INFORMATION

• Student Council is an opportunity for Lea students in grades 3-8 to serve their school by voicing their opinions, advocating for change, and contributing their time and effort to improve the school. 

• There are 4 different types of service that Student Council engages in: 

  1. 1. Service learning

     2. Advising school administration on school policies, practices, and programs

     3. Acting as student ambassadors on the School Advisory Council and at public events

     4. Learning the tenets of Relationships First and facilitating circles and other activities in your classroom. 

• Student Council is made up of the following positions, or "offices", which students serve in for a term of no longer than one academic year:

  1. 1. President

     2. Vice President

     3. Secretary

     4. Treasurer

     5. Homeroom representatives for each class in grades 3-8

• Student Council organizes and supports several activities and events related to school-wide projects and initiatives.

• Student Council sponsors are responsible for mentoring, supervising, and supporting students who serve on Student Council. The sponsor for the 2024-2025 academic year is Elizabeth Cesarini (ecesarini@philasd.org)

1. All Student Council members are expected to meet the following expectations regarding how they conduct themselves as students, citizens, and members of the Lea community:

   1. 1. All Student Council members must conduct themselves at all times according to our Learning Expectations: 

LEAd by Example Always by demonstrating Respect, Responsibility, and Safety. 

1. 1. 2. Each Student Council member must contribute appropriate time and effort to their Student Council responsibilities as determined by their role on Student Council.

      3. Each Student Council member must maintain a “C” or better average in ALL classes throughout the school year.

      4. Each Student Council member must not receive disciplinary referrals. 

      5. Each Student Council member must have less than or equal to 3 latenesses and 3 unexcused absences from the first day of school until the last day of school.

2. All Student Council members are expected to meet the following expectations regarding collaboration and communication:

   1. 1. Each Student Council member must check (a) their email and (b) the Lea Student Council website on a regular basis, as emails and this site serve as the primary modes of communication for Student Council.

      2. Student Council meets weekly during after-school hours, and each Student Council member is expected to attend every Student Council meeting (unless they have an excused absence).

      3. Each Student Council member must have less than or equal to 3 excused absences for Student Council meetings, events, or activities over the course of the school year.

      4. Each Student Council member must be flexible and receptive to emergency meetings and work sessions when needed. 

      5. Each Student Council member is responsible for helping facilitate each event, program, or activity sponsored by Student Council.

3. Student Council sponsors reserve the right to suspend or remove any student from Student Council based on the student’s failure to meet any of these expectations. 

All Student Council Members

1. 1. Must attend the weekly Student Council meeting held Wednesdays from 3:45 - 4:45 pm. 

   2. Must participate in all activities and events sponsored by Student Council.

   3. Must make Student Council a high priority among the different extracurricular activities in which they participate.

President

1. 1. Supervises and supports all Student Council members.

   2. Provides leadership and guidance for other members, including assigning and managing the responsibilities of the Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer) and Representatives for specific tasks, projects, and events.

   3. Prepares agenda for and facilitates Student Council meetings.

   4. Communicates frequently with Student Council sponsors and the Principal.

   5. Must attend monthly School Advisory Council (SAC) meetings, which occur once a month on the third Wednesday of each month.. 

2024-2025 dates: November 13 6:00-7:30 PM, December 18 7:00-8:30 PM, January 22 5:00-6:30 PM, February 12 7:00-8:00 PM, March 19 5:00-6:30 PM, April 23 5:00-6:30 PM, May 21 5:00-6:30 PM

1. 6. Helping other members as needed.

Vice President

1. Supports the President in supervising and supporting all Student Council members.

2. Acts as a sounding board for the President and other officers, and leads by example.

3. Responsible for planning and facilitating Student Council events.

4. Assumes the president’s role if the President is unavailable due to sickness or an absence.

5. Must attend monthly School Advisory Council (SAC) meetings, which occur once a month on the third Wednesday of each month: 

2024-2025 dates: November 13 6:00-7:30 PM, December 18 7:00-8:30 PM, January 22 5:00-6:30 PM, February 12 7:00-8:00 PM, March 19 5:00-6:30 PM, April 23 5:00-6:30 PM, May 21 5:00-6:30 PM

6. Helping other members as needed.

Secretary

1. 1. Records meeting notes and takes attendance for every Student Council meeting.

