Community Involvement

How Many Hours Do You Need to Graduate?

As part of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements, all students are required to complete 40 hours of community service. Students who do not complete these hours by the end of June in their Grade 12 year will not graduate.

IMPORTANT: Hours must be with a non-profit organization or in service to the community (ie: helping an elderly neighbor).  Hours cannot be working for free in a for-profit business. Please see Page 2 of the Community Involvement Form for further clarification. 

Other Reasons to Volunteer:

Community involvement is a requirement to graduate, but it is also a great chance for students to:

• Meet new people

• Learn skills

• Build a resume

• Gain references for work applications

• Discover future career opportunities

• Manage stress

• Give back to their community

Community Involvement Activity Notification & Completion Form

You must submit your form to Student Services for approval PRIOR to starting your hours.  The Community Involvement Activity Notification and Completion Form should then be completed by students and their volunteer supervisor.  Please write neatly and include first and last names of both student and supervisor.  Completed hours are then returned to Student Services for entry on your transcript.  

Please Note: While hours are only entered until the 40 hour requirement is met, students are encouraged to continue using the form for personal use and to ensure an accurate record is available for future scholarship applications!  

Finding Volunteer Opportunities

• Guidance will post seasonal opportunities in the Guidance Brightspace class

• You can also use online data bases provided by Volunteer Toronto.  These allow you to search for opportunities by length, location, type of activity, and type of organization.  You  can use the buttons below to connect with these sites.  You can also book an appointment with a Volunteer Advisor to help you with your search

• Consider community opportunities!  These may include: helping at the hospital; retirement homes; elementary schools; food banks; or helping out a neighbour.