All high school students in the province of Ontario are required to complete forty (40) hours of community service as a graduation requirement outlined by the Ontario Ministry of Education. 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. These goals complement academic and work experience programs that are currently taking place in our schools. Student community involvement activities may take place in a variety of settings, including businesses, not-for-profit organizations, public sector institutions (including hostiptals), and information settings. The Ottawa Catholic School Board has developed a list of community involvement activities that are considered acceptable. Students participating in this iniative will have received a document from their school which outlines examples of eligible and ineligible activities. Students must complete the Ottawa Catholic School Board Community Involvement Form to list their planned and completed activities. 

• Student community involvement activities must total a minimum of 40 hours and must be completed in order to be eligible to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School DIploma (OSSD)
• Students can begin in July of the year before the student’s grade nine (9) school year
• Community involvement activities must not be part of a credit course, must be unpaid, and must be completed outside of scheduled class time 

Read more in our Board's Community Involvement Brochure >>
Visit the Ministry of Education's website to view Policy/Program Memorandum No. 124a >>