Salem Lutheran School
Student Council
Guidelines
President
Shall preside at all of the regular and important meetings of the
Student Council, and on occasion, will speak for the Council.
Must have at least two years experience as a representative or one
year experience as a student Council member and be from the 6th
grade.
Vice-President
Shall perform the duties of the president if she/he cannot preside at
the meeting for any given reason. Is responsible for the end of the
year elections. Must be from the 5th grade.
Secretary
Shall maintain a written record of all special or regular meetings. Is
responsible for dispersing minutes recorded from previous meeting.
Shall be responsible for all correspondence from the Student Council
and maintaining a record thereof.
Must have at two years experience as a representative or one year
experience as an officer. Can be from the 4th, 5th or 6th grade.
Treasurer
Shall maintain a record of all financial matters related to the Student
Council including fundraisers. Is responsible for dispersing financial
information to the PTO and school office.
Director of Religious Affairs
Is responsible for leading some announcements at weekly chapel. Will
assist the Salem Chaplain at appropriate events. Can be from the 4th,
5th or 6th grade.
Director of Environmental Affairs
Is responsible for setting up and organizing “green” programs. Can be
from the 4th, 5th or 6th grade.
Director of Publicity/Community Outreach
Is responsible for creating signs, school bulletins, and posters. Is
responsible for school publicity and creating and writing an article for the
school newsletter. Can be from 4th, 5th or 6th grade.
Students planning to run for an office must be
entering 4th Grade in September.
Candidates must also meet the Academic and
Behavioral Requirements as outlined in the
Student Council Application.
Salem Lutheran School Student Council Election: Rules and Procedures
1. Fill out the application, have it signed by your parents and submit the completed
form to your classroom teacher by the due date on the form.
2. Prepare a speech to be delivered in front of the student body. Candidates may NOT
involve assistants or supporters in their presentation. Speeches should be no longer
than 2 minutes. Your speech should include the following:
a. Introduction of yourself, the office you are seeking, and why you are
interested in running for this position
b. Your years of previous experience (if any) on the Student Council
c. How you plan to serve Salem Lutheran School if elected to this position
d. Share examples of ways you demonstrate responsibility and reliability
e. Ultimately, your speech should indicate what kind of person you are
3. Make ONE campaign poster using 20” x 30” poster board. Posters will be displayed
the Wednesday prior to the Monday on which speeches are made. It is the student’s
responsibility to submit the poster to a Student Council Advisor.
4. You, as a Student Council candidate, may not hand out candy, offer to purchase an
ice cream treat, or approach another student in any way offering to buy or get them
something in return for a vote. This is considered a bribe. Any candidate offering a
bribe will be immediately disqualified from running for an elected office. No
electronic solicitation of votes: text, e-mail, IM, and/or phone calls will be allowed.
5. You may wear a pin to identify yourself to members of the student body. Candidate
may distribute endorsement labels – no larger than 2” by 3” – see attached
addendum regarding campaigning and example of correct label size.
6. You may not destroy – nor take part in planning to destroy – another candidate’s
campaign through your involvement in the promotion of negative gossip such as
character defamation, destroying/defacing of an election poster, etc. If someone
catches you participating – or hears that you have been involved – in this negative
type of behavior (and the allegations prove to be true), you will be immediately
disqualified from running for an elected office.
7. The most important aspects to running a good and efficient campaign is to treat
your opponents and colleagues in a positive Christian manner and to have a lot of
fun! Good luck!
PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN to your classroom teacher.
I have read, discussed, understand, and will comply with the Salem Lutheran School
Student Council election rules and procedures.
Signature of Student Council Candidate
_________________________________________
I have read, understand, and will support my child to comply with the Salem Lutheran
School Student Council Election rules and procedures.
Signature of Parent
_________________________________________________________
Salem Lutheran School Student Council
Election Campaign Application
Before completing this form, please note the following:
Student Council Qualifications
All Student Council members must maintain a 3.5 GPA or
better and a Very Good (V) average in behavior each quarter.
