The Ministry of Education mandates that students must complete 40 hours of community service to receive their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. This requirement was established to encourage students to develop awareness and understanding of civic responsibility and of the role they can play and the contributions they can make in supporting and strengthening their communities. Community service also provides an opportunity for our students to grow in their faith and develop an understanding of our role as followers of Christ.
Keep track of your hours using the tracking sheet-see below Electronic copy on Edsby Guidance Class Sites, OR hard copies available in the Guidance Office.
Please submit tracking sheets to the Guidance Office
Click here to access the Community Involvement Record / Community Service Log Sheet
Completing community service hours
- Students may begin earning hours as of July 1st of their grade 8 year.
- Students are encouraged to complete at least 10 hours per year.
- Students may submit hours on an ongoing basis
- Students are encouraged to seek approval of their hours ahead of time if there is any concern over whether they will be valid.
Benefits of community service
Students benefit from completing community service hours by:
- developing moral and ethical responsibility to our community;
- understanding and accepting social and civic responsibility;
- accessing opportunities for intellectual development;
- developing peer leadership and mentoring skills;
- gaining a better understanding of multicultural and equity issues;
- building confidence in social situations;
- building your resume; and
- gaining work experience and career awareness.
Types of acceptable activities
The following are some examples of activities approved for community involvement hours:
- provide service to seniors or others who have difficulty leaving their homes - raking, shoveling, shopping;
- tutor younger students - read, visit the library, help with homework;
- volunteer at a senior's home/centre;
- help organize local community events - food drives, organize Special Olympics;
- take part in environmental initiatives - cleaning and recycling operations, park clean-up, planting trees and flowerbeds;
- become involved with charitable/not-for-profit organizations, political organizations, or church activities;
- assist with non-profit sports teams: community leagues, house league teams, parks and recreation programs;
- volunteer in leadership roles with community groups, youth group, leader at church;
- volunteer at hospitals, libraries, social service or animal welfare agencies, religious communities/places of worship;
- assist with literacy initiatives at local libraries, child care centres, community centres
Ineligible Activities
The ministry has developed a list of activities that may not be chosen as community involvement activities. These are referred to as ineligible activities.
An ineligible activity is an activity that:
- is a requirement of a class, course, or program in which the student is enrolled (e.g., cooperative education course, experiential learning activities)
- takes place during the time allotted for the instructional program on a school day. However, an activity that takes place during the student's lunch breaks or “spare” periods is permissible
- contravenes the minimum age requirements to work in or visit a workplace stated in regulations made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- contravenes any other applicable legislation, regulation or policy
- contravenes the policies and procedures of the organization that is supervising the student’s community involvement activities
- would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace
- involves the operation of a vehicle, power tools, or scaffolding
- involves the administration of any type or form of medication or medical procedure to other persons
- involves handling of substances classed as “designated substances” under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- requires the knowledge of a tradesperson whose trade is regulated by the provincial government
- involves banking, the handling of securities, or the handling of valuable items such as jewellery, works of art, or antiques
- consists of duties normally performed in the home (i.e., daily chores) or personal recreational activities
- involves activities for a court-ordered program (e.g., community-service program for young offenders, probationary program)
- involves activities that promote discrimination, harassment, or puts the safety of the student or others at risk.
For further information please visit the Ministry Site: https://www.ontario.ca/document/education-ontario-policy-and-program-direction/policyprogram-memorandum-124#section-0
Resources
Check out the following resources to help you find Community Involvement opportunities.
- Volunteer Durham website for Community Service opportunities;
Contact us
For questions regarding Community Involvement hours, visit Community Service guidelines.
