Activities Director: Mrs. Arreola-Tovar
harreola@muhsd.k12.ca.sus
(209) 648-7220
MERCED HIGH SCHOOL
ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY STUDENT GOVERNT/LEADERSHIP CLASS
PHILOSOPHY OF THE LEADERSHIP CLASS
Welcome to Merced High School’s Associated Student Body Student Government/Leadership Class! You have the
opportunity to impact every individual on this campus. Your choice of commitment to be part of the MHS Student
Leadership team, providing activities for our school means that you have chosen this as a priority and positive experience
in your education process. You will be a part of providing, creating, organizing, and participating in most major
activities. With your commitment, we will have the best year yet! Please always remember you made the choice to be
elected or selected by your peers to uphold your responsibilities as a leader and be a positive role model for your
fellow students. What you do in and out of the classroom affects how students will respect your goal to unify the school
with activities. I look forward to working with this class in confidence of each of you working to your fullest potential
resulting in a life-time of wonderful high school memories!
An important segment of school leadership is “ACTIVE” participation in organized activities on a regular basis. There
are days of class instruction and discussion that provides a foundation and tool for appropriate planning. On these days,
new information is established and understood through the teacher and the students as a team. In Leadership, there will
be classes or segments of class when we will study leadership through a specific topic (for example: public speaking,
written communication, or inspirational literacy activities). On other days we will apply our skills and knowledge. In
Leadership, this class time will be devoted to projects and activities that are carefully planned out before, during, and after
school.
CONDUCT AND CITIZENSHIP
 Comply with the Merced High Student Handbook rules at all times.
 Maintenance of high ethical standards as a Leader.
 Respectful treatment of peers.
 Ability to work with leaders at different ranks than one’s own.
 Follows strategies presented in academic class.
 Remain in class during instructional time. There are very few occasions when you may need to be
excused from another class. This is not always ideal but necessary. You will always get prior
approval from the teachers of the classes you may need to miss for a short period of time and/or for a
period. Never assume that you are excused from a tardy or absence because you are involved in an
activity. You will not be excused if you if you did not get prior approval from Mrs. Arreola and/or
your teacher! It will be your responsibility to remain in good standing and make-up your work.
 Working area arranged neatly with all supplies returned to their proper place.
EXPECTATIONS OF LEADERSHIP DUTIES
 Advanced planning and follow-up of events and activities
 Ability to organize and to participate in effective meetings, enthusiastic, yet orderly and “ACTIVE”
participation in class discussions
 Competent completion of delegated tasks and creativity given to projects
 Fair and effective delegation of responsibilities
 Improvement in public speaking skills and written communications
 Clear and frequent communication with Activities Director/Leadership Teacher and advisors
 Willingness to establish productive and friendly working relationships with fellow leadership students
 Working within the organizational structure—remember, our main goal is to prepare and provide
activities for the entire student body!
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CO-CURRICULAR PARTICIPATION (time outside of class period) and HOMEWORK
 Participation in all ASB night events will be required, i.e. set up for Homecoming Night Rally, early
and late assigned practices (see calendar). ASB generated half-time events at games, and after-school
assigned shifts, i.e. elections/selections (specific duties to position, see job descriptions) or community
service learning projects.

All sports activities will be prioritized, selected, and voted on by the entire Leadership class as
mandatory and required activities. Leadership students will be expected to help decorate before the
event, dress in their appropriate spirit clothes and sit in the student designated area “Orange Wave”
section, and quickly clean up at the end. Students seeing our Leadership actively participate will
provide a spirited and social venue for others to join and participate. Attendance will be required at
ASB sponsored events.

Although this class will not consist of “traditional” assigned work, all students will be held
accountable to work in their assigned shifts and to complete all assigned tasks. Incomplete tasks will
be a reduction in class points due to incomplete participation and lack of responsibility in tasks,
unexcused absences, and skipping shifts. Some make up is developed for someone excused due to
illness or family emergency.
LEADERSHIP PORTFOLIOS (Materials needed daily, Pen/Pencil, Planner, 1” Binder)
This is important follow-up written documentation and accountability of your efforts!
Evaluations will be updated the first day of every week.
 Evaluations are neat, complete, detailed and chronological
1.
2.
3.
Planner/Calendar -- updated and current
Duties of work samples -- items related to your job title and/or specific tasks
Materials provided by teacher
FULFILLMENT OF ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP DUTIES DURING SCHOOL HOURS
 Amount of time devoted to activities outside Leadership Class such as; lunch time events and rallies
 Members must attend and participation in ASB sponsored events. These include but are not limited
to: dress-up days, rallies, lunch activities.
EXPECTATIONS OF GRADING and WRITTEN EVALUATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Participation among members, regular attendance to class and activities (point values will
be issued for class participation, active participation in activities and dress up days)
Participation and your involvement during class and outside of class.
Inspection of your portfolio/binder with a brief conference (Minimum of one time each
semester, possibly once each quarter), evaluations will be turned in weekly.
Typed assignments, projects, and tests when applicable.
