Mount Vernon Seminary - Cupola Yearbook (Washington, DC)

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CONSTITUTION Article I The name of the council shall he the Student Council of Mount Vernon Seminary. Article II Section 1. The purpose of the Council shall be to interpret the needs and the opinion of the student body, to establish and maintain standards of citizen- ship which the student bodv will follow, and to recommend to the faculty rules and changes sug- gested and supported bv the student bodv. Section 2. The duties of the Council are to set an example for the school by sincerely trying to carry out all regulations and thus earning the right to en- force them, to make clear w hat is expected of each student so that we max live in closer understanding and harmony, and to be the judicial body of the school. This last includes seeing that the rules are obeyed, trying to find out win a certain rule is disobeyed, and, if necessary, disciplining the offend- ers (with the consent of the Headmistress and the Administration). Another duty is to orient new stu- dents. This includes appointing a student advisor for the first form until they have officers of their ow n. being hostesses at an introductory party for the new students, and being personally responsible for the new students, seeing that they become ac- quainted w ith the school. During the fall of each school year, the Student Council will present the Honor Assembly, at w hich time students w ill pledge their loyalty to the honor code of Mount Vernon by signing the Honor Pledge. Other duties are to nominate candidates for the citizenship honor rolls, to attend all student and school functions possible in order to promote more interest, to enforce dress reg- ulations, to maintain order in the study hall and library, to maintain order in chapel, to assist extra- curricular activities if they desire the Councils help, and to read and be responsible for living up to the constitution. Article III Section 1. The members of the council shall be: the Student Body President, the President of Op- tima, a student body representative (elected from the first three forms), and the president and vice- president of each of the four forms. Section 2. The Headmistress of the preparatory school shall be an honorary member of the council. Section 3. The Student Body President shall be the presiding officer, and the Optima President shall preside in h er absence. The Student Body Repre- sentative shall be the secretary and treasurer. Section 4. At least one faculty member, nominated by the Council and appointed by the Headmistress, shall be advisor to the Council. The faculty ad- visors) shall serve for one year and may be eligible for re-election. Section 5. Each member of the council shall have one vote, except the presiding officer. The Head- mistress, has veto power. Article IV The Council shall have as many meetings a month as necessary. Article V The qualifications to be met by a student to merit a place on the Citizenship Honor Rolls are loyalty to the school, integrity, dependability, courtesy, thoughtfulness, constructive participation in school functions and class activities, good sportsmanship, commendable speech, behavior, attitude and dress — both in school and off-campus — excellent house record if the student is a boarder, and nomination and unanimous vote by the council. 20

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importance of showing respect and support for the government as well as asserting their right to amend or improve upon it. Through the Honor Code, each student is given the oppor- tunity to prove her trustworthiness and sense of honor as she faithfully observes it herself and attempts to uphold it among her associates. The members of both branches of Mount Vernons Student Government, the leaders and the followers, gain a fuller understanding of themselves through their efforts to fulfill these individual obligations to their school. s

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Seated, left to right : Kay Patterson, Penny Millington, Nancy Barnes, President; Chris Thomson, Joan Brown, Secretary-Treas- urer. Standing: Ann Leith, Sue Campbell, Cail Kretlel, Sue Eastland, Linda Kefauver, Dueh Morton, Genie Higgins. Absent: Miss Gutheim, Advisor; Marta Miller, Vice-President. STUDENT COUNCIL To help the students understand and maintain the citizenship rules and standards is the main func- tion of Mount Vernon’s Student Council. The Coun- cil also sees that these rules are obeyed and, when necessary, revised. The size of the Student Council has increased this year with the addition of the President of the Day Students and the President of House Council. The other members are the presidents and vice- presidents of each class, President of Optima, stu- dent body representative, and the President of the Student Body, who this year was Nancy Barnes. Tlie Council ' s advisor is Miss Gutheim. These council members have many duties through- out the year. At the beginning of the year they come back a day early to help orient the new boarders to Mount Vernon and Mount Vernon life. Thev are hostesses to visitors to our school. Also, after each report period, it is the duty of the Student Council with the help of class advisors to nominate candi- dates for the citizenship lists. It is the ultimate hope of the Student Council that each student will realize the responsibility of being a good citizen and will maintain the principles of Mount Vernon Seminarv. 21