Constitution

School Name:  Mountainside High School

Mascot: Mavericks (Monte the Maverick)

Colors:  Black, Silver, Columbia (Carolina) Blue

Fight Song: 
The Mountainside Mavericks fighting all the way. 
The Mavericks are here to stay! 
No time to rest for silver, black, and blue, 
Oh, Mavericks let’s win the day! Go Mavs!
Together and strong, we always ride as one, 
With Monte let's unite!
So let’s hear it loud, our mighty Maverick crowd, 
We never give up the fight! fight! Fight!
Mavs!
 

 

(Be Friendly, be inclusive, be reliable, be spirited, be totally awesome)

 

Mission

• We will be F.I.R.S.T. to Shine on others,
• Dare to act,
• Create unforgettable experiences and traditions,
• Spread Maverick spirit,
• Lead through service.

  
Vision

Mountainside leadership, staff, and student body will work together to create a kind, positive, unique, spirited and inclusive culture at our School.

 

Eligibility of Intro to Leadership, Leadership 1, Principles of Leadership, Leadership 2, Student Government

Section 1: Intro to Leadership 

• Will be available to all incoming freshmen as a 9-week course, and can be taken only once. 

Section 2: Student Leadership 1 and Principles of Leadership

• Will be available to all grades 10-12. No prerequisite required. These are semester courses, and can only be taken once.

Section 3: Student Leadership 2

• Will be available to all grades 9-12. Previous experience required. This is a full-year course. Students must have:

  1. At least a 2.5 GPA in the previous and current semester

  2. No failing grades in any classes from the previous semester

  3. Have an approved Application Packet on file

  4. Have taken Intro to Leadership, Leadership 1, Principles of Leadership, Leadership 2 or have equivalent experience. This may exclude ASB Director of Design & Publicity, and Tech (portfolio must be provided).

All incoming sophomores that were a part of Leadership 2 in their freshman year and any student running for Co-Class president will be accepted into Leadership 2 as long as they meet requirements (Section 4A). All freshmen interested in applying for one of these spots must have taken or going to take Intro to Leadership as part of their elective wheel, as well as fill out an application and meet the requirements above. 

• Incoming freshmen will be accepted into Student Leadership 2 as delegates each year. Applications will be sent out to all feeder and option schools. In addition to the requirements above, all incoming freshmen must have some form of leadership experience as they haven’t had the option to take a high school leadership course. Each middle school will decide which students will be moved to Leadership 2. Due to enrollment percentages from each feeder middle school, there will be up to 7 students from Highland Park, 7 from Conestoga, 2 from Mountain View, and one from each option and out of district school chosen as Delegates.

• Transfer students from any grade level would have the opportunity to go through an application process.

Section 4: Student Council Executive Board/ Student Government 

1. Student Government will be designated on transcripts for all Presidents and ASB officers enrolled in Leadership 2.

2. To apply for ASB President or ASB Director a student must have taken Leadership 2 (Excluding Tech).

3. To apply for ASB Treasurer or ASB Secretary, a student preferably has taken Leadership 2 or has equivalent experience. 

4. To apply for Senior Co-Class President a student must have taken Leadership 1, Leadership 2 or an equivalent class.

5. To apply for Junior Co-Class President a student must have taken Intro to Leadership or Leadership 1 or have equivalent experience. 

6. To apply for Sophomore Co-Class President, a student must have taken Intro to Leadership, Principles of Leadership, (or forecasted to take later their 9th grade year) Leadership 2, or have equivalent experience.

Section 1: Co-ASB Presidents

The ASB Presidents represent the Student Body as a whole. They are responsible for enforcing the Constitution, organizing and conducting meetings, running the annual elections, leading the school in the Pledge of Allegiance on Monday mornings, and communicating with the Student Body. ASB presidents must be incoming seniors. All other ASB directors can be incoming juniors or seniors.

Section 2: Co-Senior/Junior/ Sophomore Class Presidents (See Article 8, Section 10) 

           The Senior/Junior/Sophomore Class Presidents represent the Senior/Junior/Sophomore Student Body.

