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Board Policy #620.0 Community Involvement Hours

1. Policy Statement

The York Region District School Board (YRDSB) is committed to a healthy, robust and meaningful experience for students as they complete their community involvement hours. Community involvement is about giving of oneself to make a difference for others and for the greater good of the community.  It is about developing civic responsibility. By donating time to help others, each individual develops his or her sense of self fulfillment and enhances their understanding of, and development of the following transferrable skills identified by the Ministry of Education: critical thinking and problem solving, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, self-directed learning, collaboration, communication, and digital literacy. 

The YRDSB believes that the purpose of the community involvement requirement is to encourage students to develop an understanding of the role they can play in supporting and strengthening their communities. Community involvement increases student awareness of community needs and how they can make a positive difference. Helping others enhances the self-image of students, fosters a greater sense of belonging to the greater whole. It also assists in the development of employability skills through the volunteer experience gained in different sectors and potential careers.

All secondary school students must complete 40 hours of community involvement in order to graduate.  These hours may be completed at any time prior to graduation, beginning in the summer following grade eight.

2. Application

The community Involvement Hours policy supports the Graduation requirement for completion of 40 community involvement hours.

3. Responsibilities

3.1 The Board of Trustees is responsible for:

1. reviewing the Community Involvement Hours policy in accordance with the approved policy review cycle; and
2. understanding and communicating with members of the community about the Community Involvement Hours policy.

3.2 The Director of Education is responsible for:

1. allocating staff and resources to support the Community Involvement Hours procedure.

3.3 The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for:

1. ensuring all participants, including students and the sponsors of community involvement activities, are adequately covered by the Board's insurance.

3.4 The Coordinating Superintendent of Education, Curriculum and Instructional Services and Continuing Education

1. implementing and operationalizing the Community Involvement Hours policy.

3.5 Superintendents of Education are responsible for:

1. ensuring school staff are aware of the Community Involvement Hours policy and communicating it to the broader school community.

3.6 Principals are responsible for:

1. supporting the community involvement requirement in their schools by identifying eligible volunteer opportunities for students;
2. communicating to students the community involvement requirements, including the list of eligible and ineligible activities;
3. making community involvement information available to families and activity supervisors; and
4. ensuring that proposed and completed activities are eligible.

3.7 Students are responsible for:

1. selecting eligible activities for community involvement hours;
2. getting pre- approval of hours that they have not previously had approved; and
3. completing 40 hours of community involvement to graduate from secondary school.

4. Definitions

4.1 Community Involvement Guide

The YRDSB Graduation Requirement - Community Involvement, provided by the YRDSB, outlines information regarding the selection and approval of eligible and ineligible activities for community involvement hours.

4.2 Eligible Activities

Eligible activities are volunteer activities that may be counted towards the required 40 community involvement hours.

4.3 Ineligible Activities

Ineligible activities are activities that may not be counted towards the required 40 community involvement hours.

5. Contact

Education and Community Services

6. History

Approved: 2012

Working Document: June 2016, June 2023

Revised: March 2017, February 2023, February 2025

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Board Procedure #620.1 Community Involvement Hours

1. Procedure Statement

This procedure outlines the process for support and administration of the community involvement hours required by students to graduate.

2. Application

2.1 Eligible Activities

Eligible activities include:

1. Elementary Schools - assist with school events, school councils, activities for children;
2. Secondary Schools - organization and leadership of school activities or clubs that benefit the school and/or community;
3. Animal Care - volunteering in a zoo, animal shelter, or on a farm;
4. Community Spaces and Events - volunteering in galleries, libraries, arts and cultural events, community productions or opportunities (outside of credit courses) for time spent learning about traditional cultures such as language, cooking, knowledge, skills and stories;
5. Charitable Organizations - assisting with special events, programs, clerical tasks;
6. Children/Youth Programs - assisting with children/youth programs, volunteering in a child care centre or camp;
7. Community Organizations - assisting with special events, food banks, community support services, shelters, clerical tasks;
8. Community Service for Individuals - assisting community members in need;
9. Environment, Conservation and Sustainability Projects or Initiatives- flower/tree planting, recycling projects, recycling depot;
10. Health Agencies - volunteering in hospitals, hospices, Canadian Blood Services (volunteering to organize or assist with a blood donor clinic), donating blood (time required to donate);
11. Public Service Agencies - volunteering for activities sponsored by the police or fire department;
12. Political Organizations - municipal, provincial and federal recognized political organizations that reflect the values and priorities of the YRDSB; except for YRDSB trustees or trustee candidates;
13. Religious Organizations - assisting with programs, special events;
14. Senior Citizens - assisting in seniors’ residences, providing services for seniors in the community;
15. Sports and Recreation - coaching, managing, organizing special events, assisting with projects/events; or
16. Service Focused Community Club Activities - those activities that expand community service to others beyond the school day (holiday dinner participation, environmental action activities, etc.); and
17. Virtual Opportunities - organizations must be based in Ontario.

