Community Service Hours

New Announcement regarding ineligible activities for community service hours:

Effective September 1, 2023, this memorandum replaces Policy/Program Memorandum No. 124A, “Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirement: Community Involvement Activities in English-Language Schools” and Policy/Program Memorandum No. 124B, “Conditions d'obtention du diplôme d'études secondaires : Service communautaire dans les écoles de langue française”, April 27, 1999, and supersedes the policy set out in Ontario Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12: Policy and Program Requirements, 2016, section 6.1.4.  

Ineligible activities for community hours

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:


All students are encouraged to become involved in our school and our community through volunteer opportunities and 40 hours of community service, a requirement for achieving the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

As Catholics, we are called to the service of others. Volunteering offers many personal benefits and builds a healthy community. By volunteering, you can:

There are many great volunteer opportunities prior to Christmas to accumulate a number of hours including the Festival of Trees and church bazaars. Current opportunities are posted in the Guidance office, and additional information can be found on the School Board's 40 Hours of Community Service.

Every fall, St. Thomas Aquinas is proud to host its Volunteer Fair when we welcome local agencies to engage our students in volunteerism. This gives our students a great opportunity to understand the needs that exist in their community and how they can play a valuable role in service to others