For students graduating in June 2012, the deadline for submitting evidence of community service hours is Thursday, January 12, 2012.

For information about volunteer opportunities, go to the following websites:

http://www.volunteeringpeel.org/ 

http://www.volunteermbc.org/

http://www.volunteerpeel.com

PASSPORTCOMPANION2010.pdf

More volunteer opportunities 

Completing 40 hours of community service is a graduation requirement for all Ontario high school students, mandated by the Ministry of Education. Students will not receive a high school diploma, nor will they be able to proceed to college or university, until this requirement is met. 

Approved activities are those performed to support a not-for profit organization, such as a parish church, charitable foundation, food bank, community sports team, arts or cultural association, children’s day camp, or seniors’ residence.  The activity must be designed to be of benefit to the community and for an agency that seeks to make a positive and ethical contribution to society.

Working for free for a for-profit organization, for a business or for an individual is not community service. Examples of ineligible activities include walking your neighbour's dog, babysitting young children at home or for your neighbour, working for your family's, neighbour's or friend's business, mowing your neighbour’s lawn or shoveling their snow, activities related to hobbies, or performing duties in the home.  Also ineligible are activities that provide direct financial benefit or gain to the student or to the student’s family.

More information about eligible and ineligible activities, including a list of approved community service opportunities, is available in the guidance office.

Students should consult with their guidance counsellors if there is any uncertainty about the validity of a proposed activity.  The principal or designate has the right to refuse hours that do not fall within the guidelines.

Students must provide documented evidence of this community service in the form of a letter on the agency’s or organization’s stationery, with a letterhead that includes the agency’s name, address and phone number.  This letter should include the following information: 

            Student’s name

            Description of Activity

            Number of Hours

            Dates of Activity and Completion

            Supervisor’s name and contact information

            Supervisor’s Signature

See the attached form.

For students graduating in June 2012, the deadline for submitting evidence of community service hours is Thursday, January 12, 2012.