STUDENT LEADERSHIP SYSTEMS HOUSE SYSTEM Houses • Cartier • Massey • Hudson • Simcoe • Mackenzie • Wolfe

CRESCENT SCHOOL STUDENT LEADERSHIP SYSTEMS HOUSE SYSTEM Houses • Cartier • Massey • Hudson • Simcoe • Mackenzie • Wolfe

House Prefects Each House is led by a House Prefect, who is a full member of the Prefect Council. The House Prefect is responsible for running all aspects of the House; his role is analogous to both a Head Boy and Assembly Prefect for his House. The six House Prefects attend regular Prefect meetings, and also meet weekly as a group. House Prefects and House Captains are elected prior to regular Portfolio Prefects. House Prefects are required to declare their candidacy for House Prefect as a priority to a Portfolio Prefect position.

House Captains House Captains support the House Prefects in all House initiatives, including House Meetings, major House events, and the House intramural league; they take on a high degree of leadership in the day-to-day running of the leagues. House Captains are briefed by the House Prefects on all House business during a protected lunchtime.

MENTOR GROUP SYSTEM It is a fundamental expectation at Crescent School that every Grade 12 student takes responsibility for the student culture by assuming the leadership position of Senior Mentor in his Mentor Group. It is a requirement of all Grads in the group to attend all Mentor Group meetings, organize Mentor Group discussions, and work to foster a strong and supportive sense of community within their Mentor Group.

PREFECT SYSTEM The Prefect Council is composed of 17 Prefects: six House Prefects and 10 Portfolio Prefects, chaired by the Head Boy. They are chosen as outlined below: Head Boy Elections Any Grade 11 student who meets the minimum standard has the opportunity to become Head Boy. After the first round of elections the three top candidates by vote totals move on to the second round. After the top three are decided, in an assembly prior to the second round of voting, the three final candidates engage in a question and answer period, with equal opportunity to respond to questions posed by a combination of faculty and students. After this question and answer period, students will be able to vote the following day to select the Head Boy.

Prefect Elections Portfolio Prefect elections occur after Head Boy, House Prefect and House Captain ballots. Ten individuals are elected and the Head Boy appoints their roles. This is in accordance with Canadian Parliamentary practice in which the people elect the strongest candidates then the Prime Minister assigns specific roles. The Prefect Portfolios are: • Assembly (2) • Lower School Liaison • Middle School Liaison • Upper School Liaison • Arts • Social • Sports • Communications • Grad Class and Alumni Liaison

LOWER SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL FORM MENTORS Once the Prefects are elected and the portfolios are designated, the selection process for Form Mentors begins immediately.

Members of the next year’s Grad Class (current Grade 11s) apply for Form Mentor positions, indicating their preference and outlining their strengths, experience and qualifications for the job. Following the application deadline, an interview team, comprised of the Lower School and Middle School Liaison Prefects and the Head Boy, interviews the applicants. The interview panel should strive to eliminate personal bias to select candidates who will serve the Lower School and Middle School students reliably and effectively. The Liaison Prefects and Head Boy should make their selection decisions based on factors including: relevant experience, work ethic, personal knowledge, personal traits, reputation, as well as the actual interview (presentation skills in the interview should not be a major factor; the information and responses to questions posed in the interview should have more bearing.) Distribution Grade 3: 2 classes/2 Form Mentors each Grade 4: 2 classes/2 Form Mentors each Grade 5: 3 classes/2 Form Mentors each Grade 6: 3 classes/2 Form Mentors each Grade 7: 4 classes/2 Form Mentors each Grade 8: 4 classes/2 Form Mentors each

VOTING PROCEDURE Weighting Head Boy, House Prefect and Prefect Elections: • Grade 9s – vote worth one • Grade 10s – vote worth one • Grade 11s & Teachers – vote worth two • Grade 12s – vote worth one

House Captain: • Grade 9s – vote worth one • Grade 10s & Teachers – vote worth two • Grade 11s – vote worth one • Grade 12s – vote worth one

ELECTION PROCESS First Round of Voting: Head Boy Vote for one candidate on the list (weighting as listed above). Top three candidates move to the second round. In the case of a tie, all four move on. Second Round of Voting: Head Boy Vote for one of the three final candidates. Top candidate by vote count is elected. Third Round of Voting: House Prefect and House Captains Only those within the House can vote for the leadership team for that House. Vote for one candidate for House Prefect. Vote for two candidates for House Captain. Fourth Round of Voting: Portfolio Prefects Preliminary Round: vote for 10 candidates. Top 20 candidates by vote as well as any candidate with at least 60 votes move on to the final ballot. Weighting as above. Final Round Vote for 10 candidates. Top 10 candidates by vote are elected. NOTE: As previously stated, candidates are not elected to specific portfolios. After the election process is complete, the Head Boy, in consultation with elected Prefects and Faculty Advisers, assigns the elected Portfolio Prefects to each portfolio. The model is the Canadian Parliamentary system, in which the Prime Minister selects his cabinet and specific cabinet positions from the elected representatives. The philosophy is to prior¬itize the election of the strongest possible team, regardless of role.

ELECTION CRITERIA AND APPEAL PROCESS Potential candidates must meet the following criteria: 1) A candidate must have demonstrated a strong work ethic and a commitment toward academics. He must have a 75% average at time of application

2) A candidate must have shown an ability to uphold the school's core values and spirit of character and good conduct. He cannot have been involved in a matter of behaviour that resulted in significant disciplinary action. Students who do not meet these criteria for academic and/or conduct reasons are entitled to a one-time appeal. They should meet with the Head of Upper School well in advance of the election season for an outline of the appeal process.

AMENDING PROCESS This constitution may be amended through the following procedure: The Student Constitution may be amended only through the following steps: • A request to present a proposal to amend must be made in writing and submitted to the Head Boy, no later than February 1st of the electoral year, who should inform the Prefect Council and faculty adviser(s) promptly (within a week). Such a request should not ordinarily be refused. • The proposal to amend, in writing, consisting of suggested changes and rationale must be submitted to the Head Boy who must table the proposal within two meetings of the Prefect Council. The written proposal should be submitted to all attendees at least one day in advance of the meeting. The person requesting the amendment(s) may ask to speak at the meeting. Such a request should not ordinarily be refused. • Prefects discuss the merits of the suggested changes and vote. If the author of the proposal attends the meeting, he is required to leave prior to discussion. • The proposal, together with minutes of the discussion, results of the vote, and a formal recommendation, are submitted by the Head Boy to the Headmaster or his designate for a final decision. The Headmaster may ask to consult with the Head Boy and possibly other Prefects prior to making his/her decision. • The Headmaster communicates his decision to the Head Boy, and through him to the Prefect Council within one week. The Head Boy communicates the decision within one week to the author of the proposed amendment(s). • There may be no appeal.