400-Hour Community Involvement
Every student who begins secondary school in Ontario is required to complete 40 hours of community involvement in order to receive a diploma. However, at Al-Manarat High School, the students are required to complete 400 hours. The community involvement requirement is in addition to the 30 credits required for a high school diploma. It is designed to encourage civic responsibility and promote community values. The program is flexible so that all students can find ways to participate. Students will be responsible for fulfilling the community involvement component on their own.
- Each student is responsible for finding and completing 400 hours of community service work. However, the students need to get written approval from the School Principal.
- The school may not be directly involved in finding placements for students.
- Before beginning any community involvement activity, each student must complete and submit a Notification of Planned Community Involvement Activities form.
- A Completion of Community Involvement Activities form must be completed and submitted by the student, upon completion of the 400 hours or at appropriate intervals determined by the principal.
- Unless the community service activity is one of the pre-approved activities listed in the guidelines, the student must have signed approval by the school Principal before starting the activity.
- The parents/guardians are responsible for checking potential placements before the student begins his/her service work.
- The school is responsible for advising students of the requirements and procedures for completing the 400-hour community involvement requirement.
- Students will receive information and appropriate forms from the main office or principal or guidance counsellor.
- The Principal will determine the required number of community service hours for students who come from outside the province or country.
- Activities may take place inside or outside the school: those that occur inside the school may not be part of a credit program.
- Activities may take place during the school day, but must occur outside the student’s scheduled course time, that is, during the lunch hour, or before or after classes.
The Ministry’s List of Ineligible Activities
The ministry has developed a list of activities that may not be chosen as community involvement activities and that are therefore ineligible activities. An ineligible activity is an activity that:
- 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):
- 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;
- takes place in a logging or mining environment, if the student is under sixteen years of age:
- takes place in a factory. if the student is under fifteen years of age:
- 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:
- would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace;
- involves the operation of a vehicle, power tools, or scaffolding:
- involves the administration of any type or form of medication or medical procedure to other persons:
- involves handling of substances classed as designated substances” under the Occupational Health and Safety Act:
- requires the knowledge of a tradesperson whose trade is regulated by the provincial government;
- involves banking or the handling of securities, or the handling of jewelry, works of art, antiques, or other valuables:
- consists of duties normally performed in the home (i.e., daily chores) or personal recreational activities:
- involves a court-ordered program (e.g.. community-service program for young offenders, probationary program).
Al-Manarat’s List of Eligible Activities
A student may work in a variety of settings including businesses, not for profit organizations, public sector institutions (including hospitals) and informal settings. Possible activities include charity work, coaching, or involvement in certain extracurricular activities within the school as defined by the Community Involvement Form. This form provides students with lists of eligible activities and the guide provided by the Ministry. It also includes a record of hours for planned and completed Community Involvement Activities. Community Involvement Activities may be counted toward the 40-hour minimum ONLY if they begin after the student enters high school in September of Grade 9. Students must complete a minimum of 20 hrs outside of Al-Manarat High School. Students who complete more than 250 hours will be given a special recognition award during their graduation ceremony.
- Student fundraising, and acting as a student assistant, tutor, or peer helper or mediator within the school all qualify as Community Involvement activities.
- Student fundraising, and acting as a student assistant, tutor, or peer helper or mediator within the school all qualify as Community Involvement activities.
- Volunteer activities, tutoring, fund-raising, coaching, or other work with community groups or charitable organizations all qualify as Community Involvement, as long as the student is not paid for the work done.
- Independent activities in the community may count, such as visiting, helping out, and picking up groceries or supplies for an elderly or disabled neighbour; shovelling snow or raking leaves, etc. Documentation must be received from the community member, and no payment of any kind may be received for these activities.
Community Involvement Forms