Looking to complete your 40 hour community involvement requirement for graduation? WEVolunteer can help.
Every student must complete 40 hours of Community Involvement in order to graduate.
There are three specific types of Community Involvement. They are:
• Help your community.
• Help your neighbours.
• Help your school.
Volunteering can help shape your career path.
Volunteering helps you explore career options. It is a great way to gain hands on experience in any given field and provides opportunity to see if you’re well-suited to that type of work before you decide to pursue further education or employment in that field. Experiencing a variety of different volunteer opportunities is a great way to learn the different career options before making your school and career decisions.
An Eligible Activity:
• Events or activities that may be based on or with a particular interest group must conform to the ethical and principled standards of the District School Board and the Ministry of Education to ensure that they are intended to promote a positive contribution to the community in general.
• Where an event or activity does not clearly fall within the guidelines, the Principal of the student’s school, in consultation with the appropriate supervisory officer, has the discretion to approve or reject any activity or event.
• The following list of eligible activities, read in conjunction with the list of the ineligible activities, is intended to assist the student and parent(s) or guardian(s) to determine whether a planned activity meets the requirements for Community Involvement.
An Ineligible Activity:
(a.) 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).
(b.) 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 break or “spare” period is permissible.
(c.) Takes place in a logging or mining environment, if the student is under sixteen years of age.
(d.) Takes place in a factory, if the student is under fifteen years of age.
(e.) Takes place in a workplace other than a factory, if the student is under fourteen years of age and is not accompanied by an adult.
(f.) Would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace.
(g.) Involves the operation of a vehicle, power tools, or scaffolding.
(h.) Involves the administration of any type or form of medication or medical procedure to other person.
(i.) Involves handling of substances classed as “designated substances” under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
(j.) Requires the knowledge of a tradesperson whose trade is regulated by the provincial government.
Questionable activities must receive the school Principal’s consideration.
Help Your Community
(a.) Through placement in a structured community based volunteer organization – hospitals, churches, service clubs, libraries or any organization reviewed by the United Way of Windsor and Essex County.
(b.) Take part in environmental initiatives – cleaning and recycling operations, park cleanup, planting trees and flower beds (students should not use power tools – lawn mowers hedge trimmers, wood chippers etc.)
(c.) Get involved in charitable activities – walk–a-thons, daffodil sales, canvassing for organizations, celebrity games, gift wrapping, gala events.
(d.) Coach sports teams – community leagues, parks and recreation programs.
(e.) Undertake a leadership role to help community groups – guides or scouts, 4h club.
(f.) Assist with literacy initiatives – at local libraries, day care centres, community centres.
(g.) Participation on committees, advisory boards or regional associations.
(h.) Arts and culture – assist at a gallery, performing arts production or programs.
(i.) Religious activities – participate in programs for children, child minding, Sunday school assistant.
(j.) Assist at a seniors’ home/centre – visit, read, play cards or board games, crafts, take seniors for walks.
(k.) Help organize local community events – food drives and food banks, Special Olympics, fairs, carnivals.
Help Your Neighbours
(a.) By providing service to seniors – raking, shovelling (no snow blowers), shopping (students should not drive vehicles for this purpose), visiting, reading, meal preparation.
(b.) Assist a neighbour with childcare – take child to park, watch child while parent prepares dinner, tutor younger students – read, take to the library, help with homework.
Help Your School
(a.) School – based community involvement activities are not tied to an academic credit and are open to any student e.g. organizing blood drives.
(b.) Help in the library – shelving books, tidying up changing bulletin boards.
(c.) Tutor other students – help with homework, review, assist students with special needs – peer buddy.
(d.) Assist with planning of arts or athletic events – publicity, set up for track meets, sell tickets, attend coat check, offer technical support, coach sports teams – run skill drills, assist coach.
(e.) Facilitate school events such as parent information nights – meet and greet visitors, give guided tours, serve refreshments.
(f.) Assist with environmental activities – recycling, planting trees and flowers, groundskeeping (students should not use power tools)
(g.) Participate in charitable initiatives – food drives, holiday drives for toys or food. ( Principal’s approval and signature required.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Grade 7 and 8 students start their Community Involvement?
Grade 8 students can now start their Community Involvement the summer before they enter grade 9.
What is the procedure if a school is contacted by a community agency requesting students’ Community Involvement with their organization?
A partnership has been established between the local school boards and United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County and they will provide the necessary information to interested community agencies.
What is the role of United Way?
United Way will act as a resource to assist non-profit community organizations to prepare for the 40 Hour Community Involvement for students. United Way website link here as well as WEVolunteer ink..
Can a student/parent/guardian arrange a placement with a community organization that has not been reviewed by the Windsor Essex County United Way?
Yes, as long as the activity is included on the list of eligible activities.
What if a student/parent/guardian feels uncomfortable with a proposed Community Involvement?
In fulfilling the 40 Hours of Community Involvement the student/parent/guardian is responsible for making appropriate choices. Choose wisely..
What if a student gets hurt while completing the 40 Hours of Community Involvement?
Students/parents/guardians are encouraged to purchase Student Accident Insurance which is available through the schools..
What if the student loses the “Completion of Community Involvement Activities” form?
Students are responsible for submitting their “Completion of Community Involvement Activities” from to their home school for data entry.
What happens when the 40 hours of Community Involvement are completed?
The completed 40 hour requirement will be recorded on the Report Card and on the Ontario Student Transcript.
