40 Hours of Community Involvement

Please follow this link to obtain a copy of the community hours sheet

Activities
- must be completed outside scheduled class time;
- must not be part of a credit course;
- must be unpaid activities; and
- can be completed in the summer.

Getting Started

1. Students under the age of eighteen should plan an activity in consultation with their parent(s)/guardian(s). The activity should be one that involves service to others. The activity must fall within the guiding principles our Board has established and should be identified on the Board’s list of examples.
2. Students should confirm the details of the activity with the community organizer who will be responsible for the activity.
3. If the activity does not fall within the Board’s list of examples, the Principal’s approval is required.
4. Students are to complete their planned activity and should have the Community Involvement Tracking Sheet signed by the community organizer.
5. These steps should be repeated until the 40-hour requirement has been fulfilled. Students must then submit the Community Involvement Tracking Sheet to Guidance.

Eligible Activities
- Students’ Council/sub committees: e.g., Christmas sharing, student trustee, Terry Fox Run
- School committees: e.g., yearbook, student crime stoppers
- Organizing/assisting in school activities: e.g., Grade 8 orientation, fundraising, coaching sports, parents’ night, science fair, art shows, technical crew, or school productions
- Eco-projects: e.g., school/community clean-up, school/community restoration and beautification
- School/community initiatives: e.g., food drives, Christmas sharing
- Non-credit peer assistance: e.g., scribing, tutoring
- Participation in conferences/training programs outside of school hours: e.g., leadership/peer mediation
- Religion-related volunteer activities
- Community agencies/service clubs: volunteer opportunities which would be appropriate to student volunteers assisting in fundraising, community event organization, environmental projects, sports coaching, scouting, guiding, friendly visits: e.g., community services, local food banks, United Way, 4-H Clubs, Meals on Wheels, hospitals, etc.
- Supporting elementary school activities such as school yard clean-up, equipment room organization, reading buddies, coaching

Ineligible Activities
The Ministry of Education has developed a list of activities that may not be chosen as community involvement activities.
- Is a requirement of a class or course in which the student is enrolled (e.g., cooperative education portion of a course, job shadowing, work experience)
- 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
- Takes place in logging or mining environment if the student is under sixteen years of age
- Takes place in a factory if the student is under fifteen years of age
- Takes place in a workplace other than a factory, if the student is under fourteen years of age and is not accompanied by an adult
- 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 trades person whose trade is regulated by the provincial government
- Involves banking or the handling of securities, jewelry, works of art, antiques, or other valuables
- Consists of duties normally performed in the home (i.e., daily chores) or personal recreational activities
- Involves a court-ordered program (e.g., community-service program for young offenders, probationary program)

Graduation Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma

Requirements for the OSSD