger classes can use a simple voting system without the need to prepare a speech
• Parents are informed via email or Toddle of their child’s new position

Secondary

• 2 Representatives from each homeroom in Year 7-9
• Homeroom teachers introduce the Student Council using the Secondary Student Council Presentation
• All students are invited to prepare a speech to outline why they would make an ideal Student Council Representative (sometimes elections not needed)
• Students in the homeroom vote for their favorites based on the speeches (if, necessary) once a year - September
• Parents are informed via email or Toddle of their child’s new position

High School

• 2 Representatives from each homeroom in Year 10-13. IB DP students will be in charge of planning and running meetings, creating the meeting agenda and taking the minutes of meetings
• All students are invited to prepare a speech to outline why they would make an ideal Student Council Representative (sometimes elections not needed)
• Students in the homeroom vote for their favorites based on the speeches (if necessary) once a year - September

Roles and Responsibilities

PYP Facilitator

The week after the Student Council members have been elected, they will meet with the Facilitator. This is usually the first week of October. The facilitator will arrange for a time and day and a location to hold weekly meetings.

One of the first responsibilities of the council is to create a display board and suggestion box. The Facilitator will assist and guide the Student Council in all matters and liaise with the staff, parents and students of the school on their behalf. The facilitator will ensure that the Student Council members are provided with the necessary tools and skills in order to manage meetings, ensure that an agenda is prepared before the meetings, take meeting minutes and report news to members of the school community that is age appropriate for the group. The Facilitator will ensure that ideas, suggestions and issues are communicated to the relevant members of the school community within 48 hours after each meeting.

Secondary & High School Facilitator

The week after the Student Council members have been elected, they will meet with the Facilitator. This is usually the first week of October. The facilitator will arrange for a time and day and a location to hold weekly meetings.

One of the initial tasks for the council is to set up a display board and a suggestion box. The Facilitator will support and guide the Student Council in all aspects, acting as a link between the staff, parents, and students on their behalf. The Facilitator will ensure the Student Council members are equipped with the necessary tools and skills to conduct meetings, ensure that an agenda is prepared before the meetings, record minutes, and share information with the school community in a way that is appropriate for their age group. Student Council meetings will take place bi-monthly, with two meetings for the secondary school and two for the high school. The outcomes of the high school meetings will be communicated directly with the Division Principal, while those of the secondary school meetings will be shared with the Facilitator. The Facilitator will ensure that ideas, suggestions and issues are communicated to the relevant members of the school community within 48 hours after each meeting.

Student Council Members

Members are expected to:

• Attend all meetings and functions
• Be a Role Model for their fellow students
• Listen to students’ hopes, suggestions and concerns of their classmates related to the development and operation of the school and pass those on during Student Council Meetings

• Provide regular feedback to the School

• Work with members of the community to find solutions to issues raised
• Help to plan, promote  and organize student events, including fundraisers

 See the Student Council Handbook for further details

Minutes of each Council meeting are kept in the Whole School drive in the Student Council Folder.

Leadership Team

The Leadership Team will ensure that requests, issues and suggestions are discussed at designated meetings and outcomes are agreed upon within a reasonable timeframe. Currently, the Student Council Coordinator meets once a fortnight with the Primary Principal and once a fortnight with the Secondary / High School Coordinator to discuss issues  and suggestions recorded in the meeting notes.

Whole Staff

Staff are responsible for allowing members of the Student Council to collect suggestions and give information and feedback during gatherings and support and promote the values of the Student Council in the classroom.

Parents (PTA)

The PTA is responsible for communicating to the Student Council any requirements for ideas, support or action for events they are planning.