Section 3: ASB Director of Activities  

The ASB Director of Activities should be someone who is creative, entertaining, and inspiring. They should be able to lead in-school activities in an engaging way, and shouldn’t be afraid to put themselves out there as a leader. They should also actively promote activities to the Student Body.

Section 4: ASB Director of Assemblies  

The ASB Director of Assemblies is responsible for planning and supervising assemblies. They will work
closely with the Director of Spirit and Spotlight to create a fun atmosphere at our school assemblies as well as recognize the achievements of our Maverick students.

Section 5: ASB Director of Design & Publicity

The ASB Director of Design & Publicity is artistic, creative, and has an idea of what is aesthetically
pleasing. They create posters (digital and traditional), help with decorations and help announce events for the school. 

Section 6: ASB Director of Entertainment 

The ASB Director of Entertainment strives to entertain the school through music and school dances.
Sample activities include the Fall, Winter, and Spring Dances and playing music on Fridays at lunch and at the beginning of Leadership class

Section 7: ASB Director of Outreach 

The ASB Director of Outreach helps connect the community to our student body, as well as reaching
out to all groups here at Mountainside. Sample activities include The Club Fair, Giving Tree, and Make-A-Wish Events.

Section 8: ASB Director of Service

The ASB Director of Service plans service drives and events that benefit both the school and the
greater community. They should “Be the F.I.R.S.T. to Serve” others. Sample activities include Adopt-A-Family, Community Service Hour opportunities, and school-wide service drives such as the Canned Food Drive.

Section 9: ASB Director of Spirit     

The ASB Director of Spirit should be one of the most spirited persons in the whole student body. They
attend extracurricular activities and engage other students in a classy, yet fun way. Sample activities include organizing dress-up days, planning spirit weeks, Powder Tuff, Powder Puff and Dodgeball.

Section 10: ASB Director of Spotlight            

The ASB Director of Spotlight shines a light on unique people who deserve recognition. They should be
selfless and driven to bring recognition to new people all the time. Sample activities include Staff Appreciation Week, Birthday Grams, and Student of the Month.

Section 11: ASB Director of Tech  

 The ASB Director of Tech is someone who is very tech savvy. They should know the basics of most modern programs, and have an eye for quality content worth sharing with the school. They will be in charge of the production of videos and slides that will be shared with the school.

Section 12: ASB Director of Unity

The ASB Director of Unity is someone who strives to create kindness, positivity, and unity within Mountainside. They should be driven to create a community that is welcoming and unified for all students. Sample activities include the Voices Assembly, Donuts for Freshmen, and social media compliment posts.

Section 13: ASB Secretary

The ASB Secretary keeps record of all meetings, helps organize the classroom, keeps track of and
orders supplies, creates and updates the calendar, and is a direct assistant to the Activities Director. 

Section 14:  ASB Treasurer

The ASB Treasurer keeps track of finances, and creates budgets for planned activities. They will be in charge of reimbursing people, and collecting receipts. They should also play a big role in our fundraisers, and should keep an eye on the money that we gain or lose.Section 15: Grade Level Delegates

Section 15:  Grade Level Delegates

These are additional positions in each of the committees listed above. Delegates will have an opportunity to give preference of their top choices and the possibility of moving committees at the semester, but we will distribute delegates evenly amongst most of the committees. Top choices will go to those that run for ASB Director positions or President positions.

The job descriptions above are very summarized. There are many more duties involved in each of
the offices.
 

Section 1: Elections of  Presidents

 

1. ASB Co- Presidents, Senior Co-Class Presidents, Junior Co-Class Presidents and Sophomore Co-Class Presidents will be decided on the following criteria:
   1. 40% Student Vote (School Elections)
   2. 20% Packet/Requirements
   3. 20% Interview/Written speech/Application questions
   4. 20% Teacher Recommendations

Section 2: Appointment of ASB Directors, Secretary and Treasurer 

1. ASB Directors, Secretary and Treasurer will be decided on the following criteria:
   1. 25% Packet/Requirements
   2. 25% Teacher Recommendations
   3. 50% Interview and Application questions

Section 3: Appointment of Class Delegates

 

1. Class Delegates will be decided on the following criteria:
   1.    100% Packet/Requirements and Teacher Recommendations

Further details can be found in the official application packet.

