We are delighted to inform you all that we are taking part in the ‘Active School Flag’ initiative for the 2020-2021 school year. The Active School Flag is a Department of Education and Skills initiative supported by Healthy Ireland. The central aim of the Active School Flag is to encourage schools to be more active, more often.

The ‘Active School Flag’ website can be found here: https://activeschoolflag.ie/

You can find all our Active Flag news below.

*Physical Education*

The P.E Curriculum

The P.E Curriculum has 6 strands:

-Athletics

-Dance

-Games

-Gymnastics

-Outdoor and Adventure

-Aquatics

Here at Scoil Mhuire we ensure that:

• Each class at Scoil Mhuire, Clondra is allocated 1 hour of Physical Education each week and 5 out of 6 strands are taught each year.

• All classes are taught 5 out of 6 strands each year

• Our school PE programme allocates a balanced amount of teaching time to each of the different PE strands.

• All teachers work together to strengthen the delivery of a different PE strand every year.

• All teachers use the PSSI lesson plans and the ‘Move Well, Move Often’ resources to guide their delivery of the PE curriculum.

• Our school teaches the Land PAWS Water Safety Programme to one, or more, class levels each year.

• Our school ensures that PE activities are planned so that they are accessible by all pupils.

• Every child’s progress in PE is discussed with parents at PT meetings and feedback is included in the annual report.

• Members of staff have undertaken CPD in Physical Education during the past 12 months. New knowledge, ideas and resources have been shared out amongst staff members.

• Our school carries out an audit of PE equipment once a year, disposing of old and broken equipment.

• Our PE equipment and resources are clearly labelled, well organised and easily accessible.

The PE curriculum can be explored in more detail through this link:

https://www.curriculumonline.ie/getmedia/ca8a385c-5455-42b6-9f1c-88390be91afc/PSEC05_Physical-Education_Curriculum.pdf

*Physical Activity*

Physical activity helps children to:

1. improve mental and physical well-being

2. develop and maintain friendships

3. improve attention and concentration

4. reduce feelings of stress and anxiety

5. display an increase in energy

6. improve co-ordination and agility

7. maintain a healthy weight

• Children have two playground breaks during each school day.

• Children are encouraged to develop their fundamental movement skills and are stimulated to run.

• Our school yard is zoned to allow children to engage in a variety of different activities.

• Our school has created an Active School Walkway route which we use to promote physical activity and cross-curricular learning.

• Every class completed the ‘Active Break Every Day Challenge’ as a whole school initiative, over a period of 4 weeks this year.

• Short, physical movement breaks are used in each class throughout each school day.

• Physical activity rewards are regularly used as incentives in each classroom.

• Each class engages in a football free day 3 times a week to allow for other games to be played.

• Children have rainy day activities to choose from when the weather is not favourable for outdoor play.

• Every class completed the ‘Run a Day Challenge’ as a whole school initiative, over a period of 4 weeks.

• Our school incorporates physical activity into annual calendar events throughout the school year.

• Our school ensures that all ASF activities are planned so that they are accessible by all pupils.

‘Active Break Everyday Challenge’

Indoor and outdoor movement breaks are a great way to restore concentration and focus, and should form part of the school day for everyone.

As part of our journey to achieve the Active School Flag we committed to an active break every day in each classroom from November 9th – December 4th, 2020.

Check out our pictures on the link below!!

‘Active Break Every Day’ Challenge Pictures

‘Run Around Ireland Challenge’

*Partnerships*

Our Active School Committee

Junior and Senior Infants: Alfie Heslin & Caelan Beirne

First and Second Class: Caitlin Bohan & Brody Dempsey

Third and Fourth Class: Jake Doyle & Aaron Cox

Fifth and Sixth Class: Daire Toher & Aidan Mollahan

Scoil Mhuire Clondra has registered for the ‘Active Flag’ and have formed an Active Flag committee. The committee includes the ASF coordinator Ms. Doherty and students from Junior Infants to 6^th Class. The committee will work collaboratively with other teachers, parents and local agencies to empower the whole school community to become more active on a daily basis.