The successful completion of 40 community volunteer hours is an Ontario Secondary School Requirement for graduation. These activities may be completed at any time during the student's years in the secondary school program.

Where and When

Community involvement activities may take place in a variety of settings, including businesses, not-for-profit organizations, public sector institutions (including hospitals) and informal settings. Students may not fulfil the requirement through activities that are counted towards a credit (for example, co-operative education and work experience), through paid work or by assuming duties that would normally be performed by a paid employee. This requirement must be completed outside of the students' normal instructional hours during the school day. Activities may take place at lunch hour, after school, on weekends, or during school holidays.

• An event or activity designed to be of benefit to the community
• An event or activity to support not-for-profit agencies, institutions, foundations or associations.
• Structured programs to promote tutoring, mentoring, visiting, coaching whose purpose is to assist others
• An event or activity that supports work of a global nature
• An event or activity affiliated with a club, religious organization, arts or cultural association, or political organization that seeks to make a positive contribution in the community
• An event or activity that promotes and contributes to the health and well-being of any group, including some school-based activities (only those school activities which extend their service to the wider community will be considered eligible and must be approved by the Principal/Vice Principal in the planning stage).Grade 9 students must wait until they have attended an introductory session by the Guidance Department before completing any community service hours.
  
  

How do I Record My Hours?

Students receive the District School Board of Niagara's Community Involvement Student Passport from their Teacher Advisor as well as an Information Manual in grade 9. This passport is used by the student and the parent to plan a student's involvement and record completed activities. When a student has completed an activity, recorded relevant details on the backside of the passport entitled Student Record of Completed Activities, and received a signature from the placement's Supervisor he/she may submit the Passport to the main office in order to have the hours placed on the student transcript.