Community Involvement @ St. Matthew

All high school students (Grades 9-12) in the province of Ontario are required to complete 40 hours of community service as a graduation requirement. This requirement helps young people develop new skills while encouraging them to develop an awareness and understanding of civic responsibility as they play a role in contributing and strengthening their communities. Students may begin to accumulate the required community involvement hours beginning in the summer after they complete Grade 8.

All students must complete community involvement activities as a requirement outlined by the Ontario Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandum No. 124a. These activities must be:

  • a minimum of 40 hours of unpaid service

  • completed outside of class time, including community involvement activities completed at school

  • completed by the end of Grade 12 in order to be eligible to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

  • included in the list of the OCSB’s eligible activities


IMPORTANT NOTE - Two examples of activities that we regularly encounter, which are ineligible activities are:

  • activities that would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace, and

  • activities that provide a direct financial benefit to the student or to the student's family.

Please ensure that the activity that you have in mind qualifies as a service to the community BEFORE participating. Examples of eligible and ineligible activities can be found on the back of the OCSB Community Involvement Record sheet. Please also feel free to contact your Guidance Counsellor before starting a Community Involvement Activity.

Current Community Involvement Opportunities for St. Matthew Students

Also visit the Volunteer Board in Student Services

Community Involvement Activities (Volunteer Hours)

Ministry Suggestions

Community Service Log Sheet - please print & complete the form. Be specific. Also, be sure to have activity supervisors and a parent sign the form before bringing it to Student Services.

Community Service and the Pandemic - please consult. Take advantage until the beginning of the new school year in Sept. 2022.

Reflection Instructions for Paid Work - valid until the start of September 2022.