Christian Community Service – Guiding Principles
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 will still count toward the forty (40) volunteer hours needed for graduation.
Guiding Principles for Christian Community Service
- Must be an event or activity designed to be of benefit to the community;
- An event or activity to support a not-for-profit agency, institution or foundation that conforms to Catholic standards and does not conflict with Catholic Values;
- Any structured program that promotes tutoring, mentoring, visiting or coaching, or whose purpose is to assist others who require the benefit of that assistance;
- Participation in global initiatives/projects that do not conflict with Catholic values;
- Participation in an event or activity that promotes positive environmental awareness and action;
- Participation in activities that promote the human rights and well-being of all groups in society, as long as the values of these groups are in harmony with Catholic teaching;
- Participation in an even or activity affiliated with a club, religious organization, arts or cultural association or political organization that seeks a positive contribution to the community and is not in conflict with Catholic teaching.
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
- Charitable activities – assistance at church bazaars, pancake suppers, spaghetti suppers
- Coaching minor sports
- Community care residences
- Fundraising for not-for-profit organizations
- Homeless shelters
- Hospitals and Hospices
- Retreat Leaders for Catholic Elementary and Secondary School programs (before and after school hours)
- Parish ministries
- Local food banks
- Nursing homes
- Pilgrimage or any school activities that support Social Justice initiatives
- Refugee Centres
- Service Clubs
- Unpaid academic tutoring
- Volunteering at the Humane Society
Any activities that do not fall withing the scope of the examples listed above must be approved by the Principal.
Ministry of Education Ineligible Activities
- A requirement of a class or course in which the student is enrolled (i.e. co-operative education portion of the course, job shadowing, work experience);
- An activity that takes place during the time allotted for the instructional program on a school day (however, activities during the student’s lunch break or “spare” period are permissible;
- An Activity that takes place in a logging or mining environment, if the student is under sixteen (16) years of age;
- An activity that takes place in a factory, if the student is under fifteen (15) years of age;
- An activity that takes place in a workplace other than a factory, if the student is under fourteen (14) years of age and is not accompanied by an adult;
- An activity that would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace;
- An activity that involves the operation of a vehicle, power tools, or scaffolding;
- An activity that involves the administration of any type or form of medication or medical procedure to other persons;
- An activity that involves handling of substances classed as “designated substances” under the Occupational Health and Safety Act;
- An activity that requires the knowledge of a trades person whose trade is regulated by the provincial government;
- An activity that involves banking or the handling of securities, or the handling of jewelry, works of art, antiquities and other valuables;
- An activity that consists of duties normally performed in the home (i.e. daily chores) or personal recreational activities;
- An activity that involves a court-ordered program (i.e. community-service program for young offender, probationary program).
Additional Niagara Catholic School Board Ineligible Activities
- Activities completed for reward (i.e. bonus marks);
- Work usually done for a wage or any form of payment;
- Work required for a course in which the student is enrolled;
- Any activity that provides direct financial benefit or other immediate gain to the student or the student’s family/relatives;
- Any association with an organization or activity that conflicts with the ethical standards and teachings of the Catholic Church;
- Scorekeeping/managing school teams during the school instructional day;
- Alternative placement hours in lieu of suspension and/or detention as initiated/coordinated by school administration.