Active School Flag

In St. Mary's Woodside N.S. we are on a mission to get our Active School Flag. 

Active School Flag Information

What is the Active School Flag?

The Active School Flag (ASF) is a Department of Education initiative, supported by Healthy Ireland, which recognises schools that promote and encourage a physically active and physically educated school community.

The aim of the Active School Flag programme is to help schools create a positive environment where more children are more active, more often. It encourages schools to develop a culture where physical activity is valued, celebrated and enjoyed by everyone — pupils, staff, families and the wider community.

At St. Mary’s Woodside, we are currently working towards achieving our Active School Flag. Throughout the year, we will be introducing and developing a wide range of active initiatives, challenges and events designed to encourage all pupils to participate in physical activity and experience the many benefits of an active lifestyle.

Regular physical activity is essential for children’s health, wellbeing, confidence and overall development. Current guidelines recommend that children should aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Through our Active School journey, we hope to inspire our pupils to enjoy being active both in school and in their everyday lives.

To achieve our Active School Flag, our school must focus on and develop four key areas:

A. Physical Activity

Promoting opportunities for all pupils to be active throughout the school day and encouraging participation in a wide range of activities, games, sports and challenges.

B. Physical Education

Ensuring that pupils receive high-quality P.E. lessons that develop their skills, confidence and understanding across all areas of the P.E. curriculum.

C. Partnerships

Working with parents, local sports clubs, community organisations and external agencies to provide additional opportunities and support for physical activity.

D. Active School Week

Celebrating physical activity through a dedicated Active School Week, where pupils take part in fun, inclusive and engaging activities that promote teamwork, participation and enjoyment.

Our Active School Flag journey is a whole-school effort, and we are delighted to have the support and involvement of our pupils, staff, parents and wider community.

Together, we can help make St. Mary’s Woodside a place where every child is encouraged to be active, have fun and develop a lifelong love of physical activity.

Physical Education

At St. Mary’s Woodside N.S., we recognise the important role that Physical Education (P.E.) plays in the development of the whole child. Through our P.E. programme, we aim to support every pupil in reaching their full potential by developing physical skills, confidence, teamwork, resilience and a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity.

Our P.E. lessons are designed to be fun, inclusive and engaging, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to participate, experience success and develop positive attitudes towards being active. We aim to promote a school culture where physical activity is valued and where all pupils feel encouraged and supported to take part.

In our P.E. lessons, we focus on the key messages of the Primary P.E. Curriculum:

• The importance of enjoyment and play – encouraging children to experience the fun and enjoyment of movement and physical activity.

• Maximum participation by all children – ensuring that every pupil is actively involved and has opportunities to contribute.

• The development of skills and understanding – helping children develop fundamental movement skills, confidence and knowledge of how to participate safely.

• A balance between competitive and non-competitive activities – providing opportunities for children to challenge themselves while also enjoying cooperation and teamwork.

• Providing opportunities for achievement for every child – recognising and celebrating individual progress and success.

• Providing activities equally suitable for boys and girls – ensuring that all pupils have equal opportunities to participate and succeed.

Our P.E. Programme

All pupils at St. Mary’s Woodside N.S. receive a minimum of 60 minutes of timetabled P.E. each week. Throughout the school year, all classes participate in a broad and balanced P.E. programme covering the five strands of the Primary P.E. Curriculum:

• Athletics

• Dance

• Gymnastics

• Games

• Outdoor and Adventure Activities

Our school ensures that a balanced amount of teaching time is allocated across each of these strands, allowing pupils to experience a wide variety of physical activities and develop a broad range of skills.

Swimming and Water Safety

We place a strong emphasis on developing important water safety skills. Each year, 4th and 5th class pupils take part in the PAWS (Primary Aquatics Water Safety) Programme during the month of June.

In addition, all pupils from 1st to 6th class participate in an eight-week swimming block at Meadowbrook Swimming Pool, giving children the opportunity to develop confidence, competence and safety skills in the water.

Inclusion and Progress

At St. Mary’s Woodside N.S., we are committed to ensuring that P.E. activities are accessible and enjoyable for all pupils. Teachers carefully plan lessons and adapt activities where necessary so that every child can participate fully, regardless of ability or experience.

Pupils’ progress and participation in P.E. are discussed with parents during Parent-Teacher Meetings, and feedback on P.E. learning and achievement is also included in the annual school report.

Supporting Quality P.E. Delivery

Our teachers use a range of high-quality resources to support the delivery of the P.E. curriculum, including:

• The Fundamental Movement Coach Programme, designed by our own teacher Mr. Hickey, which focuses on developing children’s fundamental movement skills.

• Primary School Sports Initiative (PSSI) lesson plans.

• Move Well, Move Often resources, which support the development of movement skills and physical literacy.

Through our P.E. programme, we aim to develop confident, capable and enthusiastic movers who understand the importance of physical activity and enjoy being active both inside and outside of school.

At St. Mary’s Woodside N.S., we believe that every child should have the opportunity to participate, progress and experience the joy of movement.

P.E. Curriculum

At St. Mary’s Woodside N.S., our Physical Education (P.E.) programme is designed to provide all pupils with a broad, balanced and enjoyable range of physical activities. Through the P.E. curriculum, children develop fundamental movement skills, physical confidence, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving abilities and an appreciation of the importance of an active lifestyle.

