Community Service

As part of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), all students must complete a minimum of 40 community involvement hours to be eligible to graduate. The purpose of the community involvement requirement is to encourage students to develop awareness and understanding of civic responsibility and of the role they can play and the contributions they can make in supporting and strengthening their community.

🗓️ When Can I Start?

You may begin earning hours as early as July 1 before entering Grade 9. To stay on track, we recommend that students aim to complete a minimum of 10 hours per year.

📥 Submitting Your Hours

To streamline our process and help with recordkeeping, we ask that students submit their community involvement hours only once all 40 hours are completed.

You can submit your hours in one of the following ways:

Hand in a copy of your completed paperwork directly to your Guidance Counsellor
Email the documentation to your Guidance Counsellor in PDF attachemnt

All community involvement records are reviewed and filed in your Ontario Student Record (OSR). Please keep a copy of all submitted documentation for your own reference.

✅ Completing Hours at Holy Trinity

If you are volunteering within the school (e.g., helping at events, tutoring, assisting clubs):

Complete the Holy Trinity Community Involvement Form

Ensure that the activity is listed as acceptable on the form and is supervised by a staff member.

🌐 Completing Hours Outside of School

If your community service takes place OUTSIDE the school (e.g., local organizations, charities, churches): You must submit a signed letter from the organization or sponsor that includes:

Full Name of Student – First & Last Name
Name and contact information of the organization – with Letterhead
Description of duties performed (ex. Sarah B. completed 40 hours serving food for our veterans…)
Specific dates and total Hours completed
Supervisor’s Conttact Information and signature

Choose an Eligible Activity

The ministry has developed guidelines about what kinds of activities are eligible. To list a few:

Supports a non-profit organization
Structured programs to promote tutoring, mentoring, coaching whose purpose is to assist others
Promotes environmental awareness
Promotes and contributes to the health and well-being of any group
Affiliated with a club, religious organization, arts or cultural association or political organization that seeks to make a positive contribution in the community
Benefits the community

Examples of Eligible Activities

Fundraising – Walk-A-Thons, wrapping, participating at events
Sports/Recreation: coaching for community organizations, Special Olympics
Community – Helping run events, participating in food drives and support services for community groups, library programs
Religious Organizations – Programming for children, child minding, helping with religious Sunday school, special events and clerical tasks
Seniors’ Programs – Assisting in seniors’ residence or community programs
Youth Programs – Scouts, Girl guides, drop-in centres, breakfast programs, after-school programs, camps
Work with Animals – Helping with animal shelters, horseback riding programs, local zoo or petting zoo
Activities for Individuals – Tutoring, chronic hospital care visits, Best Bubbies programs, working with special needs individuals

Ineligible Activities

Displaces paid workers
Office work done in an office that is not a non-profit organization
Any activity where one can be normally paid
“Take Your Kids to Work” experience in grade 9
Co-operative education experiences
Playing on a sports team

🔍 Volunteer Opportunities

Looking for ways to get involved? These local organizations frequently offer student volunteer opportunities:

You can also check the Guidance D2L Page for school-related opportunities.

📝 Final Reminders

Once completed – Submit all 40 hours at once
Use the correct form or sponsor letter with all required details
Keep a copy of everything you submit for your records
If you go above and beyond 40 hours, keep a personal record of your extra hours — these can be valuable when applying for scholarships, awards, bursaries, or special recognition
If you’re unsure whether an activity qualifies, ask your Guidance Counsellor

We’re here to support you on your journey — visit Student Services if you have any questions!