   2. Reviews and reads minutes at the beginning of each meeting.

   3. Keeps track of all plans and tasks related to Student Council projects, events, and meetings offered by Student Council members.

   4. Develops and creates flyers, signs, and other documents for events and activities sponsored by Student Council and/or school staff. 

Treasurer

1. Maintains an accurate account of money in and money out of the Student Council budget in the ledger. 

2. Reports total at each weekly meeting. 

3. Provides estimated budget for Student Council events.

4. Helps brainstorm fundraising activities and estimates profits. 

Homeroom Representatives: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

1. 1. Responsible for researching and understanding what students in their grade level want and need from Student Council, and for sharing this information with Student Council.

   2. Representatives are also responsible for researching, understanding, and sharing what students in the lower grade levels (Grades K-2) want and need from Student Council.

1. Student Council meets every Wednesday during after-school hours from 3:45 - 4:45 pm. Each Student Council member is expected to attend the weekly Student Council meeting (unless they have an excused absence from a parent/guardian).

2. Each Student Council member must have less than or equal to 3 excused absences for Student Council meetings, events, or activities over the course of the school year.

3. Each student must earn a C average or better every quarter. 

• The election for Lea Student Council will be held during the week of  December 2-6, 2024. During the election, Lea students will vote to decide which of their peers will serve on Student Council for the current school year. 

• Each student can only run for one position, or "office", on Student Council. Students are not allowed to apply for multiple offices, and if a student applies for multiple offices, they will be required to select a single office they wish to run for. 

• Each student who ran for Student Council had to complete the application process by November 8, 2024 to be considered for the election ballot.* 

• After the application deadline, the Student Council reviews each student's application materials and decides which students will participate in the school-wide election and be included on the election ballot. The Student Council sponsors use the application materials (application, teacher letter of recommendation) and the Student Council expectations to guide their decision-making. 

• During the weeks preceding the elections, from November 11-22, the Student Council sponsor will meet with students selected through the application process to serve as candidates in the election. The sponsor will work with the student candidates to prepare an election slide that will be viewed by all Lea students and staff during the elections. Slides can include posters, speeches, photos, or voice recordings, and must be approved by the Student Council Sponsor. 

• During Election Week, December 2-6, 2024, students and teachers will view the prepared election slides during Community Meetings and then vote for President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Room Representative of the Student Council using a paper on online ballot.*

• Election results will officially be shared with students and staff by December 12, 2024. 

* An election ballot is the official list of candidates for each position on Student Council that voters mark to make choices. Teachers can choose to have their classes complete the ballots online or on paper. The ballots will be prepared after the candidate list is final. Teachers may ask student council room representative hopefuls to give a speech to the class in advance of the election. 

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Your child is interested in becoming a part of the Student Council at Henry C. Lea Elementary School. We believe that Student Council can be a beneficial activity for your child both in the present as well as in the future. Their experience in Student Council can help improve their self-esteem and self-discipline, their ability to communicate and collaborate with others, and their leadership skills. 

Student Council is a chance for Lea students to serve their school by voicing their opinions, advocating for change, and contributing their time and effort to improve our school. There are four different avenues of service pursued by the Student Council: service learning, advising school administration, acting as student ambassadors, and developing and facilitating fundraising efforts for the benefit of students and the school community. 

Student Council is a voluntary activity and will be held primarily during after-school hours (for meetings and events), including weekly meetings on Wednesdays after school from 3:45-5:00 PM

An election will be held during the week of December 2-6, 2024 in which Lea students in Grades 2-8 will vote to decide which students will serve on Student Council. By completing both of the 3 steps listed below – which includes getting your permission as their parent/guardian for them to participate in Student Council – your child can apply to be a candidate in the Student Council election for the current school year.

1. Read this Student Council Information page with their parent/guardian

2. Complete the Student Council Application with their parent/guardian

3. Ask a teacher or staff member for a Recommendation. 

Thank you for helping your child complete each step of the application process. If you have any questions or concerns about applying to Lea Student Council, please email the Student Council sponsor, Elizabeth Cesarini, at ecesarini@philasd.org.