You
can be a part of Virginia history! The page programs
give the Commonwealth of Virginia students an opportunity
to observe and participate in the legislative process.
To learn more about these programs, select from the
following:
House
of Delegates Page Program
Each year the Speaker of the House of Delegates appoints
13 and 14 year-old youth from across the Commonwealth
to serve as House pages during the regular session of
the General Assembly. These young people assist the members
of the House of Delegates, the House Clerk’s staff,
and other legislative staff in the daily duties required
for the successful operation of the House of Delegates
during the session.
The
page workday begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. and ends
at 5:00 p.m. A lunch break is provided. There is no
weekend work except for the last Saturday of session.
Pages collate bills for filing, deliver legislation
and documents throughout the Capitol complex, and perform
errands for members and staff of the House of Delegates
during each day’s floor session and at committee
meetings. Pages are also selected for assignments in
specific House offices including the Speaker’s
Office, the Clerk’s Office, the Enrolling Room,
the Bill Room, the Fax Center and the Governor’s
Office. Pages are trained for these assignments during
the first two days of their employment. Every effort
is made to provide each page with a variety of work
assignments. All work assignments are important to
the legislative process and should be performed in
a professional manner.
While
at work pages are under the supervision of the Clerk
and Executive Assistant to the Clerk, the Page Coordinator
and Assistant Page Coordinator, and two Head Pages
who served as pages the previous year. After work pages
have approximately two hours of unsupervised free time
from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. reserved for eating
dinner. It is mandatory that all pages reside
at the hotel. There are two chaperons on duty at the
hotel from 5:00 p.m. until 8:30 a.m. each day, Sunday
through Friday.
A
mandatory study hall is held at the hotel every Monday
through Thursday evening from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00
p.m. Certified teachers supervise the pages and help
individual students as needed. Study hall teachers
do not provide classroom instruction and do not administer
tests and exams. Pages are responsible for arranging
with their schools and teachers the preferred method
of taking tests and exams. They must also make arrangements
with their schools and teachers to maintain their schoolwork,
including any tutoring that is required. Pages are
responsible for making their own weekend travel arrangements.
It
is important that prospective pages understand that
they are to conduct themselves in an adult manner and
should always be on their best behavior as they are
representing their delegates, families, and schools.
Serving as a page is a wonderful experience and an
educational opportunity. However, it is also a 40-hour
per week paid position for which they are making
a firm commitment to report to work every day. Requests
for time off to participate in extracurricular activities
will not be granted. Their commitment requires
hard work, initiative, responsibility, and a positive
attitude. The Speaker and the Clerk expect excellent
behavior from the pages and rely on a strong support
network between the pages, their families, teachers,
and the Clerk’s staff.
Pages not conducting themselves in an appropriate manner
will be disciplined as required, which may include
removal from the program.
The
Speaker’s Office and the Clerk’s Office
staffs strive to ensure that each page’s employment
with the House of Delegates is both enjoyable and educational.
For
more information, call (804) 698-1619 or e-mail
your name and mailing address to: pageinfo@house.virginia.gov. |
