BRFHS STUDENT SENATE ANNOUNCEMENTS

#8:  Monday 17 November:  Week 2 of Term 2
We meet this week on Wednesday (11.19) during focus.  Be as prompt as possible.  Through 5 meetings this year we have had excellent attendance.  Keep it up!  It makes all the difference.

Where are we and where are we headed?  

First off, let me commend you on an excellent meeting on Wednesday (11.12).  You had an excellent discussion of several things that actually need discussing.  We got some good things going there that we will now need to follow up on.  

This week's meeting will be strictly as committees -- each group has some very tangible things to work on.  Committee Chairs -- you need to step up and be a leader for your group!  

COMMUNICATIONS
Issues:  Block 1 Announcements, School Board connection, Respect campaign

SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
You will need to meet with Ms. Wojo during focus on Wednesday -- we're ready to move into the next phase of the recycling plan. 

CONSTITUTION
We have received another mailing from Tenzin and need to move forward with this -- you need to develop a resolution concerning the update of our sponsorship and plan a mailing to Tenzin -- I have things you need to see.  

POLITICAL ACTION
Two things here, I believe.  First of all, a resolution related to the 16 year old vote that will move forward (or not) out of this body; second, it seems to me this committee needs to take on the "math" discussion -- let's talk.  

#7:  Monday 10 November:  Start of Term 2
REALIZE THAT THERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES HAPPENING RELATED TO FOCUS ON MONDAY AND THAT WILL IMPACT OUR MEETINGS SOMEWHAT.  LISTEN FOR THAT DURING THE WEEK OVER THE PA.  

Where are we?  Where are we going?  

We have finished the first phase of our work this year:  nomination and election of Senators, ratification of the Senate Constitution,  organization and electing officers, establishing districts, forming committees, and promoting our Mock Election.  We are now ready to move on.  

THANKS VERY MUCH! FOR YOUR HELP WITH THE VOTING.  We definitely had a successful mock election.  IF YOU HAVE NOT CHECKED RESULTS, go to the Elections Page and do that.  You may find the results interesting.  We will discuss them at our next meeting.  

Our focus (starting 11.12) will be on committee work.  Our central task is to be the voice for students, so keep your ears and eyes open to what is happening around school.  Focus changes are going into effect, for example, next Monday (11.10) and this will certainly create some discussion among students.  Also, be aware that starting semester 2 (January) students will have to be at B- or better on their grades to earn privilege -- that's being tightened up. 

We also will be taking up a resolution on Wednesday concerning the "16 year old vote" issue.  We need some discussion on that in order to move forward.  You will note an on-line discussion that has started concerning this -- I would like to see that discussion expanded in the days and weeks ahead.   

#6:  MONDAY 3 NOVEMBER:  FINAL EXAM WEEK
We do not meet this week -- you need to use your time to concentrate on your classes and finishing up the term.  Our next meeting will be on WEDNESDAY, 12 November (the 3rd day of term 2).  Note the change to Wednesdays for term 2!   

#5:  MONDAY 20 OCTOBER
This week is important for our organization.  We need to do a good job of promoting the mock elections that we will be staging next Monday and Tuesday.  Here are things to be aware of this week:  

• Emily J is doing announcements this week at the start of the day -- Emily, let me know if you are up for that or not.

• The recycling group needs to be ready to go on Monday -- I'm not sure what was decided on that related to teams -- Boye L -- see me during the day so I know what is going on.  

• We will have our 4th meeting this week -- Thursday during focus in my room.  Once again, I need pledge forms from Millie H, Lucas S, Sierra F, Melinda L, and Josh H.  If I don't have those this week, you cannot participate in our activities.  I have to turn them in to the office for their records.

• Starting on Monday and running each day this week, we will be having ELECTION SPOTS over the PA at the start of block 4 -- we want to separate them from the regular announcements.  I could use help with those -- it would be better to have student voices on there.  Here's the schedule:  

MONDAY:  General announcement that lays out the election
TUESDAY:  McCain vs. Obama
WEDNESDAY:  Explanation of 3rd District and 92nd Assembly Races
THURSDAY:  Native American Voting Rights
FRIDAY:  Wrap up and Preparation for Monday voting

• VERY IMPORTANT!  You need to get those voter guides out to the people in your districts this week -- the sooner the better.  We will mention those in the PA spots and we really want this to be an educational experience for students.

• Harry and Bronson -- connect with Mr. Chambers this week to determine a meeting time.

• The music for passing times on Fridays went over well and we will continue that for the next three weeks on a trial basis.  Kelsey will need to show the next person how to do this -- we'll talk about that during the week.  And, be prepared on Thursday to talk about the "16 year old voting" proposal -- we may want to put that in the form of a resolution after we get a sense of what students think about this.

• Finally, we will need poll workers for FOCUS TIMES on Monday and Tuesday next week.  I forgot to include those in our original sign-ups -- two each day would be good.  We can nail that down at our meeting on Thursday.    

SEE YOU THURSDAY, IF NOT BEFORE.  HAVE A GOOD WEEK!

