Community Service

Every graduating student must complete a minimum of 40 community hours, as part of the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). The purpose of the community involvement requirement is to encourage students to develop awareness and understanding of civic responsibility, and the contributions they can make in supporting and strengthening their community.

Once an activity or group of hours is complete, students must hand in a completed Community Service Form located in Student Services. This form is to be signed and verified by the acting supervisor of the activity. Hand in completed forms to Ms. Hayward or your counsellor.

*Please note: If students complete hours outside of the school, they require a letter from their sponsor.

Get Started As Early As Possible

  • Students will be able to start accumulating community involvement hours in the summer before they enter grade 9 and must be completed before graduation
  • There are many opportunities to volunteer both inside and outside the school community. To get started you can visit the guidance office for information or for more volunteer opportunities in your area go to http://volunteerhalton.ca

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, pool assistance, 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

For a complete outline of Ministry Expectations with regards to community involvement and a list of ‘ineligible’ activities visit: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/124a.html?textonly

Community Service Letter Requirements

  • Name of student – first and last name
  • Name of organization – on organization letterhead is preferred
  • Number of hours completed
  • Detailed list of duties completed (ex. Sarah H completed 40 hours serving food for our veterans…)
  • Contact information of organizer for follow up

Please contact our school office directly if you have questions about community services hours and which activities are accepted.

Volunteer Opportunities

Please click on the provider to find information about their volunteer opportunities.

  1. City of Oakville https://www.oakville.ca/townhall/volunteer-opportunities.html
  2. Volunteer Halton link
  3. Saint Vincent de Paul link
  4. Habitat for Humanity link
  5. Community Development Halton: 1-855-395-8807
  6. Big Brothers Big Sisters Homework Club link
  7. Halton Food for Though https://www.haltonfoodforthought.com/
  8. Volunteering at Halton Long-Term Care Homes link to application
  9. Cancer Kids First https://www.cancerkidsfirst.org/volunteer
  10. Food for Life https://foodforlife.ca/volunteer/
  11. Oakville Public Library https://opl.ca/About-OPL/Volunteer
  12. Volunteer Canada https://volunteer.ca/index.php

De Franco, RobCommunity Service