Community Involvement

Every student is required to participate in 40 hours of community involvement and submit their hours in order to receive an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Students may start accumulating community involvement hours in the summer before they enter Grade 9. The purpose is to encourage students to develop an understanding of the various roles they play in their community and to help develop a greater sense of belonging.

Students are encouraged to choose an activity of interest or try out a future career area. Some students may wish to complete more than the required hours, especially in a particular area of interest or destination pathway. Contact your secondary school’s Guidance Department for more information about eligible activities, and the process for recording community involvement hours.

Parents should help their child select community involvement activities and are also encouraged to contact the community sponsor and the school with questions or concerns.

With the help of parents, students select an appropriate activity. If the activity is not on the list of approved activities (see list below), the school principal must sign a “Notification of Planned Community Involvement Activities” form before you begin earning your hours. Students then must complete and submit the Community Involvement Form. Principals are responsible for sharing information with parents, students, and community sponsors as well as ensuring that completed community involvement hours are entered on the student’s official transcript.