COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT REQUIREMENT

Information about required community involvement to receive your diploma

Every student who begins Secondary School in Ontario is required to complete 40 hours of community involvement in order to receive a diploma. The activities are to be completed outside of school time - that is, the activities are to take place in students' designated lunch hours, after school, on weekends, or during school holidays. The purpose of the community involvement requirement is to encourage students to develop an understanding of the various roles they can play in their community and to help them develop a greater sense of belonging within the community.

This document provides information on the community involvement diploma requirements for students and parents, as well as for the persons and organizations who are asked by students to sponsor a particular community involvement activity.

Students will select one or more community involvement activities in consultation with their parents or counselors. Selection of activities should take into account the age, maturity, and ability of the student, the location and environment of the proposed activity, and the need for any special training, equipment and preparation. The safety of the student is paramount.

It should be noted that students will not be paid for performing any community involvement activity.

A parent is not required to sign a form or to be consulted if the student is eighteen years of age or older.

Roles and Responsibilities of Canadian Independent College

Canadian Independent College is responsible for approval of community involvement activities. The school has developed a list of approved community involvement activities which is included in this information package, along with a list of activities that the Ministry of Education and Training has stated are ineligible. Canadian Independent College will not approve student participation in any activities that are on the Ministry's list of ineligible activities. Canadian Independent College must ensure that all participating community sponsors have adequate insurance coverage for the student.

Canadian Independent College List of Eligible Activities:

Working and/or assisting with activities for the elderly (senior citizens);
Working and/or assisting with persons who are physically or mentally challenged;
Coaching an athletic team in the community, or assisting with the management of the team;
Helping any community organization such as Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, United Way, Kids Help Phone, Food Banks;
Working with the Boy Scouts of Canada or Girl Guides of Canada, Daily Bread Food Bank, Children's Aid Society;
Volunteer work in any health care setting (hospital);
Working with any community organization recognized as helping make the city a safer or more environmentally sound place;
Volunteering time to raise money for recognized charities such as Kid's Help Phone, Canada World Youth, Interim Place, Canadian Cancer Society, Campaign Against Student Poverty, the United Way;
Volunteering at the Humane Society or Veterinary Clinic;
Volunteering to help in not-for-profit community activity that is approved by the Principal.

Canadian Independent College list of Ineligible Activities:

Is a requirement of a class or course in which the student is enrolled (e.g. co-operative education portion of a course, job shadowing, work experience);
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;
Takes place in a logging or mining environment, if the student is under sixteen years of age;
Takes place in a factory, if the student is under the age of fifteen years of age;
Takes place in a workplace other than a factory, if the student is fourteen years of age and is not accompanied by an adult;
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 of form of medication or medical procedure to other persons;
Involves handling of substances classes as "designated substances" under the Occupational Health and Safety Act;
Requires the knowledge of a trades-person whose trade is regulated by the provincial government;
Involves banking or the handling of securities, or the handling of jewellery, works of art, antiques or other valuables;
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).