2.2 Ineligible Activities

An ineligible activity is an activity that: 

1. is a requirement of a class or course in which the student is enrolled (e.g., cooperative education portion of a course, job shadowing, work experience);
2. 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;
3. takes place in a logging or mining environment, if the student is under sixteen years of age;
4. takes place in a factory, if the student is under fifteen years of age;
5. 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;
6. would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace;
7. involves the operation of a vehicle, power tools, or scaffolding;
8. involves the administration of any type or form of medication or medical procedure to other persons;
9. involves handling of substances classed as “designated substances” under the Occupational Health and Safety Act;
10. requires the knowledge of a tradesperson whose trade is regulated by the provincial government;
11. involves banking or the handling of securities, or the handling of jewelry, works of art, antiques, or other valuables;
12. consists of duties performed in the home (i.e., daily chores) or personal recreational activities;
13. involves activities for a court-ordered program (e.g., community-service program for young offenders, probationary program);
14. involves participation in extra-curricular activities for which a student stands for school-wide election; and
15. any work for a School Board trustee or candidate

3. Responsibilities

3.1 The Director of Education shall:

1. allocate staff and resources to support the Community Involvement Hours procedure.

3.2 The Coordinating Superintendent of Education, Curriculum and Instructional Services and Continuing Education:

1. provide support for the implementation of the Community Involvement Hours procedure;
2. address concerns that arise regarding eligible and ineligible activities; and
3. ensure that the Notification and Completion of Planned Community Involvement Form  adheres to Ministry requirements.

3.3 Principals shall:

1. ensure a description of the community involvement requirement and an outline of the policies and procedures for completing the requirement are communicated to the school community, and specifically in  elementary schools to students in the Intermediate Division;
2. ensure that students are provided with the information and resources needed to complete the community involvement requirement, including information about eligible and ineligible activities;
3. ensure that personal information is collected and stored in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; and
4. provide supports for students experiencing barriers

3.4 Guidance Staff shall:

1.  provide advice and clarify the community involvement hours requirement for students, parents and community sponsors;
2. verify that activities are eligible and coordinate data input into the student record;
3. ensure that community involvement records are collected and stored appropriately;
4. track hours submitted to a maximum of 40 hours of community service;
5. track hours submitted beyond 40 hours for those students who specifically request this through administration or guidance teachers;
6. provide supports for students experiencing barriers; and
7. work with settlement workers, community partners, student success teachers,  teachers of MLLs, and PAE teachers to offer (or procure) training session(s) on how to seek volunteer opportunities. .

3.5 Students shall:

1. complete 40 hours of community involvement activities beginning in the summer following grade eight;
2. ensure that parents and supervisors of their community involvement activities receive a copy of the Community Involvement Guide;
3. select community involvement activities from the Board’s list of approved activities, in consultation with families if they are under the age of 18 years;
4. confirm that the community involvement activity selected is not on the list of ineligible activities;
5. must obtain pre approval from their guidance for a community involvement activity that is not on the list of approved activities; and

6. complete and submit a Notification and Completion of Planned Community Involvement Form to the guidance office.

    

3.6 Parents/Guardians shall:

1. receive information about the Community Involvement hours from students;
2. assist students under the age of 18 with  the selection of community involvement activities;
3. sign the Notification and Completion of Planned Community Involvement Form for children under the age of 18; and
4. not act as the formal community activity sponsor(s) for their own child/children.

3.7 Community Involvement Activity Supervisors shall:

1. receive information about community involvement hours from students;
2. ensure activities offered meet the requirements community involvement hours;
3. provide appropriate training, health and safety precautions and supervision of students during the completion of their community involvement hours; and
4. complete and sign the appropriate sections of the Notification and Completion of Planned Community Involvement Form to verify completion.

4. Contact

Education and Community Services

5. History

Approved: 2012

Working Document: June 2016

Revised: March 2017, February 2023, February 2025