Volunteers - You Can Make A Difference At Our Schools
OCDSB schools and families benefit from the participation of volunteers within our day-to-day activities. The involvement of parents/caregivers, seniors, retirees, and university students in volunteer roles help to connect our community to our students’ learning. Through School Councils, volunteers support lunch programs and/or special events; through school staff, volunteers support classroom learning activities such as reading buddies, field trips, sports, and many other experiences! Whether you can share one hour a week or more, your gift of time enriches the lives of the children in your community.
As part of our onboarding process, volunteers are screened either by the Principal or through our partner, Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE) / Volunteers in Education team. The Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE)’s Volunteers in Education (VIE) program is a central referral and volunteer screening agency for the OCDSB. Learn more about ONFE’s Volunteers in Education (VIE) program
Please be advised that the VIE program is on a summer hiatus. Our staff will return to the office in late August 2025 and will be pleased to start your screening process at that time.
Once a volunteer has completed their screening, a prospective volunteer will be contacted by the Principal or designate to arrange for an introductory conversation and to learn about the volunteer role / field trip responsibilities. If a volunteer requires accommodation we ask that you contact the Principal in advance.
Interested in participating as a volunteer?
There are two ways to get involved!
- Apply to Volunteer through Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE). Request to be matched with your child’s school/a school near your home. ONFE screening is valid for up to five years, and schools receive a list of screened volunteers at the start of each school year.
- Obtain a Vulnerable Sector Police Reference Check (email the Principal to request a letter of introduction). Complete the screening process with the School Principal to be matched to an upcoming school activity. Volunteers may be asked to complete screening through ONFE at peak periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a trusted community partner, every step in our process demonstrates our care and commitment to our students’ safety and well-being. Parents and caregivers can have confidence their child is safe and supervised by staff and screened volunteers in the school/as part of a school-organized activity or event.
If you have a Vulnerable Sector Police Reference Check issued within the last 12 months, please let the Principal know. The Principal is able to screen volunteer applications or may ask you to apply through ONFE.
The ONFE application takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Please allow some time for your application to be processed and plan to participate in the volunteer orientation session. If the Principal is conducting the screening, please allow for sufficient time prior to the anticipated volunteer event/experience for this process to take place.
Vulnerable Sector PRCs can be requested online from the Ottawa Police Service. In some instances, a prospective volunteer may need to apply in person if additional information is requested.
It is possible that the school was able to confirm enough screened volunteers who were available for the field trip/event. It is also possible that staff were identified to fulfill these roles. Your offer of help is appreciated, thank you!