#4:  MONDAY 13 OCTOBER (posted Sunday 10.12)
Thanks for your attendance at our meeting on Thursday (10.9).  Also, thanks to Lily M, Jordy H, Mike F, Melinda L, and Boye L for help in the post-game clean-up on Friday night.  If we end up hosting a play-off game, realize that we will have another opportunity for raising more dollars.  Here are things to be looking for this week:'

• Please take the time to read Article 1, Section 2 of our by-laws concerning attendance requirements.  Also, read Article 4, Section 2 of the by-laws concerning removal from the Senate.  Also, I still need co-curricular pledge forms from Millie H, Emily J, Harrison K, Lucas S, Sierra F, Joe R, Melinda L, and Josh H.  I need those prior to Thursday's meeting.  

• Kelsey O -- can you sub for Emily this week during block 1 Announcements?

• Recycling team (Boye L = Chair):  We are up to bat on Monday during focus.  We should have 5 people there to make it work!  Also, plan for a meeting on Wednesday with the Science Club recycling people to begin coordinating our efforts.  We've got some big things coming.  

• Listen for announcements right away this week on VOTER REGISTRATION FOR 18 YEAR OLDS.  We will be pushing that through Wednesday (10.15).  Alex Z is helping with that.  Seniors Senators:  you need to help promote that!  Talk to your people!  Don't let them off the hook!  

• We are 15 days away from our school-wide mock election.  This will be our focus this week when we meet on Thursday.  Between now and the 27th of October I would like to have "spots" on the PA in the morning (or perhaps at the start of 4th block?) related to the election -- we need someone who will "give voice" to John McCain, Barack Obama, Ron Kind, Paul Stark, Mark Radcliffe, and Dan Hellman.  In other words, we need to introduce these people to our students by either talking about them, or pretending to be them.  They are our featured races on the ballot.  Also, we will be distributing a VOTER GUIDE for the election starting next week.    

• Our first Executive-Administrative meeting should be this week (our officers or reps meeting with Mr. Chambers and/or Mr. Weddig).  That first meeting will be Wednesday.  I'll talk with you about how these will be scheduled this year early in the week.  

• We meet on Thursday (10.16) during focus.  Talk to me if you have conflicts.  Our committee chairs at the outset this year are as follows:  

Emily J and Kelsey O (will share) Communations
Harrison K will chair Constitution
Boye L will chair School Environment (unless I hear different)
Levi M will chair Political Action

#3:  MONDAY 6 OCTOBER
This week marks our first full week in operation.  We will meet on Thursday during focus, so please plan for that.  Here are some things to be aware of this week:  

• I have updated the website and it now includes a page that includes your picture and district number -- "Meet our Senators" 

• Here's an immediate concern for this week:  We are in charge of Monday recycling -- those of you on the School Environment Committee (check below!), will you be able to help on Monday?  I realize we are still getting organized, but Monday is our day each week.  Science Club will be in charge of Thursday pick-up.   

• The display board by the cafeteria has been updated -- please take a look at that and start thinking about how we make ourselves known around the school -- a very important part of our job.  You will note that all the districts are posted there.  Each teacher will also be receiving a copy of the district lists this week so each room will have a copy of the Constitution and the districts.  I am unable to put the districts on-line due to restrictions on the use of last names.    

• Committee Assignments are somewhat "set" at this point -- and I talked to a number of you about switching assignments.  I think we have a good mix -- you'll note that School Environment and Political Action have 6 each -- we need bigger numbers there.  We will talk more about the committee work on Thursday.  It really is central to everything we do.  Here they are:  

• COMMUNICATIONS
  Millie H
  Kelsey O
  Liz C
  Emily J
  Jordy H

• SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT (Focus on Recycling)
  Melinda L
  Josh H
  Lily M
  Danielle D
  Boye L
  Andy E

• CONSTITUTION (also Foreign Student Sponsorship)
  Harrison K
  Megan R
  Eric H

• POLITICAL ACTION (voter education)
  Sierra F
  Lucas S
  Joe R
  Levi M
  Bronson S
  Mike F

• As of this point, I only have two people that have voiced interest in leadership positions -- we have two candidates for Communications Director (Emily J and Bronson S).  By the end of the day Monday, let me know if you are interested in any of the positions.  Remember that Secretary and CD are open to anyone, while President and V-P are to be a senior and junior respectively. 

• One other thing:  we will need more help next Friday night for stadium clean-up.  We were pretty short-handed on Friday.  Thanks to Andy E, Megan R, Jordy H, Lily M (did I leave anyone out?).  The point is, the more people we have, the faster this gets done.

See you on Thursday, if not before!     

#2:  TUESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER
Our elections have been completed (still calculating the sophomore run-off) and we will hold our first meeting on Thursday during focus.  Prior to that time, please read over the materials that I have given you this week (the letter, the handbook, and the Senate Constitution).  Our meeting Thursday will be organizational and it is important that we have good attendance.  PLEASE NOTE Article 1, Section 2 of our by-laws related to attendance and also note Article 4 of the by-laws.  You need to take meeting attendance seriously or we cannot function.  

#1:  WEDNESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2008
Senate nominations for elections will be received over the next two weeks -- nomination papers are due by Friday, September 19th.  The campaign period for Student Senate elections will take place from September 8-23!  

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