Did you know you must complete 40 hours of volunteer work to graduate? 

The purpose of the community involvement graduation 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 develop transferable skills and explore different sectors and potential career opportunities. Community involvement activities help to prepare students for work and civic life in a globalized, digital age. Community involvement is an important educational opportunity that allows students to develop skills and experiences gained to become successful and contributing members of society now and in the future.

• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education (EDU) temporarily waived some policy restrictions set out in PPM 124A (for English-language schools) and PPM 124B (for French-language schools) so that students had more flexibility in how they could complete community involvement hours required to graduate. These temporary measures expired at the end of the 2022-23 school year on August 31, 2023.

• In addition, the Ministry has revised and released a modernized policy for the 2023-24 school year and going forward. This new policy replaces PPM 124A and PPM 124B effective September 1, 2023.  

• The revisions to this PPM are responsive to feedback from the sector as part of the modernizing education engagements which took place from November 2021 to April 2022.

• Schools do not have to use paper-based forms. They are permitted to develop their own processes for collecting, recording, and validating hours, including allowing electronic signatures. A  digital copy of the Activity Record Form is available. (Students must be logged into Google Chrome using their BYOD email address (studentnumber@pdsb.net) to access this form)

Ministry guidelines have established eligible and ineligible activities for the community involvement requirement. The organization you are volunteering for must meet the following criteria listed below. This have been updated! Please pay close attention. 

Eligible Activities

• supports not-for-profit agencies, institutions or foundations

• structured programs to promote tutoring, mentoring, visiting and coaching

• promotes environmental awareness

• promotes and contributes to the health and wellbeing of any group

• affiliated with a club, religious organization, arts, cultural association, or political organization with the goal of making a positive contribution to the community

Ineligible Activities

• is a requirement of a class, course, or program in which the student is enrolled (e.g., cooperative education course, experiential learning activities)

• 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

• contravenes the minimum age requirements to work in or visit a workplace stated in regulations made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act

• contravenes any other applicable legislation, regulation or policy

• contravenes the policies and procedures of the organization that is supervising the student’s community involvement activities

• 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 to other persons

• 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 (i.e., daily chores) or personal recreational activities

• involves activities for a court-ordered program (e.g., community-service program for young offenders, probationary program)

• involves activities that promote discrimination, harassment, or puts the safety of the student or others at risk.

• any activity that normally requires pay (for example, babysitting)

• any activity that is not subsidized (i.e. camp leader, instructor, assistance for an organization that does not provide subsidized pricing for patrons)

• Take Our Kids to Work experience

• any required activities of a course or program in which a student can earn a credit

• activities that are family responsibilities (for example, regular chores) 

• activities in where a student has served as an executive member through a club, organization, etc. 

• 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.

Community Involvement Activity Record Form

Ministry guidelines have established eligible and ineligible activities for the community involvement requirement. If you have questions about eligibility, please speak to your guidance counsellor or principal.

All students are required to submit completed Activity Record Form to their school's guidance team.

Resources

• Digital copy of the Activity Record Form (Students must be logged into Google Chrome using their BYOD email address (studentnumber@pdsb.net) to access this form)

• Contact Volunteering Peel, a student-run organization that works with community groups and event organizers to provide volunteers where needed.

• Contact Volu​nteer MBC​, a volunteer centre that promotes volunteering within Peel region and offers a volunteer referral service for all ages. 

Updated from the Ministry: 

• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education (EDU) temporarily waived some policy restrictions set out in PPM 124A (for English-language schools) and PPM 124B (for French-language schools) so that students had more flexibility in how they could complete community involvement hours required to graduate. These temporary measures expired at the end of the 2022-23 school year on August 31, 2023.

• In addition, the Ministry has revised and released a modernized policy for the 2023-24 school year and going forward. This new policy replaces PPM 124A and PPM 124B effective September 1, 2023.  

• The purpose of the community involvement graduation 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 develop transferable skills and explore different sectors and potential career opportunities.

·      Community involvement activities help to prepare students for work and civic life in a globalized, digital age. Community involvement is an important educational opportunity that allows students to develop skills and experiences gained to become successful and contributing members of society now and in the future.

• The revisions to this PPM are responsive to feedback from the sector as part of the modernizing education engagements which took place from November 2021 to April 2022.

Having said that, two bullets below are highlighted in red that confirms we're back to pre-covid times:

An ineligible activity is an activity that:

• is a requirement of a class, course, or program in which the student is enrolled (e.g., cooperative education course, experiential learning activities)

• 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

• contravenes the minimum age requirements to work in or visit a workplace stated in regulations made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act

• contravenes any other applicable legislation, regulation or policy

• contravenes the policies and procedures of the organization that is supervising the student’s community involvement activities

• 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 to other persons

• 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 (i.e., daily chores) or personal recreational activities

• involves activities for a court-ordered program (e.g., community-service program for young offenders, probationary program)

• involves activities that promote discrimination, harassment, or puts the safety of the student or others at risk.