Student council elections go virtual

For students interested in participating in Student Council, the virtual election process is beginning this week! Requirements to run are similar to past years, but adjustments have been made to make the process paperless. Read on to learn more. 

What do I need to do?

Fill out the Student Council election sheet, which can be found here: StuCo election sheet! In order to complete it, you’ll need the following information.

1. Knowledge of your grade level, your GPA (or 8th grade average), your school ID, and the position that you want to run for. Your GPA must be an 85 or higher. 
2. 3 recommendation emails by your current teachers. These can be as simple as, ‘I highly recommend Student X for this position’
3. 1 letter of recommendation from a teacher or adult in the community
4. A 200 word essay on the following question: What is GHS and why is it important that I am on Student Council? You should also include information on jobs you’ve held and any volunteer experience you have to serve as an informal resume. SENIORS ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS!
5. Two electronic signatures of the document, one by yourself and one by a parent or guardian

Where does all this go?

Recommendations should be sent to Ms. Finacey at [email protected]. The sheet itself can be emailed to Ms. Finacey or Ms. Menery ([email protected]). 

If you’re new to GHS, or just to the concept of Student Council, you might be wondering what the group does and how it works. 

What does Student Council do?

As a Student Council member, your job is to help facilitate important high school events and experiences for your class. The majority of the time on the Council is spent organizing fundraisers and planning events, like prom or junior events. The Council also preps and plans pep rallies and designs class t-shirts.

Is it a big time commitment?

Each grade level has its own Student Council, with four officers, approximately 10 representatives (although this varies), and a faculty adviser. Officers meet with about two times per month; reps about once per month. The entirety of StuCo (all 4 grades) also meets periodically, and big responsibilities, like school clean days, are shared across grade levels. 

What are the differences between the positions?

President – President is an impressive title and requires a big commitment. Presidents lead the Student Council officers, facilitate communication between the officers and reps, pitch and spearhead new fundraising ideas, and deal with the logistical complications of getting plans off the ground. 

Vice President – The VP supports the President, dealing with all of the above and filling in the gaps when necessary. Though not as strenuous as the presidential role, it still demands energy and dedication. 

Secretary – The Secretary’s main job is to prepare for and record meetings. This means making agendas before a meeting beginnings and recording the proceedings as it occurs. The Secretary also shares duties with the other officers in organizing and facilitating fundraisers and events. 

Treasurer – The Treasurer works closely with the faculty adviser, keeping track of the funds that enter and leave. From hosting restaurant fundraisers to selling semi tickets, there are often a lot of moving parts for the Treasurer to keep track of.    

Representative – Reps generally take a less active role in leading the proceedings of the Council. They pitch ideas, volunteer at fundraisers, and provide support in a variety of ways, but don’t usually make big decisions.