In our Catholic schools we see the opportunity for students to grow in their faith life. The following describes how Christian Community Service offered in our Catholic schools meets the provincial mandate requiring every student to complete 40 hours of Community Service in order to be granted the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Students are strongly encouraged to perform a minimum of 10 hours of service per year. Themes in the religious Education program are used as students develop in their understanding of what it means to be Disciples of Christ. This theological reflection on Christian Community Service placements is supported by Religion teachers. Christian Community Service is a minimum requirement in a life-long process of understanding our role as followers of Christ in the modern world.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must a student complete 40 hours of Christian Community Service?
Students have from July 1st (after they finish Grade 8) until the end of Grade 12 to complete this graduation requirement. They do so outside class hours – during lunch breaks, in the evening, on weekends, during school breaks, during summer months.
How does a student go about completing Christian Community Service hours?
The policy, procedure, lists of eligible services, and forms to be submitted upon completion of the required hours are listed below. Students are required to submit forms at least once each academic year. Any service work for an organization not on the approved list requires prior approval from school administration. Report cards indicate the number of hours completed to date. Records are updated periodically as students submit the 鈥溾��.
Christian Community Service component of Religion courses
Religious Education teachers will continue to facilitate theological reflection on service/charity/justice/ advocacy to fulfill the course requirement for Christian Community Service.
Information for Parents/Guardians
Parents/guardians are partners in this process and are asked to monitor the completion of service hours and the safety of their children. Students are encouraged to find and complete suitable service placements. Students are also responsible for completing reflection assignments designated by the school.
Approved Service Activities
Help Your Neighbours
- Provide service to seniors or others having difficulty leaving their homes 鈥� raking, shovelling (no snow blowers), shopping (students should not drive vehicles for this purpose), visiting, reading, meal preparation.
- Assist a neighbour with child care 鈥� take a child to the park, watch child while parent prepares dinner.
- Tutor younger students 鈥� read, take to the library, help with homework.
Help Your Community
- Volunteer at a senior鈥檚 home/centre
- Help organize local community events 鈥� food drives/banks
- Volunteer at a senior鈥檚 home/centre
- Take part in environmental initiatives 鈥� cleaning and recycling operations, park clean-up, planting trees and flowerbeds (students should not use power tools 鈥� lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, wood clippers, etc.)
- Become involved with charitable or Church activities
- Assist with sports teams: community leagues, house league teams parks and recreation programs
- Volunteer in leadership roles with community groups鈥� Youth Group, Leader at Church
- Volunteer at hospitals, libraries, social service or animal welfare agencies, religious communities/places of worship
- Assist with literacy initiatives鈥揳t local libraries, daycare centres, community centres
Help Your School or Other Schools (After school and lunch breaks)
- Help with sports teams鈥搑un drills, assist the coach
- Help in library鈥搒helving books, tidying up, changing bulletin boards
- Tutor other students
- Assist students with special needs
- Assist with the planning of Arts and athletic events
- Assist Chaplaincy with programs鈥� retreats, Peer Mediation, Peer Mentoring
- Facilitate school events such as parent information nights, new student orientations
- Participate in charitable activities
- Facilitate environmental activities
- Serve on school committees and councils 鈥搒chool governance, peer ministry
Ineligible Activities
An ineligible activity is an activity that:
- Includes any activities contrary to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church
- Is a requirement of a class in which the student is enrolled
- Takes place during the school day. (This does not include lunch or 鈥渟pare鈥� periods)
- Takes place in a logging or mining environment, if the student is under 16 years of age
- Takes place in a factory, if the student is under 15 years of age
- Takes place in a workplace other than a factory, if the student is under 14 years of age
- Would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace (students are not to replace paid workers or be paid workers themselves)
- Involves the operation of a vehicle, power tools, or scaffolding
- Involves the administering of any form or type of medication or medical procedure
- Involves the handling of substances classed as 鈥渄esignated substances鈥� under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Requires the knowledge of a tradesperson whose trade is regulated by the provincial government
- Involves banking or the handling of jewellery, works of art, antiques or other valuables
- Consists of duties normally performed in the student鈥檚 home or personal recreational activities
- Involves a court-ordered program