Section 1: Students

1. All Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors enrolled at Mountainside High School have the right to vote for ASB Presidents and their respective Class Presidents.

Section 2: Staff

1. Staff are not permitted to vote for presidential positions, however, their voice is heard through teacher recommendations and the interview process.

Section 1: Removing Students From Leadership

 

1. Removal of a student from Leadership 2 and their position can happen due to: 
2. A student violating the BSD Code of Conduct or Expectations of a MHS Leader contract (Administration makes the final decision on removal).
3. A student moving from our school.

Section 2: Filling Vacancies:

 

1. Presidents- If a position is vacated before the beginning of the school year, the position will be offered to the third place Presidential candidate. If that student can’t fill the position, it will then be awarded to the next in line and so on until filled. If there were no other students running or the position was unable to be filled, then there would be only one president that school year. If the position is vacated after the school year has begun, the position will remain vacated. 
2. ASB Directors- Applications will be accepted and turned in to the Activities Director within 2 weeks of the official announcement of the vacated position. 
3. Secretary and Treasurers- Applications will be accepted and turned in to the Activities Director within 2 weeks of the official announcement of the vacated position.
4. Delegates- Will not be replaced

Section 1: Activities Committee

1. Plans Friday lunchtime activities and Mountainside’s Got Talent.

Section 2: Assemblies Committee

1. Plans and hosts assemblies.

Section 3: Design & Publicity Committee

1. Promotes events and activities through creations of posters/social media/tickets/etc.

Section 4: Entertainment Committee

1. Plans school dances and music playlists for lunch.

Section 5: Outreach Committee

1. Plans charities and fundraisers involving non-profits like Make A Wish.

Section 6: Service Committee

1. Plans service drives and events that benefit both the school and the greater community.

Section 7: Spirit Committee

1. Plans spirit weeks, orders spirit gear, plans themes for athletic competitions, also Powder Puff, Powder Tuff, Dodgeball, and March Madness bracketology.

Section 8: Spotlight Committee

1. Hands out birthday grams, plans staff and faculty appreciation week, helps create and hand out thank you cards to volunteers, and recognizes outstanding students.

Section 9: Tech Team

1. Creates films and edits promotional videos for the school, weekly announcement videos, slides and powerpoints, and even Snapchat filters for events such as dances and sporting events. 

Section 10: Unity Committee

1. Creates a compliment wall in the Cafeteria, Donuts for Freshmen, all school Voices Assembly, social media compliment posts, handing out free food and prizes in the SHUBOX.

Section 11: President's Committee (Includes ASB Secretary or ASB Treasure) 

1. Works directly with the Activities Director, helps run the day-to-day business in class, supports the other committees, creates agendas and runs Student Council meetings, and does pledge of allegiance every Monday morning.
    

Section 1: Membership of Student Council

1. Membership to the MHS Student Council will consist of the Student Council Executive Board (ASB Co-Presidents, Class Co-Presidents, ASB Directors, ASB Treasurer and ASB Secretary) and Student Council Advisory Representatives. 

Section 2: Meeting of the Council

1. Meetings will occur bi-monthly; once a month will be dedicated to the Student Council Executive Board only, accompanied by the Activities Director and possibly the Principal. The other will be open to Student Council Advisory Representatives and any other students who wish to attend, in addition to the Activities Director and possibly the Principal. 

Section 3: Decision Making of the Council

1. ¾ of the Student Council Executive Board must be present in order to make any decisions.
2. Students can bring ideas, concerns, or plans of action to the Student Council Meetings for approval.
3.  Depending on the type of decision, decision making can progress through the following:
   1. Student Council Executive Board, including Administration and Activities Director (⅔ approval student vote, with approval of Administration and Activities Director).
   2. Student Council (including Student Council Advisory Representatives-⅔ approval)
   3. Leadership 2 (⅔ approval)
   4. Entire student body (Democratic-option(s) with the most votes)
       

Section 1: All existing club representatives will report directly to the Activities Director or school website for questions and answers concerning clubs.

Section 2: Clubs must renew each year. All information regarding creating a new club can be found in the Activity Director’s office. (ie: new club form) and on our school website. 