Community involved projects. Refer to Parent Section on Page 3.
Evaluations from appropriate advisor(s), executive board and self-reflection(s). See School
Constitution.
All points earned in each quarter will be totaled and divided into total points possible to determine quarter
percentage/grade. Semester Finals will be averaged into the 2nd and 4th quarter grades.
100%-90%=A, 89%-80%=B, 79%-70%=C, 69%-60%=D, 59% or below=F
Quarterly Grades will be averaged for a 1st and 2nd Semester Grades
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Parents Please Read:
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
Community Project Involvement is a “revisited requirement” of the Leadership Program for the following reasons:
Student Leaders and students in general are required on scholarship applications, college applications, and job
applications to list their community involvement experience. The student must fulfill 10 hours each in 3 out of 4
quarters to fulfill the requirement. One quarter will be waived. Usually this is the 1 st quarter due to the amount of
time spent on Back to School and Homecoming events. As a leadership class, we will create a list that is
unanimously agreed upon to determine what constitutes a community service hour. Community Service may be any
organized additional activity that provides positive self esteem, leadership growth, and promotes community service.
Activities to benefit our community such as; Senior Citizens Thanksgiving Dinner, Festival of Trees, Holiday Bell
Ringers and “Relay for Life”, Holiday Parade, Pedal Merced are some of the past opportunities.
An ASB Student Body Card is given to each and every student in the Leadership class. This card retails for
$45.00. I have given each leadership student a free one, because each student is required to be at all home football
games along with one game from each sport. The Leadership class will vote and decide which games they will
attend. It is part of their grade to be at these games; however, I understand that some students are unable to make
certain games and must notify me of their absence one week prior to the event. Failure to notify me if a student
misses a game will result in a 0 for the event. It is imperative that we work as a team in order to succeed
Goals Including, but not limited to…
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2.
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4.
Developing an understanding of how student government functions.
Becoming familiar with techniques and principles of leadership.
Being aware of effective communication methods.
Learning how to develop and effectively execute diverse activities for about 2,800 students.
Objectives The student will be able to…
1. Explain and/or demonstrate the purpose and function of student government.
2. Describe ASB procedures and understand the Merced High Constitution.
3. Explain parliamentary/interactive methods of meetings.
4. Plan, organize, and implement an activity.
5. Demonstrate different management techniques.
6. Compare and contrast different methods of leadership, decision making, and problem solving.
7. Exhibit an ability to make an activity financially balanced and feasible.
Classroom Conduct and Consequences
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2.
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5.
Be in class on time, seated, with necessary materials, Pen/Pencil, Highlighter, Portfolio Binder and Calendar.
Maintain a positive attitude; please leave any personal issues outside the classroom.
ZERO TOLERANCE of electronic devices (phones, ipods, etc) unless they are being used to conduct
Leadership business.
If there is a need to conduct business outside of the classroom, you will NOT leave the classroom without
instructor permission and an out-of-class ASB business pass. The student will conduct ONLY the business
assigned and will NOT disturb others or wander around campus.
Respect others and not engage in personal conversation or other distracting behavior while another student
or instructor “has the floor.”
BEHAVIORAL CONSEQUENCES
Tardies—Attendance is vital! All handbook rules will be followed!
Eligibility—If you become ineligible at the quarter, you will be listed probationary and must improve
your grade by the semester. Refer to the student handbook for specific requirements. If you become
ineligible at the semester, you will be assigned individual work and/or may be removed from the class
with the assistance of counseling placing you in another class. Your academics and grades come first!
Disruptive—
1. First consequence—verbal warning
2. Second consequence—after-school conference with instructor, short written assignment
3. Third consequence—class suspension and parent contact
4. Severe consequence—removal from class and sent to Assistant Principal
CELL PHONES MUST remain in your backpacks/purses.
Cheating will not be tolerated. Forged passes, assignments and tests will result in zero points.
Makeup Work—notifies Mrs. Arreola ASAP if there is a conflict in schedule. Excused absences only, see
Mrs. Arreola immediately.
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Detach and Return the Agreement Below
MHS STUDENT AND PARENT/GUARDIAN AGREEMENT
Leadership 12-13
STUDENT SECTION
I, _________________________________ have read, reviewed, understand, and agree to follow
Please PRINT Student Name
the Leadership philosophy, expectations, procedures and grading policy.
___________________________________
Circle your grade: 9 10 11 12
Student’s Signature
PARENT SECTION
I, _________________________________ have read all of the Leadership requirements,
Please PRINT Parent/Guardian Name
including philosophy, expectations, co-curricular responsibility, procedures and grading policy, and
agree to support my child and the Activities Director through this process for all Merced High
students to have a successful year.
______________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
______________________________
Date
Please note: Cell Phones are acceptable anytime a parent must reach you during co-curricular
activities (before/lunch/after school); these are not considered traditional school hours. In the
event of an emergency with your child, please provide the following:
________________________________________
Phone or Cell Number for Daytime
_________________________________________
Phone or Cell Number for Evening
__________________________________
Email Address
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