40 hours to graduate – Start this summer

​All students in Ontario secondary schools are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement in order to obtain their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Students are encouraged to start accumulating community involvement hours in the summer after grade 8.

​Research shows that early involvement in community service helps students build a spirit of civic responsibility which can be expanded as they move through secondary school. ​

The community involvement component is an opportunity for students and parents to work together, independent of the school. With parent support, your teen is responsible for finding and completing 40 hours of community involvement. These activities may take place in a variety of settings, including businesses, not-for-profit organizations, public sector institutions (including hospitals), and informal settings. Community Involvement normally takes place outside of the school day and does not consist of duties normally performed in the home (i.e., daily chores) or personal recreational activities.

Parents should provide assistance to their teen in the selection of community involvement activities. Here's how to get started:

• Spend some time with your teen going through the list of eligible and ineligible activities by visiting www.peelschools.org/students/40hours
• View the volunteer opportunities posted at www.peelschools.org/students/40hours/volunteerjobboard/
• Create a resume using myBlueprint to capture a potential supervisor's attention while showcasing your teen's skills.