Your Path to Graduation Starts Here
Graduation is a major milestone, and at SNPSS, we’re committed to helping every student get there. To earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), students must complete required credits, community involvement hours, and the provincial literacy requirement.
We work closely with students to ensure they meet these expectations in a way that reflects their strengths and interests—whether through co-op placements, Indigenous programming, or hands-on learning experiences.
Community Service
To graduate and earn your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), you need to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities, also known as volunteer hours. You can begin accumulating these hours as early as the summer before Grade 9.
If you have questions or need support, don’t hesitate to reach out to your principal or guidance counsellor. If you’re under 18, involve your parents in planning and selecting suitable activities, and talk to school staff about alternative ways to fulfill your community involvement hours.
Benefits of Community Involvement:
Develop transferable skills: Community service helps you build valuable skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management—abilities that are useful in school, work, and everyday life. These skills can strengthen your resume and prepare you for future academic and career challenges.
Explore different sectors and potential career opportunities: Volunteering allows you to experience a variety of fields and industries firsthand. This exposure helps you discover what interests you, gain practical insights, and make informed decisions about your future education and career paths.
Understand more about yourself and your role in society: Through community service, you gain a deeper awareness of your strengths, values, and passions. It also helps you recognize the impact you can have in your community and the importance of contributing to the well-being of others.
Students are required to complete a Community Involvement Activity Form for each volunteer experience. This form must be signed by the principal, the supervisor overseeing the volunteer work, and, if the student is under 18, a parent or guardian. This process helps ensure that all community hours are properly documented and counted toward graduation requirements.
Online Learning Requirement
SNP Secondary School has opted out of the Ministry of Education’s online learning requirement and does not offer e-learning courses. Students interested in courses not available at SNP are encouraged to contact the guidance counselor for alternative options. While the OSSD typically requires 2 online courses, this is waived at SNP through a formal opt-out process. The form must be signed by the student and a parent or guardian (if under 18).
Literacy Requirements
To earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), all students must successfully complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or meet the literacy requirement through an alternative literacy course (OLC4O). The OLC4O is an alternative pathway for students who are unable to pass the OSSLT.
The OSSLT assesses your reading and writing skills to ensure you’re ready for the demands of life after high school. SNPSS provides support and resources to help students prepare for and succeed in meeting this important graduation requirement.
