High School-Community Hours.

[MaryannF]

It wouldn't have counted at mine either. However, I can guess what's happened...either iluveeyore's DS found a guidance counselor who's a soft touch and bent the rules, or whoever it was didn't realize it was a relative for whatever reason. I know doing chores and yard work for seniors counts, it's just that it's supposed to be for unrelated seniors.

iluveeyore, I'd probably keep it a bit quiet that the rules got bent...you never know who might get their shorts in a knot about it and try to cause problems...

Nowhere in the TDSB Community Involvement Manual does it state that the volunteer work cannot be done for a relative. It would be up to individual schools to make those determinations.
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/124a.html
The Ministry list of ineligible activities also makes no mention of working for relatives.

 

[disneymath]

Nowhere in the TDSB Community Involvement Manual does it state that the volunteer work cannot be done for a relative. It would be up to individual schools to make those determinations.
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/124a.html
The Ministry list of ineligible activities also makes no mention of working for relatives.

As outlined in the document linked above, School Boards (not individual schools) can add ineligible activities on top of the Ministry's list. The Ministry's list of ineligible activities does specifically mention that an ineligble activity is one that "consists of duties normally performed in the home (i.e., daily chores)..."

Some, but maybe not all, Boards interpret this to mean that work done for a relative is ineligible. I know in our board it is considered ineligible since it is reasonable to expect family members to help each other out as needed. (Yard work for elderly persons or people in poor health is fine as long as they are not relatives of the students.)

I would check with your school board to determine whether or not work for extended family members is eligible.

 

[iluveeyore]

It wouldn't have counted at mine either. However, I can guess what's happened...either iluveeyore's DS found a guidance counselor who's a soft touch and bent the rules, or whoever it was didn't realize it was a relative for whatever reason. I know doing chores and yard work for seniors counts, it's just that it's supposed to be for unrelated seniors.

iluveeyore, I'd probably keep it a bit quiet that the rules got bent...you never know who might get their shorts in a knot about it and try to cause problems...

Just to verify, the rules did not get 'bent' for my son, as the guidance counselor I spoke to was told he did work for his grandfather (he's only been at this school for a year and does not know the guidance counselor) - I was told as long as it was after school and he was not paid for it, it did not matter that it was a relative. And it was not 'normal' chores, as he did landscaping in all the flower beds, trimmed trees and shrubs, raked a 50' x 200' lot, and levelled gravel in the driveway. The note submitted was handwritten by his grandpa stating it was his grandson and his name is the same.

So I am not worried about anyone getting 'their shorts in a knot' - several of my son's classmates did work for a relative's business or did yard work for grandparents to earn their hours.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

A friend of mine volunteered as a youth choir director at church. Each hour for rehearsal or for Mass counted.

 

[disneymath]

Just to verify, the rules did not get 'bent' for my son, as the guidance counselor I spoke to was told he did work for his grandfather (he's only been at this school for a year and does not know the guidance counselor) - I was told as long as it was after school and he was not paid for it, it did not matter that it was a relative. And it was not 'normal' chores, as he did landscaping in all the flower beds, trimmed trees and shrubs, raked a 50' x 200' lot, and levelled gravel in the driveway. The note submitted was handwritten by his grandpa stating it was his grandson and his name is the same.

So I am not worried about anyone getting 'their shorts in a knot' - several of my son's classmates did work for a relative's business or did yard work for grandparents to earn their hours.

Iluveeyore ... I am glad things worked out for your son.

In general though, I just want to (again) point out that some Boards consider work for relatives as being ineligible. Other boards might say that the extent of work that your son did for his grandfather was ineligible because it was the type of work that a professional landscaper would normally be paid to do. It all depends on how individual school boards have chosen to interpret things.

To those with students in Ontario who still need to complete community hours to graduate, I would recommend looking for volunteer opportunities in the larger community. There are so many opportunities for volunteer work with various not-for-profit organizations that it is very easy for students to earn their 40 hours. Our school routinely has students who complete 100s of hours by the end of their four years.

