Prefect System

List of 8 items.

• 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 the Head Boy is elected. Sixteen additional individuals are elected and the Head Boy appoints their role. Once the 17 Prefect positions are confirmed, House Captains are elected.  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 
  • Athletics
  • Communications
  • Grad Class and Alumni Liaison

• Lower School and Middle School Class Representatives

  The Lower and Middle School Prefect Liaisons are supported by one Grade 11 or 12 Class Representative for each Lower and Middle School Home Form class.

• Weighting

  House Captain Elections:

  • Grade 9s—vote worth one
  • Grade 10s & Teachers—vote worth two 
  • Grade 11s—vote worth one
  • Grade 12s—vote worth one

  
  

  Head Boy and Prefect Elections: 

  • Grade 9s—vote worth one
  • Grade 10s—vote worth one
  • Grade 11s & Teachers—vote worth two 
  • Grade 12s—vote worth one 

• Election Process for House Captains

  First & Final Round

  Only those students and faculty within the House can vote for the House Captains of said House (weighing listed as above). Vote for two candidates for House Captain. There is one round of voting to determine the top two candidates. In the event of a tie, a second vote will be cast.

• Election Process for Head Boy and Prefects

  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. The top candidate by vote count is elected.
  
  

  Third Round of Voting: Portfolio & House Prefects

  Vote for sixteen candidates (weighting as listed above). The top twenty-five candidates move forward to the final round.
  
  

  Fourth Round Of Voting: Portfolio & House Prefects

  Vote for sixteen of the final twenty-five candidates (weighing as listed above). The top sixteen candidates by vote are elected to the Prefect Team.
  
  

  Final Round: Vote for 16 candidates; Top 16 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 the Head of Upper School and the Assistant Head of Upper School, Student Life, 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 prioritize the election of the strongest possible team, regardless of role.

• Election Criteria and Appeal Process

  Potential candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • A candidate must have demonstrated a strong work ethic and a commitment toward academics. He must have a 75% average at time of application.
  • 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

  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 from the Headmaster’s decision.