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Ontario private secondary school, Vaughan · OSSD courses, Grades 9 to 12Redefining High School Education in Canada
Community Involvement, 40 Hours
Every student working toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement. The purpose is to develop an awareness of civic responsibility and of the part you can play in supporting your community.
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1. The requirement
A minimum of 40 hours, completed outside instructional time. The hours are not part of any course and carry no mark. They are recorded on your Ontario Student Transcript when the 40 hours are complete.
Get approval before you start
Hours completed before the Principal has approved the activity in writing are not counted. Submit the Notification of Planned Activities form first, every time.
2. When hours may be earned
Hours may be accumulated at any point in your secondary school programme. A student entering Grade 9 may begin in the summer before Grade 9 starts.
A student transferring to this school who has already completed some hours brings those hours with them, and the Principal confirms the total from the Ontario Student Record. Where a student transfers into the Ontario system after completing two or more years of secondary school elsewhere, the Principal determines a reduced number of hours in proportion to the time remaining.
Back to the top3. Step by step
- Review the school's list of eligible activities below and choose an activity that matches your interests and talents.
- Complete the Community Involvement Notification of Planned Activities form, describing the activity, the organisation, the supervising person and the expected hours.
- If you are under 18, your parent or guardian signs the form to approve the planned activity.
- Submit the form to the Principal before you begin. Hours completed before approval are not counted.
- The Principal reviews the activity against the eligible and ineligible lists, confirms that insurance is in place for you and the supervising organisation, approves or refuses in writing, and files the decision.
- Complete the activity. The supervising individual or organisation verifies the dates and hours and signs the Community Involvement Completion form.
- Submit the completed form to the Principal, either on reaching 40 hours or at intervals the Principal sets.
- The Principal verifies the hours, files the forms in your Ontario Student Record, and records completion on your Ontario Student Transcript.
4. The two forms
Both forms are published here, with the school’s policies, and are available from the school office. The student learning portal directs you to this page rather than holding a separate copy, so there is only ever one current version of each form. Print them, or fill them in and print, whichever suits you. They need handwritten signatures, so they cannot be submitted online.
Form 1. Notification of Planned Activities
Use it before the activity begins. You complete it, your parent or guardian signs it if you are under 18, and you submit it to the Principal. Hours completed before the Principal approves it in writing are not counted.
What it asks for: your name, Ontario Education Number, grade and session; the organisation, the address of the activity and the supervising person with their contact details; a description of what you will do; the proposed dates, expected hours, and the days and times; which approved category it falls under, or a note that you are proposing something new; a confirmation from the organisation that you will be supervised and that they carry insurance; your signature; and your parent or guardian's approval. The reverse carries the full list of activities that do not count.
Download Form 1, Notification of Planned ActivitiesForm 2. Completion of Activities
Use it when the activity is finished. You complete it, the supervising individual or organisation signs it to verify your hours, and you submit it to the Principal, either on reaching 40 hours or at the intervals the Principal sets.
What it asks for: your name, Ontario Education Number and grade; the date of the approved Notification form; the organisation and supervising person; a dated log of what you did with start and finish times, hours and the supervisor's initials; the supervisor's verification and signature with a telephone number so the school can confirm; and your declaration that the hours were outside class time and were not part of a course.
Download Form 2, Completion of ActivitiesFull detail is in section B10 and Appendix 2 of the School Course Calendar 2026-2027. If you are not sure whether an activity counts, ask the school before you start, not afterwards.
Back to the top5. Activities the school approves
These categories are approved in advance. You must still submit the Notification of Planned Activities form and obtain the Principal's written approval before beginning.
- Volunteering with a registered charity, a not-for-profit organisation, a community service agency, a food bank or a shelter
- Assisting at a public library, museum, gallery, community centre or place of worship
- Supporting a not-for-profit sports, arts or recreation program for children or seniors
- Participating in an environmental clean-up, tree planting, community garden or conservation project
- Volunteering with a hospital, long-term care home or hospice auxiliary, within the limits set out below
- Assisting with a school or community event, fundraising drive or awareness campaign
- Providing tutoring, mentoring or homework help to younger students through an organised program
- Volunteering with a registered political campaign, a civic body or a student or community governance organisation
- Contributing to a not-for-profit online project, such as accessibility captioning, translation or open educational resources, where the work is supervised and verifiable
You may propose an activity that is not on this list. The Principal decides whether it is acceptable, having regard to the ineligible list and to your circumstances including any disability or special education need, and records the decision and the reasons for it.
Back to the top6. Activities that are not eligible
An activity is not eligible for community involvement hours if it:
- is a requirement of a class, course or program in which the student is enrolled
- takes place during the time allotted for the instructional program on a school day, other than during a lunch break or a spare period
- would contravene the minimum age requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act or its regulations
- contravenes any other applicable legislation, regulation or policy
- contravenes the policies and procedures of the organisation supervising the activity
- 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
- 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, such as daily chores, or personal recreational activities
- involves activities for a court-ordered program
- involves activities that promote discrimination or harassment, or that put the safety of the student or of others at risk
7. Accessibility and insurance
Accessibility
The school ensures its approved activities are accessible to students with disabilities. Where a student requires an accommodation in order to take part, the Principal works with the student, the parent or guardian and the supervising organisation to arrange it before the placement begins. Where no suitable placement can be accommodated, the Principal approves an alternative that meets the purpose of the requirement.
Insurance
Before a placement is approved, the school confirms that the student and the supervising individual or organisation are adequately covered by insurance for the activity. A placement will not be approved without that confirmation.
Back to the top8. Who does what
| Who | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| The student | Selects the activity, obtains approval before starting, completes the activity safely, obtains verification of hours, and submits the documentation. |
| The parent or guardian of a student under 18 | Assists in selecting an appropriate activity, approves the planned activity in writing, verifies the student's hours through the school's process, and raises any concern with the supervising organisation or the Principal. |
| The supervising individual or organisation | Provides any training, equipment or special preparation required, ensures the student's safety, provides any accommodation a student with a disability needs in order to participate fully, and verifies the dates and hours completed. |
| The school and the Principal | Maintains and annually reviews the list of eligible activities and publishes it; ensures the list is accessible to students with disabilities; reviews and approves planned activities; confirms insurance coverage is in place before approving a placement; maintains records of approvals and refusals; collects, records and validates hours; verifies completion and records it on the Ontario Student Transcript; and provides this information to students and to parents and guardians annually. |