I think the whole point of the community involvement graduation requirement is to expose students to the idea of giving back to their communities ... it's not about getting your 40 hours and never volunteering again. The 40 hour requirement gives students a reason to find causes that they feel are worthwhile of their support. For many students, once they start volunteering, they continue to do so in some form or another for the rest of their lives.

 

[iluveeyore]

Iluveeyore ... I am glad things worked out for your son.

In general though, I just want to (again) point out that some Boards consider work for relatives as being ineligible. Other boards might say that the extent of work that your son did for his grandfather was ineligible because it was the type of work that a professional landscaper would normally be paid to do. It all depends on how individual school boards have chosen to interpret things.

To those with students in Ontario who still need to complete community hours to graduate, I would recommend looking for volunteer opportunities in the larger community. There are so many opportunities for volunteer work with various not-for-profit organizations that it is very easy for students to earn their 40 hours. Our school routinely has students who complete 100s of hours by the end of their four years.

I think the whole point of the community involvement graduation requirement is to expose students to the idea of giving back to their communities ... it's not about getting your 40 hours and never volunteering again. The 40 hour requirement gives students a reason to find causes that they feel are worthwhile of their support. For many students, once they start volunteering, they continue to do so in some form or another for the rest of their lives.

I agree about the 'giving back to community' - my son thought he had all his hours submitted from volunteer coaching but found out he was short - make sure all your teens keep track of their hours as sometimes the schools do not record sheets handed in properly and then they get 'lost'
He had planned on volunteering at our local Humane Society, (which my daughter plans to do for her hours next year in grade 9), but he thought he already had his hours, thus the reason for last minute helping grandpa.

Good luck to all our teens, and I hope they take something valuable away to apply later in life.

 

[disneymath]

I agree about the 'giving back to community' - my son thought he had all his hours submitted from volunteer coaching but found out he was short - make sure all your teens keep track of their hours as sometimes the schools do not record sheets handed in properly and then they get 'lost'
He had planned on volunteering at our local Humane Society, (which my daughter plans to do for her hours next year in grade 9), but he thought he already had his hours, thus the reason for last minute helping grandpa.

iluveeyore ... I couldn't have said it better myself ... track your hours dilligently!!

I truly am glad that your son was able to get his last few hours in the nick of time. We actually had a student not graduate this year because he was short 10 hours and wasn't interested in any of the "last minute" opportunities that guidance offered to set up for him.

 

[iluveeyore]

iluveeyore ... I couldn't have said it better myself ... track your hours dilligently!!

I truly am glad that your son was able to get his last few hours in the nick of time. We actually had a student not graduate this year because he was short 10 hours and wasn't interested in any of the "last minute" opportunities that guidance offered to set up for him.

Thanks Disneymath - see you are going to AKL - enjoy!!! We just spent a week at the AKV in a savannah studio in May and loved it.
That's too bad about the student not graduating - bet his parents aren't happy!

 

[Debbie]

I agree about the 'giving back to community' - my son thought he had all his hours submitted from volunteer coaching but found out he was short - make sure all your teens keep track of their hours as sometimes the schools do not record sheets handed in properly and then they get 'lost'

Yeah, my son handed his into the guidance office, and was supposed to hand it in to the main office, and, yes, it got lost. Luckily, we had photocopied it. DD has just a few hours left, and I've encouraged her to get extra, but . . . (she's done extra, too-didn't get the form signed. )

 

[disneymath]

Thanks Disneymath - see you are going to AKL - enjoy!!! We just spent a week at the AKV in a savannah studio in May and loved it.
That's too bad about the student not graduating - bet his parents aren't happy!

No, I bet they weren't!!

Glad to hear you enjoyed AKV ... thanks for the good wishes ... we can't wait to get back to WDW!

 

[nat1234]

My daughter was able to get her hours in by volunteering with a local Brownie group, helping at the SPCA in the small animal room (you have to be sixteen to be a dog walker here), and by helping at cub camp in the summer. My son volunteers as a junior cub leader in his old cub group. If your daughter likes kids and is into sports, they are always looking for people to help coach little kids soccer teams. Local hospitals are always looking for volunteers as well. Good luck to your daughter, I'm sure she'll find something that she really enjoys doing to get the hours that she needs.