CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SERVICE POLICY
Students in Grades 9 to 12 will select one or more Christian Community Service activities in consultation with their parents/guardians. These activities will be completed during each year of secondary school as an essential component of the Religious Education program in order to fulfill the diploma requirement of 40 hours for graduation. The total of 40 hours of Christian Community Service would be the minimum expectation for students. The Secondary school principal may approve special requests.
Christian Community Service is a service one gives to the community. It is service spent on community projects, which could be of a cultural, humanitarian, athletic or fund-raising nature. The community could be a club, a parish, an organization, or a public institution. Students will be expected to select an activity that meets the criteria as described in the Niagara Catholic District School Board Information Brochure and the Guiding Principles for Christian Community Service.
Community involvement activity hours, mandated by the Ministry of Education as part of the requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), may not necessarily follow the Guiding Principles of Christian Community Service. Although valid and important experiences, these activities will not be recognized for Christian Community Service within the Religious Education class, although the hours still count toward the forty (40) volunteer hours needed for graduation.
Students will be responsible for completing all documentation according to Board requirements. The forms Notification of Planned Christian Community Service Activities and the Completion of Christian Community Service Activities must be completed each year by students.
APPROPRIATE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SERVICE PLACEMENTS In keeping with the mission, vision and values of the Niagara Catholic District School Board, the following service placements constitute Christian Community Service:
- Catholic/Christian social service agencies or social justice groups
- Coaching minor sports
- Fundraising for nonprofit organizations
- Hospitals and hospices
- Parish ministries, local food banks, homeless shelters, community care, elder residences, refugee centres or nursing homes
- Pilgrimage or any school activities designated toward raising money for developing countries
- Service clubs or unpaid academic tutoring
- Volunteering at the Humane Society
- Any activities that do not fall within the scope of the examples listed above must be approved by the Principal.
* Please see the Student Handbook for more details and exceptions: Click here for handbook
* To save a copy of your community service completion sheet, click here