Please visit the Community Involvement page on the Greater Essex County District School Board website for up-to-date information on revised requirements due to the pandemic.
All secondary school students in Ontario must complete 40 hours of community service before graduation. This helps them develop new skills and an awareness of civic responsibility as they contribute to their communities.
DIPLOMA REQUIREMENT – 40 HOURS OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Eligible Activities:
HELPING YOUR COMMUNITY
√ volunteering at hospitals, service clubs, libraries; getting involved in charitable activities – walk-a-thons, daffodil sales, canvassing for non-profit organizations;
√ coaching sports’ teams for non-profit organizations; leadership roles – community leagues, parks and recreation programs, leading girl guides, scouts;
√ promoting arts and culture – assisting with non-profit organizations involved in art galleries, performing arts productions or other related programs;
√ partaking in faith-based (church, mosque, synagogue, temple) activities – participating in programs for children, Sunday school assistant, etc.;
√ assisting at a retirement/nursing home – visiting, reading, playing cards or board games, crafts, taking seniors for walks (relatives do not count);
√ helping organize local community events – food drives and food banks; Special Olympics.
HELPING YOUR NEIGHBOURS
√ providing service to senior citizens – raking, shoveling (no snow blowers), shopping, (students should not drive vehicles for this purpose), visiting, reading, meal preparation.
HELPING YOUR SCHOOL
√ assisting with planning of school events – publicity, set up, selling tickets, technical support, coaching, assisting coach;
√ facilitating school events such as Grade 8 Open House, parent information nights, giving guided tours, serving refreshments;
√ assisting with environmental activities – recycling, planting trees and flowers, grounds’ keeping (students should not use power tools);
√ participating in charitable initiatives – food drives, holiday drives for toys or food;
The intention of the Ministry of Education’s 40-hour Community Involvement Program developed for students to earn as a part of the OSSD [Ontario Secondary School Diploma] requirement is to develop the spirit of volunteering. It is NOT to perform duties or activities that would normally be performed for wages by a paid employee, perform activities for a private citizen, business or organization that is operating For-Profit or simply to save money.
Ineligible Activities:
X was undertaken prior to the student’s completion of the grade 8 year in June;
X is a requirement of a class or course in which the student is enrolled (ex., cooperative education portion of a course, job shadowing, work experience);
X takes place during the school day. However, an activity that takes place during the student’s lunch break or “spare” period is permissible;
X would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace. No services can be performed for a profit based business or organization. Working for “free” does not constitute community involvement.
X involves the operation of a vehicle, power tools, or scaffolding;
X involves the administration of any type or form of medication or medical procedure to other persons;
X requires the knowledge of a tradesperson whose trade is regulated by the provincial government;
X involves banking or the handling of securities, or the handling of jewelry, works of art, antiques, or other valuables;
X consists of duties normally performed in the student’s home, or the home of a relative, (i.e., daily chores) or personal recreational activities, helping relatives/grandparents;
X involves a court-ordered program (e.g., community-service program for young offenders, probationary program, restorative justice requirement).
X services such as grass-cutting, home renovations or repairs (i.e., assisting with tear down, construction or removal of dry wall, fences, painting, cleaning, etc.), babysitting, pet-sitting/walking, are NOT eligible.