Community Involvement

Secondary

Submit community involvement hours online!

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.

Eligible activities

The activities listed below are approved by Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) for completion of the community involvement requirement:

Help the elderly, sick, isolated, disabled, or disadvantaged in organized settings or on an individual basis.
Work for non-profit organizations.
Serve as a youth leader.
Work for service clubs, community organizations, and church groups.
Tutor/mentor.
Provide childcare.
Work in the public sector (e.g. community policing, hospitals, schools, libraries).
Community development and beautification of environmental concerns.
Ambassadorship work for political parties/causes.
Coach, referee, score keep.

Students must discuss with the principal any activities not listed above before starting a volunteer activity in order for time to count toward the total hours.

Ineligible activities

The ministry has developed a list of activities that may not be chosen as community involvement activities. These are referred to as ineligible activities.

An ineligible activity is an activity that:

is a requirement of a class, course, or program in which the student is enrolled (e.g., cooperative education course, experiential learning activities)
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
contravenes the minimum age requirements to work in or visit a workplace stated in regulations made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
contravenes any other applicable legislation, regulation or policy
contravenes the policies and procedures of the organization that is supervising the student’s community involvement activities
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 tradesperson whose trade is regulated by the provincial government
involves banking, the handling of securities, or the handling of valuable items such as jewellery, works of art, or antiques
consists of duties normally performed in the home (i.e., daily chores) or personal recreational activities
involves activities for a court-ordered program (e.g., community-service program for young offenders, probationary program)
involves activities that promote discrimination, harassment, or puts the safety of the student or others at risk.

In addition to the Ministry of Education’s list of ineligible activities, TLDSB does not permit the following:

Activities involving the handling of weapons or firearms.
Activities that would go against the school or TLDSB Code of Conduct or the Ministry of Education Provincial Code of Conduct.

Lindsay Education Centre

300 County Road 36, Lindsay, ON K9V 4R4

Muskoka Education Centre

1271 Cedar Lane, Bracebridge, Ontario P1L 1N4

Contact Us

Phone: 1-888-526-5552

Email: [email protected]

Community Involvement

Secondary