Student Community Service
Eligible Activities
Eligible Activities which take place in non-profit organizations, such as:
| Fundraisers | Canvassing, walk-a-thons, celebrity games, gift wrapping, gala events, famine week-ends, and sales |
| Sports/Recreation | Coaching, track meets, summer games, working with a buddy, working at a recreation centre, score keeping and organizing Special Olympics |
| Community | Helping to organize winter carnivals, parades, summer fairs |
| Community Projects | Participating in food drives, support services for community groups, 4H Clubs, Welcome Wagon, Meals on Wheels St. Vincent de Paul and Food Banks |
| Environmental Projects | Participating in community clean-up, flower/tree planting, recycling and beautification activities |
| Religious Activities | Programming for children, child-minding, helping with Sunday School, special events, and clerical tasks, alter serving, music ministry, assisting with liturgy |
| Office and Clerical | Reception, computer work, and mailings for volunteer/not-for-profit agencies |
| Youth Program | Helping to run youth programs such as 4H, Scouts, Guides, drop-in-centres, breakfast, after school and March Break programs, Leaders in Training, Summer playground activities, and camps |
| Work with Animals | Working with animal care in a non-profit organization |
| Arts and Culture | Assisting at a gallery, performing music, involvement with a non-profit community theatre program, or involvement in a library program |
| Activities for Individuals |
Assisting seniors shop, read prepare letters, shovel snow, rake leaves, garden, cut lawn, chronic care hospital visits or tutoring, transcribing, and/or reading buddies |
| School Community Programs |
Helping out with a non-credit extracurricular activity such as: student governance, organizing school activities (i.e.: sports meets, music production, theatre production) and assisting in school activities (i.e.: ushering, parents night, fundraisers) |
Notes:
- Being a member of a committee, club or organization of itself is not an eligible activity, although services provided by that committee, club or activity may be eligible, if they meet the criteria stated.
- Where an activity does not clearly fall within the guidelines, principals have the discretion to approve areas of involvement on a case-by case basis.
- A principal is not obligated to approve an activity.
List of Activities that are Ineligible
Notes:
- Student activities are not to displace paid workers.
- Profit earning companies are not eligible placements.
The Ministry has developed a list of activities that may not be chosen as community involvement activities. These are referred to as 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, any 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 a student’s lunch breaks or “spare” period(s) 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 recreation activities;
- Construction before 16 years of age;
- Involves the activities for a court-ordered program (i.e.: community service) program for young offenders, probationary program);
- Involves simple membership in a school or community club;
- Is part of a Community Service Day during regular scheduled class time.