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Volunteering in Schools

Thank you for taking an interest in volunteering at HWDSB schools.
 

At HWDSB, we believe volunteers play a very important role in our schools. Our volunteers help enrich our students’ educational experiences and bridge the gap between schools and our community. Volunteers often work directly or along side students and may help oversee activities for safety, guidance, regulation or direction. 

Beginning February 1, 2026, all volunteers in HWDSB schools MUST provide a new Vulnerable Sector Screening every five years. Volunteers must also sign a current offence declaration each year, in between Vulnerable Sector Screening updates. We want everyone at HWDSB to be safe in our buildings and the updated Vulnerable Sector Screening is one way we can protect our students. We recognize the cost of completing a Vulnerable Sector Screening can be a barrier for some volunteers. If this is an issue, please speak with your Principal directly. 

If you have any questions about volunteering in our schools, please connect with your school Principal.

Step 1: Obtain Vulnerable Sector Check

Prior to starting the volunteer onboarding process, all volunteers must provide a new Vulnerable Sector Screening. This screening must be recently completed and approved before any volunteer activities can begin. Please note, this link is for Hamilton Residents only. 
 
To complete your screening, please click the link below: 
 

Step 2: Complete Volunteer Training

We are pleased to offer training for all HWDSB Volunteers! Before you begin working within the school, pleas ensure you review the training in full. At the end of the training, there is a short quiz. You may submit this as proof of training to your home school. 

If the widget does not work, please click here to access the training.

 

Step 3: Connect with your School

Once you have completed your online training and Vulnerable Sector Check, you are ready to connect with your child’s school. Please fill out the form below to get started. Please note that volunteer placement and availability are at the discretion of the school principal, who will review your application and be in touch if there is a need at our school.
 

 

Thank you for taking the next step. We look forward to welcoming you at your child's school. Please note that volunteer placement and availability are at the discretion of the school principal, who will review your application and be in touch if there is a need at our school.

 

For quick reference material, please visit the links below! 

Please speak with your school administrator to confirm which, if any, forms are required.