Did you know--students must complete 40 hours of volunteer work to graduate
The new Ontario high school program was introduced in grade 9 for the 1999-2000 school year. Your son or daughter is among the first group of students who will complete high school under this new program.
Beginning in September 1999, students entering grade 9 must complete 40 hours of volunteer work as one of the ministry requirements for their high school diploma. The aim is to encourage students to become actively involved in making positive contributions to their community. It is designed to promote good citizenship and help make students aware of the role they can play in their community.
Volunteer requirement is your responsibility
The volunteer service component is intended to help students and parents to work together, independent of the school. With your help, your son or daughter is responsible for finding and completing the 40 hours of volunteer work. The school will not be directly involved in finding volunteer placements for students or monitoring students while they are completing their volunteer work.
Get started as early as possible
We’re encouraging parents and students to finish the 40 hours of community service as early as possible in high school—ideally by the end of grade 10. We know that, with the shorter four-year high school program, grade 11 and 12 are likely to be very busy for your teen.
How do you get started? Here are some suggestions:
- Spend time with your son or daughter going through the list of eligible and ineligible activities—find out what your student might be interested in.
- Look at other resources—a good place to start is the board’s web site at www.peel.edu.on.ca
- If your student does not have a specific volunteer activity in mind, contact the Volunteer Centre of Peel at 306-0668 for assistance in finding a volunteer opportunity that would meet your son or daughter’s interests and experience.
Make sure your son or daughter is safe
As a parent, it is your responsibility to check out a potential placement before your teen starts volunteering. Talk to the person who will be supervising your son or daughter. A suggested list of questions to ask is included in the accompanying tip sheet.
Choose an eligible activity
The Ministry of Education has developed guidelines about what kinds of activities are eligible. Generally, your teen can complete 40 hours of service in events or activities that meet the following criteria:
- supports not-for-profit agencies, institutions or foundations
- structured programs to promote tutoring, mentoring, visiting, coaching whose purpose is to assist others
- supports work of a global nature
- 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
- any activity not specified as ineligible (see the list in this brochure)
Examples of eligible activities include the following:
- fundraising – walk-a-thons, celebrity games, gift wrapping, galas
- sports/recreation – coaching, track meets, summer games, working wit a buddy, pool assistant, and organizing special Olympics in the community
- community – helping to organize winter carnivals, parades, summer fairs, community events
- community projects –participating in food drives, support services for community groups
- religious organizations – programming for children, child-minding, helping with religious school, special events, and clerical tasks
- seniors' programs – assisting in a seniors’ residence or community programs
- youth programs and child care – helping to run youth programs such as Scouts, Guides, drop-in centres, breakfast programs, after-school programs, March break programs, leaders in training, summer playground activities and camps
- work with animals – helping with animal shelters, horseback riding programs, local zoo or petting farm
- arts and culture –assisting at a gallery, performing music, or being involved in a library program
- activities for individuals – helping seniors by shopping, reading letters, shoveling snow, chronic care hospital visits or helping young people such as tutoring, transcribing, reading buddies, and respite care
The ministry has said the following activities are not eligible:
- student activities that displace paid workers
- any activity where you are normally paid (for example, babysitting, part-time job)
- "Take Our Kids to Work" experience in grade 9
- job shadowing or a work experience component of a course
- co-operative education experiences
- any required activities of a course or program in which you can earn a credit
- playing on a school sports team
- activities that are regular family responsibilities (for example, regular chores)
- court-ordered community service programs, alternative measures programs or any diversionary program that uses community service
- any activity involving the operation of a vehicle, power tools or scaffolding
- any activity where you might administer medication or medical procedure
- any student under 16 involved in a logging environment
- any student under 15 involved in a factory environment
- any student under 14 in any working environment (except health and residential care environments)
- activities involving banking, securities or other valuables
As well, the Peel District School Board has determined the following activities to be ineligible:
- any activity that provides direct financial revenue or gain to the student or to the student’s immediate family
- any association with an organization or activity that does not comply with the policies of the ministry, the Peel board and human rights legislation
Keep on track
Help keep your student on track:
- Help your son or daughter complete the form that outlines what volunteer work he or she intends to complete. Sign the form and have your teen take a copy of this form to the home room teacher/advisor. This form will be kept on file at the school.
- Talk with your son or daughter about how the volunteer placement is going.
- Keep in touch with the volunteer supervisor.
- When your student has completed 40 hours of volunteer service, sign the completed form.
- It’s a good idea to make a photocopy of the completed form before your teen hands it in to the school.
Get more information
If you still have questions, here’s how you can get more information:
- talk to your teen’s home room teacher/advisor or the guidance department
- visit the Peel board web site at www.peelschool.org and go to the "Student Stuff" section
- call the Volunteer Centre of Peel at 306-0668
- call the Program department of the Peel District School Board at 890-1010/1-800-668-1146, ext. 2348