Section 3: Each club needs to have an advisor to watch over club meetings at all times.

Section 4: There must be a designated room along with a weekly or monthly meeting time and day of the week.

Section 5: Once a club is approved, it can hold meetings and recruit members. 
*See school website under Activities for club expectations
 

1. Fall/Homecoming Court will have traits that correspond to the specific time of the school year, as well as the assembly. For example, the fall court would correspond with the atmosphere of back to school spirit, sports, etc. There will be 4 traits in the court (2 people per trait per grade level) that are exchangeable each year and not permanent, however traits can be reused over the years.
2. Voting for courts will be a two part process. A link to a Google Form for nominations will be given through advisory announcements as well as posted on the canvas page for each grade level. Students who did not cast their vote will be reminded to fill out the google form through canvas during lunch that day and the next. Anyone with more than 3 votes will be notified and must agree to the court terms to be put on the final court voting ballot. Students will then choose  their two top picks for each category. The two people with the most votes, regardless of gender, will then be selected. To settle ties put the names in a hat and pull the needed amount out.
3. Prom Court- Seniors will be nominated and voted upon by the overall quality of their character. The top 10 students with the most votes will make up our “‘Prom Court’. The top 2 vote getters at Prom will be named ‘Prom Royalty’.
4. The number of courts or the formality of the court may be possible for change, depending on the total number of dances being held in the year, the number of dances with a formal, semi-formal, or informal label.

Nominees must be aware that if they win, they must participate in all activities and events listed on the court expectations checklist. If they do not want to partake in such activities, they can choose to be taken off of the nominee list and no longer be a candidate.
 

Section 1: Any change to the Constitution must first be presented to the Executive Board, Activities Director and the Principal at a Student Council Meeting. Once it has been approved at this level, it would then be presented to Leadership 2 for a vote. If ⅔ votes yes, then it will be officially ratified, and added to the Constitution.
 

Section 1: Advertisement at School

1. All posters, flyers,  TV slides, etc. will need to be approved by the Activities Director or Head Secretary. They have the power to deny or approve the form(s) of advertisement. Advertisements will need to be school appropriate (No inappropriate language, exclusiveness, racism, hate speech, etc.). If advertisements are posted without approval, you may face the discretion of administration. *See poster and flyer requirements on our school website.

Section 2: Social Media   

1. Clubs, teams, and groups may have their own social media account(s) with the name Mountainside and/or Mavericks attached without administration approval. However, remember these groups are representing Mountainside High School. Any inappropriate pictures or comments on these social media accounts may result in consequences at the discretion of the Administration of Mountainside High School.
2. Students who have access to our school’s official Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts must be background checked, sign a specific Social Media Code of Conduct associated with these official accounts, and be approved by our Principal and our Activities Director. 

The first edition of this Constitution was drafted between 12/7/17- 5/18/18 on Thursday one-hour after school meetings by the following Constitution Committee Members: 
Camille Boultinghouse, Paige Hatch, Camden Long, Andrew Matto, Max Plaster, Payton Sprowls, Lauren Tokos, Natalia Uribe, and Mr. Erik Reinholt

Articles and sections were voted upon and approved by Leadership students during this time period as they were created. The entire Mountainside Constitution was approved by Leadership students on June 5th and 6th, 2018.

Administration approval:  11/1/18

StuCo Executive Board Approval for final ratificatiion:

Manar Abdeljawad  - January 4, 2019
Katie Lee - January 5, 2019
Lauren Tokos - January 5, 2019
Andrew Matto - January 5, 2019
Rylee Poindexter - January 5, 2019
Kylie Thomas - January 5, 2019
Paige Hatch - January 5, 2019
Johannah Iyasele - January 5, 2019
Quinn Ridder - January 5, 2019
Mya Barney - January 6, 2019
Sal Najjar - January 6, 2019
Katie Weselak - January 6, 2019
Camden Long - January 6, 2019
Megan Cassidy - January 7, 2019
Brenna Moreno - January 7, 2019
Payton Sprowls - January 7, 2019

Constitution Review and and new proposals added by the Student Council Executive Board: 1/23/20

Constitution Review and and new proposals added by the Student Council Executive Board: 10/30/20