Community Service in Catholic Secondary Schools

• Introduction
• Roles and Responsibilities of the London District Catholic School Board
• Roles and Responsibilities of Secondary School Principals
• Roles and Responsibilities of Students
• Roles and Responsibilities of Parents
• Roles and Responsibilities of Sponsors in the Community
• Ministry of Education’s Ineligible Activities
• ​London District Catholic School Board’s Ineligible Activities

Central to our Christian Tradition is the expression of our faith in service to others. “I was hungry you gave me food; I was thirsty you gave me drink; as far as you did this to one of the least of my sisters and brothers you did it to me” (Matt.25:25-40). This integral characteristic of Catholic schools has been a longstanding component of the formation of the students entrusted to our care. The academic curriculum challenges the student to apply the social teaching of the Church to practical situations both within and beyond the school community. Our hope is to foster a gradual understanding of genuine discipleship and personal responsibility as a global citizen by engaging students in meaningful experiences of service to individuals and organizations in need. The gospel of Jesus challenges young people to live a life style in which personal talents are utilized for the betterment of their communities. It is at the heart of Christian service and empowers our students to become youth who are fully alive in the Spirit, ministers of service and the future stewards of the world.

Effective September 1, 1999, every student who begins secondary school in Ontario will be required to complete 40 hours of community service as part of his/her diploma requirements. Effective July 1, 2011, students will be able to start accumulating community involvement hours in the summer before they enter grade 9. This change acknowledges the enthusiasm of some students, with support from their parents, to be involved in their community prior to entering secondary school. Its purpose is to encourage students to develop social responsibility, an appreciation of the various roles they can play in their communities and to help them develop a greater sense of belonging within their respective communities.

Students will select one or more community involvement activities in consultation with their parents. Selection of activities should take into account the age, maturity, and ability of the student, the location and environment of the proposed activity, and the need for any special training, equipment, and preparation. The safety of the student is paramount.

It should be noted that students will not be paid for performing any community involvement activity.

A parent is not required to sign a form or to be consulted if the student is eighteen years of age or older.

Roles and Responsibilities of the London District Catholic School Board

The School Board is responsible for the implementation of community involvement activities in its eight secondary schools. A list of approved community involvement activities has been developed by the board in conjunction with the schools and school councils, the Special Advisory Committee and the board’s insurer.

The list along with a list of activities that the Ministry of Education has stated are ineligible can be found below. The Board will not approve student participation in any activities that are on the ministry’s list of ineligible activities. The Board shall ensure that all participants, including students and community sponsors, are adequately covered in its insurance policy.

Roles and Responsibilities of Secondary School Principals

Principals and their designates are required to provide information about the community involvement requirement to parents, students, and community sponsors. Principals are also required to provide students with the information and forms they will need to complete the community involvement requirement,including the board’s list of approved activities from which to choose. After a student completes the 40 hours of community involvement and submits all documentation of their completion to the school, the principal will decide whether the student has met the community involvement requirement and, if so, will record it as completed on the student’s official transcript. 

Roles and Responsibilities of Students

In consultation with their parents, students will select an activity or activities from the board’s list of approved activities, or choose an activity that is not on the list, provided that it is not an activity specified on the ministry’s and the board’s lists of ineligible activities. If the activity is not on the board’s list of approved activities, the student must obtain written approval from the principal before beginning the activity.

Before beginning any activity, students will provide the principal’s designated school contact with a completed “Notification of Planned Community Involvement Activities” form indicating the activity or activities that they plan to do. This form must be signed by the student and by his or her parent if the student is under eighteen years of age. More than one such form may be submitted when additional activities are planned that were not included on a previously submitted form.

A “Completion of Community Involvement Activities” form must be completed by the student, the student’s parent (if the student is under eighteen years of age), and the community sponsor (that is, the person or organization that provided the community involvement opportunity for the student). The student must submit the form to the principal’s designated school contact upon completion of the 40 hours or at appropriate intervals determined by the school.

Roles and Responsibilities of Parents

Parents should provide assistance to their child in the selection of their community involvement activities. Parents are also encouraged to communicate with the community sponsor and the school principal if they have any questions or concerns. A parent must sign the “Notification of Planned Community Involvement Activities” form and the “Completion of Community Involvement Activities” form if the student is under the age of eighteen years.

Roles and Responsibilities of Sponsors in the Community

One of the purposes of the community involvement requirement is to develop strong ties between the students and their community, fostering valuable and long-term relationships. Persons and organizations within the community may be asked by the student to sponsor a community involvement activity. Any training, equipment, or special preparation that is required for the activity should be provided by the person or organization. It is crucial that students are able to fulfill their community involvement requirement in a safe environment. The person overseeing the student’s activity must verify the date(s) and the number of hours completed on the “Completion of Community Involvement Activities” form.

Ministry of Education’s Ineligible Activities:

London District Catholic School Board’s Ineligible Activities:

London District Catholic School Board’s Eligible Activities:

The activities listed below are approved by the School Board and may be used by students for the completion of the community involvement requirement: