What does ASB do?

Surely the most popular question at Paly. Paly High School's Associated Student Body (ASB) Leadership is a multifunctional governing body that is designed to serve the student body. Responsibilities  of the Paly ASB are divided into three parts: Money, Fun, and Leadership Class

Money

The Paly ASB Student Council is made up of the elected and appointed officers who function and carry out their duties under the ASB Constitution. These students are charged with the responsibility of maintaining student funds. All members of the Student Council are voting members. The Student Council is comprised of all ASB Elected and Appointed Officers, Class Presidents, and the Class Representatives.

The Student Council treasurer and the Paly Auditor maintain accounts with combined amounts ranging in the ten-thousands. This money is spent on non-curricular activities that directly and indirectly benefit students.

Every week, the Council meets to process the requests for expenditures from the various extra curricular organizations on campus. This includes various sports teams, the Campanile, Verde, and school clubs. Its money is derived from many sources, mostly from parking permit ticket revenue given by the school administration, as well as the revenue from the ASB Card purchases. Other methods include donations from the community (PTSA/Pie), and the Paly school administration.

The student council considers all request expenditures, and passes only those that meet legal requirements. Many people have been baffled by the number of forms that are used by the Council. These are the papers necessary to spend ASB money. They are submitted to the Activities Director and will be passed through the hands of 7 different people before they are completely processed. Those involved are the Club/group Advisor, the ASB Treasurer, the ASB Secretary, ASB President, the Activities Director, an administrator, and finally the Auditor. Each week the Council will process an average of 15 requests to spend ASB money, all making the journey from Club/group Advisor to the Auditor.

Fun

The ASB Student Council  is also responsible for planning and executing of activities that foster school spirit and for make high school memorable. The ASB officers both plan and host the Welcome Back Dance, the Homecoming Dance, Prom, and the Last Chance Dance.  ASB Leaders also plans and hosts school-wide events including Club Day, Field Day, and Spirit Week.
    ASB Leadership assists in PTSA sponsored programs such as Turkey Trot Day, Teacher Appreciation Week and the International Festival, where the officers plan and execute the Flag Ceremony. All club activities, lunchtime entertainment and rallies are also approved and or planned by the officers. ASB also help clubs and other school organizations with their events and provide them with extra hands and supplies when possible.

Leadership Class

The leadership class is a 4th period class where students are graded based on variety of requirements. Despite popular opinion, we do not spend all of our class time making posters and it is not “an easy ‘A’ .

 The course is designed to achieve the processing of money and planning of fun events, but it is also devoted to providing students with other opportunities to improve their individual leadership skills. Below are typical activities we do each month in class:

Daily ASB Officer Meetings
During the 4th period class, the ASB Advisor puts the agenda for the day on the board. ASB Officers discuss, debate policy, and vote on all requests to spend Student Body money The ASB Secretary takes minutes. After the meeting, the ASB Secretary posts them online.

General Student Meetings
Held on the first Mondays of every month, Student Council Meetings are used to discuss upcoming events, student government policy, and to review proposals. It is open to all students, and will be publicized. The ASB Secretary prepares an agenda and the ASB President facilitates the meeting.

Class Meetings
When a class must plan an event, student body members from that class should attend. This includes choosing the Class T-Shirt design, as well as the Class Spirit Week theme.

Committees
Committees are created according to events that arise. Examples include the Prom Committee, the Election Committee, and many more.

The following haven not been implemented but are being evaluated for Fall 2007:

Focus Groups
Focus group days are devoted to the research and evaluation of "school affecting" issues, both on campus and in the community. Each student is assigned to a six-person Focus Group and considers ways to solve issues on campus. Typical focus group topics have included Trash and Recycling, Campus Communications, and Homework and Stress.

Project Days
We hold Project Days at least once a week. These days are used to do class activities, discuss various school issues, and run errands. Each student has his/her own task they are trying to complete. Students will also meet in a committee of their choice to help plan and facilitate ASB activities like Dances, Elections, Rallies, Teacher Appreciation Week, etc.

 Whole Group Activities
Held a couple of times a month, these activities help the whole class stay cohesive, lighten up and have fun as a group. Activities are usually team focused.

Team Meetings
Held every other week, Team Meetings provide the students with opportunities to meet with officers in similar positions and set team goals for the year. Team goals might include a new ASB School-Wide event, a fundraiser, or other activity. Teams are formed based on elected or appointed position, so Class Officers would be in one team and ASB Officers form another.

Campus Connections
Usually held once a month, these meetings involve discussion on how the ASB can better connect with specific groups on campus. Generally this would include a panel of teachers, administrators, or students and give ASB an opportunity to gain different viewpoints of campus life.

Leadership Curriculum
On Tuesdays, the Student Activities Director will take the students through a number of topics relating to leadership, to help build on leadership skills. These topics include Communications, Leadership Assessment, Ethics, Organization, Group Work and Public Speaking.