1. Name: __________________________________
2. Grade: _______________
3. Office Applying For: ________________________
4. Previous Student Council Experience (position and year served):
_____________________________________________________
5. Please attach to this form a copy of your most current report card.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
6. Approval Signatures:
Parent/Guardian: ________________________________
Classroom Teacher: ______________________________
Student Council Advisor: ____________________________
Principal: ________________________________________
Student Council Addendum Regarding Campaigning
In the interest of fairness to all candidates, please observe the
following rules:
1. Parents may not campaign on school property or during school
functions. This includes, but is not limited to, the parking lot,
Salem Lutheran Church and school based activities.
2. Candidates may distribute campaign materials.
3. Candidates may not forcibly place materials, advertisements or
other visuals on any one person.
Non-adherence to the above rules may result in
disqualification.
Salem Lutheran School Student Council Constitution
Preamble
We, the students of Salem Lutheran Elementary School, in order to establish
democratic procedures guiding our activities and to breed a sense of intelligent
leadership, school spirit, Christian conduct, scholarship, responsibility, and
student-to-administration cooperation, do hereby establish this constitution.
I.
Salem Lutheran Elementary School Student Council
A. Goals
1. To develop leadership skills within the student body.
2. To provide activities that nurture school fellowship and pride.
3. To serve the school community.
B. Specific objectives
1. To demonstrate leadership qualities through direct classroom
representation and the democratic election process.
2. To provide activities that build awareness of social issues: drug
awareness, environmental concerns, community outreach, etc.
3. To support weekly chapel services.
4. To instill school spirit and pride.
C. Qualifications for Student Council members
1. All Student Council members must maintain a 3.5 grade point
average (GPA) each quarter.
2. All Student Council members must have a Very Good (“V”) or
better in Conduct/Citizenship each quarter in all subjects.
3. Experience
a. Executive Officers must have at least two years
experience as a representative or one year experience
as an officer.
b. Directors must have at least one year experience as a
classroom representative.
D. Executive officers duties
“including but not limited to”
1. President - Shall preside at all of the regular and important
meetings of the Student Council. Is responsible for leading the
flag salute ceremony the Monday of Salem Socials Week.
2. Vice President - Shall perform the duties of the president if
she/he cannot preside at the meeting for any given reason. Is
responsible for the end of year elections.
3. Secretary - Shall maintain a written record of all special or
regular meetings. Is responsible for dispersing minutes recorded
from previous meeting. Shall be responsible for all
correspondence from the Student Council and maintaining a
record thereof.
E. Directors duties – candidates from 4th through 6th grades
1. Director of Religious Affairs - Is responsible for leading some
announcements at weekly chapel. Will assist the Salem
Chaplain at appropriate events.
2. Director of Environmental Affairs - Is responsible for
maintaining a green campus.
3. Director of Publicity/Community Outreach - Is responsible for
creating signs, school bulletins, and posters. Is responsible for
school publicity and creating and writing an article in the school
newsletter.
F. Class Representatives
1. Grades 3 – 6 will each nominate and elect 1 student
representative per class to serve on Student Council
G. Elections
1. Candidates for the office of President must be from 6th grade.
Candidates for the office of Vice-President must be from 5th
grade. Candidates for the office of Secretary must be from 4th
grade.
2. Candidates for the office of Directors can be from 4th, 5th or 6th
grades.
3. Nominees may only run for one office.
4. The political assembly should be at least 2 days prior to the
elections. Elections should be done on a secret ballot with the
most votes winning the election
II.
Bylaws
A. Procedure of Removal
1. Attendance
a. Student Council members including classroom
representatives are expected to attend all regularly
scheduled meetings and functions. Council members that
miss two unexcused meetings will be subject to removal
from the Student Council. Refer to the Salem School
Handbook regarding attendance policy.
2. Causes for removal
a. Lack of attendance
b. Failure to keep minimum grade standards
c. Suspension
d. Failure to complete responsibilities for office
III.
Activities
A. The president shall oversee and monitor the activities proposed by the
Student Council.
B. Student Council Advisor(s) will be chosen from the Leadership
Committee members consisting of faculty and/or staff.
C. Approval for activities will be submitted to the Student Council
Advisor(s). Upon the advisor(s) approval, it will be submitted to the
school principal for approval.
D. Approval from the school principal must be obtained a minimum of 4
weeks prior to the activity.
Submitted by the Faculty Leadership Committee Advisors
Mrs. Ghada Huleis, Principal