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Community Service Hours

Community Service Hours - Graduation Requirement

All students graduating will require a minimum of 40 community service hours.

 

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 communities. By being involved in their communities and serving others, students can develop transferable skills and explore different sectors and potential career opportunities as well as deepening their understanding of their role in society.

 

Please remember that helping in our community does not include working for a business. If you are volunteering at a business, doing work that another person would be paid to do​​ this does not count as Community Involvement Hours towards your graduation. Please see below (and on the back of the Community Service form) for examples of eligible and ineligible activities.
 
Completed forms must be signed by the activity organizer as well as parent/guardian and can be dropped off to the Guidance Office. We encourage all students to keep a copy or take a picture of the form before handing it in for their records.

Activities considered eligible for community involvement hours

Below are some examples of the types of activities approved for community service.

  • Provide service to seniors or others who have difficulty leaving their homes - raking, shoveling (no snow blowers), shopping;
  • Tutor younger students - read, visit the library, help with homework; 
  • Volunteer at a senior's home/centre; 
  • Help organize local community events - food drives/banks; 
  • Take part in environmental initiatives - cleaning and recycling operations, park clean-up, planting trees and flowerbeds; 
  • Become involved with charitable or church activities; 
  • Assist with sports teams: community leagues, house league teams, parks and recreation programs; 
  • Volunteer in leadership roles with community groups, youth group, leader at church; 
  • Volunteer at hospitals, libraries, social service or animal welfare agencies, religious communities/places of worship; and/or 
  • Assist with literacy initiatives at local libraries, child care centres, community centres

 

Activities considered ineligible for community involvement hours

Below are some examples of the types of activities that are NOT approved for community service.

  • Required as part of a school course; 
  • 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;
  • An activity that replaces a paid worker; 
  • An activity where you would usually be paid (e.g. babysitting); 
  • A duty performed in a home (e.g. daily chores) or personal recreational activities; 
  • Requiring the knowledge of a provincially regulated tradesperson; 
  • Playing in a sports team; 
  • A Court ordered program involving a community service expectation; 
  • Involving operating a vehicle, power tools or scaffolding; 
  • Administering medication or handling substances as classified by the Occupational Health and Safety Act; 
  • Involving banking, securities or other valuables;