Procedure 2.1.45 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HOURS GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Approved: April 15, 2025
Revised:
Procedures
1.0 All students must complete 40 hours of community involvement/volunteer activities for graduation as required by the Ontario Ministry of Education Policy/Program memorandum No. 124. These activities must be:
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- A minimum of 40 hours of total service;
- Included in the list of the eligible activities or approved by the school principal;
- Recorded on the “Record of Community Involvement” form (Appendix A);
- Completed by the end of Grade 12 in order to be eligible to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
2.0 The hours spent in the community are meant to encourage students to:
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- Develop awareness and understanding of civic and community responsibility;
- Understand the role they play in making our communities vibrant and strong;
- Understand the contributions they make to support and strengthen community;
- Learn about themselves and their community.
3.0 Volunteer hours must take place outside of instructional time. Possible times are:
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- During lunch breaks;
- Before or after school;
- During a student’s spare;
- During the evening;
- During weekends;
- During summer months.
4.0 Students and families should use the following process to plan and complete the community service hours:
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Students younger than 18 should plan an activity with the help of their family or guardian. The activity should involve service to others. The activity must fit in the categories identified on the DSB1 list of eligible activities.
- Confirm the details of the activity with the organizer responsible.
- Complete the “Record of Community Involvement” (Appendix A) with the proposed activity and seek the principal’s or vice-principal’s approval for the activity before completing the activity. This ensures that the activity is eligible.
- Complete the approved activity.
- Record the activity on the “Record of Community Involvement” form and have the organizer sign to validate the number of hours completed for the activity.
- Submit the “Record of Community Involvement” form to the office at the school so the hours can be entered on your student record.
- Repeat the process until a minimum of 40 hours are recorded.
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5.0 When planning to complete community service hours, the activity must fit within the following categories and not be on the list of ineligible activities. If there is uncertainty around an activity, the school principal can make the decision on the activity’s eligibility. Categories of eligible activities are:
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Category of Activities
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Examples |
| Fundraising for Non-Profit Organizations |
Includes canvassing, walk-a-thons for community benefit, celebrity games, gift wrapping, gala events, and sales for charitable purposes.
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| Sports/Recreation for Non-Profit Organizations |
Includes coaching, helping to organize Special Olympics, track meets, summer games, or volunteering as a leisure buddy or pool assistant.
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Community Events
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Includes helping to organize winter carnivals, parades and summer fairs.
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Community Projects
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Includes participating in organized food drives or support services for community groups, such as 4H Clubs or Welcome Wagon. |
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Environmental Projects
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Includes community gardens, park cleanup, Wetland projects, conservation projects, tree planting, stewardship events, invasive species programs.
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Volunteer Work with Seniors
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Includes assisting with a seniors’ residence, such as serving snacks, helping with activities. Includes visiting a senior, providing food to a senior, or assisting a senior with tasks.
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Volunteer Work with Elders
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Includes visiting an Elder, bringing or providing food to an Elder, assisting an Elder with tasks.
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Committee Work
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Includes participation on advisory boards, neighbourhood associations and regional associations.
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Religious Activities
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Assisting in programs associated with any faith. Can include services for children, child–minding, special events and clerical tasks.
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Ceremonial Activities
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Includes assisting in the planning of a ceremony or fulfilling a role at a ceremony. For example, helping to plan a Pow Wow and/or assisting at a Pow Wow. Assisting with Diwali, Holi. Can include other ceremonies.
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Youth Programs
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Includes volunteer assistance with the operation of youth programs such as 4H, Scouts Canada, Girl Guides, Drop-in Centre activities, breakfast programs, March break programs, Leaders in Training, summer playground activities, and camps.
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Office/Clerical Work for Non-Profit Organization
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Includes volunteer activity in reception, computer work and mailings for individuals or groups providing charitable or general community benefit.
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Work with Animals
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Includes volunteer involvement with animal care, horseback riding programs, or volunteer assistance at a local zoo or petting farm.
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Arts and Culture
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Includes volunteer assistance at a gallery, performing arts production or program, or in a community library program.
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Activities for Individuals
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Includes any volunteering that helps people who require assistance with shopping, tutoring, light snow removal (no use of a snowblower), housekeeping, writing letters or transcribing. This can also involve hospital visitation, voluntary involvement with chronic care, or service as a volunteer reading buddy.
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6.0 Activities that are ineligible to count towards the 40 hours of community service are:
- Activities that are a requirement of a class;
- Activities that take place during instructional time;
- Activities that contravene the policies and procedures of the organization that is supervising the student’s community involvement activities;
- Activities that would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace;
- Activities that involve the operation of a vehicle, power tools, or scaffolding;
- Activities that involve the administration of any type or form of medication or medical procedure to other persons;
- Activities that involve the handling of substances classed as “designated substances” under the Occupational Health and Safety Act;
- Activities that require the knowledge of a tradesperson whose trade is regulated by the provincial government;
- Activities that involve banking, the handling of money, or the handling of valuable items such as jewellery, works of art, or antiques;
- Activities that consist of duties normally performed in the student’s home (i.e., daily chores) or personal recreational activities;
- Activities mandated for a court-ordered program (e.g., community-service program for young offenders, probationary program);
- Activities that promote discrimination, harassment, or puts the safety of the student or others at risk.
7.0 Principals, or designate, will:
- Share information about community involvement hours annually with families and students in grades 9 to 12;
- Share information about community involvement hours with students and families of grade 8 students during transition activities. Students and families need to know that hours can be completed during the summer prior to starting grade 9;
- Include information about community involvement hours in the course calendar and on the school website.
- Pre-approve and approve community involvement hours.
- Ensure a student’s completed community involvement hours are entered in a students’ record and printed on report cards.
Appendices
Appendix A: Record of Community Involvement