Student Government & Leadership Opportunities

Trafalgar students have ample opportunity to take on leadership roles in student government, in House activities, or on other committees and projects. The roles have different degrees of time and energy commitment, which students must consider before taking on leadership responsibility.

Criteria for Elected Leadership positions:

Interest in making constructive contributions to school life.
Conforming to school uniform and behaviour rules as outlined in the Code of Behaviour (The School reserves the right to make this determination.)
Regular attendance and a good record of punctuality.

In addition, students standing for a Prefect position must meet the following criteria:

Maintaining a minimum academic average of 80%.
Participation in school life as indicated by active and ongoing involvement in at least two school activities.
Fulfilling minimum Community Service hours before Prefect Elections.

What follows is an explanation of leadership roles, for both elected and volunteer positions.

Elected Positions

Prefects
Athletics Council
House Council
Grad Dance Committee
Valedictorian

Prefects – Elected in May of previous year

role models to the student body – Prefects are held to a higher standard of attitude, including personal conduct and level of participation.
work as part of a team on the Prefect Council to: promote school spirit & organize and run some school activities
Prefects are expected to attend Prefect meetings and represent the school at special school events.
Prefects have specific job expectations according to their elected position (see below.)

Head Girl	Head Girl is the main spokesperson for the students on public occasions Head Girl prepares the agenda and chairs the Prefect Council and co-ordinates Prefect activities and presentations including WOW Sub-Committee: Prefects
Sub-Head Girl	Sub-Head Girl assists the Head Girl in all Prefect Council matters Sub-Head Girl prepares the agenda, chairs several student committees and co-ordinates student activities Sub-Committees: Student Life events (Halloween, Valentine's Day, Funky Fridays, etc.)
Communications Prefect	records and distributes minutes of the Prefect Council communicates community service opportunities to the student body communicates with other committees about prefect events communicates info for LCD screen, website, assemblies
Activities Prefect	coordinates and promotes QAIS student activities, such as Ski Day and dances keeps an up-to-date activity calendar chairs the Grad Committee, Junior Dance Committee and Girls for the Cure Committee Sub-Committees: Grad, Junior Dance, Girls for the Cure
Games Captain	co-ordinates, with the Phys. Ed. Dept., the inter-house intramural program (usually at lunch period) Chairs the Athletics Council promotes athletic competition and athletic events through making announcements, designing and maintaining a display board about intramural events, and helping with athletics banquet and field day Sub-Committees: games captain from each house
House Prefect	promotes house spirit and encourages all members of her house co-ordinates all house activities and competitions keeps an up-to-date house board. helps Form IV rep count and calculate house points once a cycle encourages integration of little sisters and new house members Sub-Committee: House Council

Athletics Council

One rep per class and one Form III rep from each house, elected in September.

Athletics Council is chaired by the Games Captain.

The Athletic Council organizes the intramural athletic program by setting the intramural schedule and promoting intramural competition at lunch time.

Council members:

promote the intramural program in the their class or house.

represent their class or house on the Athletic Council

House Council

House Council members are the Form I, II and III reps who have been nominated and elected from each House. Council members support the House Head, relay information from the House Head to the rest of the grade members in the House, help maintain the House Board, count House Points and help the Games Captain with inter-House activities.

Grad Dance Committee

Reps from the graduating class & Activities Prefect

co-ordinate, with the Prefect Council and staff advisor(s), one major fund raising activity for the grad dance.

co-ordinate (with faculty advisor) the details of the grad dance, including budget, invitations, seating, D.J., etc.

consult with senior class on grad matters.

liaise with Parent Grad Committee re grad weekend events

the chair and secretary will be elected from within the committee.

Valedictorian

The Valedictorian speaks formally at graduation as both a representative of the graduating class and the school. This honour is meant to recognize a student whose activities, conduct, and academic achievement are consistent with the school’s academic traditions and stated values.

Consequently, nominated candidates must meet the following selection criteria:

High academic standing (as determined by the School).

balanced participation in school activities

good conduct and attendance record

Nominations are submitted in May (including Head and Sub-Head Girls).

Form V students and faculty vote for the Valedictorian.

Volunteer and Appointed Positions

Yearbook Editors
Girls for the Cure Committee

Yearbook Editors

The Trafalgar yearbook, called Echoes, is a hard-covered book that documents the school year. The yearbook staff is led by a team of Senior and Junior Editors. A staff advisor supervises the yearbook team.

Senior Editors: 2 (or more) Form V students appointed after a process of application.

Junior Editors: 2 Form IV students appointed after a process of application.

The application process begins in the spring of the previous year; once selected the Editors begin training and planning for the next year.

Responsibilities:

The Editors will guide their staff to create layouts, write copy, photograph, illustrate, and edit all aspects of the yearbook production.

The Editors will promote yearbook within the school community.

Senior Editors will liaise with the Prefect Council to keep up to date on upcoming events.

Senior Editors will attend a 4-day workshop, run by the publishing company, during the summer.

Girls for the Cure Committee

The Girls for the Cure Committee begins its work in the spring of the previous year. Committee members are volunteers.

the external committee is made up of four senior student volunteers, under the co-ordination of the faculty advisor

the external committee members co-ordinate with other participating schools and the the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation.

the external committee members head internal sub-committees who organize various aspects of the event.

committee members promote and organize the collection of pledges.

committee members promote and organize Girls for the Cure activities, including cancer awareness activities.

Many more opportunities exist for students to take on leadership positions or attend leadership conferences. The Student Life Coordinators, have information about these opportunities in their office (Rm. 305)