Eligible Activities for Community Involvement

COMPULSORY NON-CREDIT REQUIREMENTS OF THE OSSD

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

Students must successfully complete the provincial Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) to earn a secondary school diploma. Villanova College will not defer or exempt students from participating in the OSSLT. The test will be administered in Grade 10 and is based on the Ontario curriculum expectations for reading and writing that have been identified across the curriculum up to and including Grade 9.

The results of the OSSLT will be reported as complete or incomplete. Students who receive an incomplete will be given clear feedback regarding their performance to help them address the areas where improvement is required. Students who are not successful will be required to retake the test. If a student is still unsuccessful on their second attempt, they will take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC4O) and successful completion of the course will satisfy the literacy requirement for the OSSD. This course is not offered at Villanova College; however, Student Services will be able to direct students to available programs within the community.

Community Involvement

As part of the diploma requirements, students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities prior to graduation. This initiative is intended to encourage students to develop an understanding of civic responsibility and the role they can play in supporting and strengthening their communities. The requirement is to be completed outside of the student’s normal instructional hours. The activities are to take place in the student’s designated lunch hours, after school, on weekends, or during school holidays. Each student must maintain a record of his or her community involvement activities. Villanova will distribute a community involvement information guide to each student. Listed below are the eligible and ineligible activities.

Eligible Activities for Community Involvement

• Elementary Schools – assist with school events, assist School Councils, activities for children • Secondary Schools – organization and leadership of school activities that benefit the community • Animal Care – volunteering in a zoo, animal shelter, or on a farm • Arts and Culture – volunteering in galleries, libraries, community productions • Charitable Organizations – assisting with special events, programs, clerical tasks • Children/Youth Programs – assisting with children/youth programs, volunteering in a not-for-profit childcare centre or camp • Community Organizations – assisting with special events, food banks, community support services, shelters, clerical tasks • Community Service for Individuals – assisting community members in need • Environmental Projects – flower/tree planting, beautification projects, recycling projects, recycling depot • Health Agencies – volunteering in hospitals, hospices, Canadian Blood Services (volunteering to organize or assist with a blood donor clinic), donating blood (time required to donate) • Law Enforcement Agencies – volunteering for activities sponsored by the police • Political Organizations – activities related to legitimate and recognized political organizations: municipal, provincial, and federal political activities except for those supporting public school board trustees • Religious Organizations – assisting with programs, special events • Senior Citizens – assisting in seniors’ residences, providing services for seniors in the community • Sports and Recreation – coaching, organizing special events, assisting with projects/events; or