Niagara Catholic District School Board

STUDENT SENATE – SECONDARY POLICY

ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

Policy No 100.6.1

Adopted Date: March 27, 2007

Latest Reviewed/Revised Date: April 3, 2023

1. The Student Senate will consist of two senior secondary student members from each Catholic secondary school. With the exception of the Student Trustee position, the term of office for all positions on the Secondary Student Senate is for one school year.

2. In addition to providing the student voice throughout the vetting of Board Governance Policies and Administrative Operational Procedures, the Student Senate will annually be responsible for leadership in the organization of a Board student conference(s).

3. The Student Senate will host an annual Niagara Catholic Student Leadership Symposium for all current and newly elected secondary Student Councils, Senate Senators, and elementary incoming and outgoing Family of Schools’ Student Councils. At the annual Niagara Catholic Student Leadership Symposium, one student will be elected by the newly elected Student Senate to serve as the incoming Student Trustees on the Board and Co-Chairs of the Student Senate.

SELECTION AND ELECTION OF STUDENT SENATE

4. In accordance with the Niagara Catholic Student Trustees Policy (100.4), prior to April 15 of each school year, the election of the following school year’s Student Council members will occur in all Niagara Catholic secondary schools.

· Each secondary principal will select one student from the Student Council members who have submitted an application to serve on the new school year’s Student Senate;

· Each secondary Student Council will elect one student their newly elected Student Council to serve on the new school year’s Student Senate.

6. In compliance with the Student Trustees Policy (100.4), to be eligible to serve as a member of the Niagara Catholic Student Senate, student nominees will hold the following qualifications:

· be actively supportive of the distinctive character, philosophy and goals of Catholic education, respect the faith and traditions of the Catholic church, and support the Mission, Vision and Values of the Niagara Catholic District School Board.

· be enrolled as a full-time, senior division student, in a Niagara Catholic secondary school, for the duration of their term

· be a member of the Secondary Student Senate

· provide a written letter of endorsement from the principal of their Catholic secondary school

· conduct themselves with proper demeanor at all times, in accordance with the Mission, Vision, Values and Policies and Administrative Operating Procedures of the Niagara Catholic District School Board.

ELECTION AND TERMS OF OFFICE FOR STUDENT TRUSTEES

7. Prior to April 30 of each year, the Niagara Catholic Student Senate will host a Student Leadership Symposium whereby the newly elected Student Senate and newly elected Student Council Presidents will elect two Co-Chairs of the Student Senate who will also serve as the two Student Trustees on the Board from August 1 to July 31 inclusive.

8. Given the importance placed on the role of Student Trustees in serving on the Board of Trustees and as Co-Chairs of the Niagara Catholic Student Senate, one of the two Student Trustees elected by the Student Senate must have at least one year of experience as a Student Trustee before the start of the new term.

· One Student Trustee must be enrolled in Grade 10 at a Niagara Catholic secondary school at the time of the election and must be eligible to serve a two year term.

· The other Student Trustee must be enrolled in Grade 11 at a Niagara Catholic secondary school at the time of election and must be eligible to serve a one year term.

COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES

9. Through an election process, the Student Senate will annually determine the selection of Student Senate representatives to the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), and the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (NCPIC).

10. In the event that a Student Senator is unable to fulfill their duty as a Student Trustee and Co-Chair of Student Senate or as a student representative on the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), or the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (NCPIC), a newly appointed Student Senate representative will be determined through a by-election process.

11. The Student Senate will assist the Student Trustees, the student representative on the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), and the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (NCPIC) in determining student issues, gathering student opinion and communication with students. The Student Trustees on the Board, the student representatives on the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), and the Niagara Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (NCPIC) will be responsible for reporting back to the Student Senate on a regular basis.

MODERATORS

12. A minimum of two secondary administrators will be appointed by the Director of Education to facilitate the operation of the Student Senate and to act as a resource, along with the Student Leadership Consultant. The moderators and Student Senate will dialogue with and report to the Director of Education.

Niagara Catholic District School Board *STUDENT SENATE – SECONDARY POLICY* ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES
100 - Board	Policy No 100.6.1

Adopted Date: March 27, 2007	Latest Reviewed/Revised Date: April 3, 2023