The Primary P.E. Curriculum is organised into six strands, each of which provides pupils with opportunities to learn, develop and apply a wide range of physical skills in different contexts.

Athletics

Through the Athletics strand, pupils develop skills that improve coordination, speed, strength, endurance and overall fitness. Children are encouraged to challenge themselves, set personal goals and celebrate individual progress.

Strand Units:

• Running – developing skills in sprinting, relay running, endurance and pacing.

• Jumping – exploring techniques for jumping activities, including height and distance.

• Throwing – developing throwing skills using a variety of equipment and techniques.

• Understanding and appreciation of athletics – learning about athletic activities, rules, techniques and the importance of effort and improvement.

Dance

The Dance strand encourages creativity, self-expression, confidence and cooperation. Pupils explore movement, rhythm and music while creating and performing dances individually and as part of a group.

Strand Units:

• Exploration, creation and performance of dance – developing movement ideas, creating sequences and performing dances with confidence.

• Understanding and appreciation of dance – exploring different styles of dance and recognising the creativity and skill involved.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics helps pupils develop body awareness, balance, flexibility, coordination and control. Children learn to move safely and creatively while developing confidence in their physical abilities.

Strand Units:

• Movement – exploring a range of movements, balances, rolls, jumps and sequences using different spaces and equipment.

• Understanding and appreciation of gymnastics – developing an awareness of technique, safety and the importance of quality movement.

Games

The Games strand provides opportunities for pupils to develop teamwork, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills through a variety of activities and sports.

Strand Units:

• Sending, receiving and travelling – developing skills such as throwing, catching, striking, kicking and moving with equipment.

• Creating and playing games – encouraging pupils to develop, adapt and participate in games while learning about cooperation and fair play.

• Understanding and appreciation of games – developing knowledge of rules, strategies, teamwork and sporting values.

Outdoor and Adventure Activities

Outdoor and Adventure Activities encourage pupils to develop confidence, independence, teamwork and an appreciation for the outdoors. These activities promote problem-solving, exploration and cooperation.

Strand Units:

• Walking, cycling and camping activities – developing outdoor skills and an understanding of safe participation.

• Orienteering – developing map-reading, navigation and problem-solving skills.

• Outdoor challenges – encouraging teamwork, communication and creative thinking through challenges.

• Water-based activities – developing awareness and confidence in activities involving water.

• Understanding and appreciation of outdoor and adventure activities – recognising the importance of safety, preparation and respect for the environment.

Aquatics

Aquatics is an important part of our P.E. programme at St. Mary’s Woodside N.S., helping pupils develop confidence, competence and safety skills in the water. Our swimming programme provides children with valuable opportunities to improve their swimming ability and understand the importance of water safety.

Strand Units:

• Hygiene – understanding the importance of personal hygiene and safe practices around water.

• Water safety – developing knowledge and awareness of how to stay safe in and around water.

• Entry to and exit from the water – learning safe techniques for getting into and out of the water.

• Buoyancy and propulsion – developing confidence in floating, moving and controlling movement in water.

• Stroke development – improving swimming techniques and developing a range of strokes.

• Water-based ball games – participating in activities that develop teamwork and water confidence.

• Understanding and appreciation of aquatics – recognising the importance of swimming skills, safety and enjoyment of water-based activities.

At St. Mary’s Woodside N.S., we aim to provide a P.E. programme that is inclusive, progressive and enjoyable, allowing every child to develop their skills, confidence and appreciation of physical activity.

Our goal is to help every pupil become a confident, capable and enthusiastic participant in physical activity.

P.E. Equipment and Storage

At St. Mary’s N.S., we are committed to providing high-quality Physical Education (P.E.) opportunities for all pupils and ensuring that every child can participate, regardless of ability or need.

Our school has recently developed and organised a dedicated P.E. storage area, allowing equipment and resources to be stored safely, efficiently and in a way that makes them easily accessible for teachers and pupils. All equipment is clearly labelled and organised, helping children to take responsibility for resources and encouraging independence during P.E. lessons and activities.

We understand the importance of inclusion in physical activity and strive to ensure that children with additional needs can fully participate in all P.E. opportunities. Our school works closely with the local Sports Inclusion Disability Officer to identify ways we can further improve accessibility, inclusion and participation in our P.E. lessons, sports activities and physical activity initiatives.

Each year, our school completes a P.E. equipment audit to review the condition and range of resources available. Any old, damaged or unsuitable equipment is removed, ensuring that pupils have access to safe, high-quality resources that support effective learning.

We have a wide range of age-appropriate P.E. equipment available to support the teaching and learning of all strands of the P.E. curriculum, including:

• Athletics

• Games

• Gymnastics

• Dance

• Outdoor and Adventure Activities

• Aquatics

By maintaining a well-organised and inclusive P.E. environment, we aim to encourage all children to develop their skills, confidence and enjoyment of physical activity.

At St. Mary’s N.S., we believe that every child should have the opportunity to be active, participate fully and experience success in P.E.

Fundamental Movement Skills

At St. Mary’s Woodside N.S., we recognise that developing strong Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) is an important foundation for children’s physical development and lifelong participation in sport and physical activity.

Fundamental Movement Skills are the basic movements that children need to develop in order to take part confidently and successfully in a wide range of physical activities, games and sports. By improving these core skills, children develop greater confidence, coordination, balance, control and enjoyment when being active.

As part of our Active School Flag journey, the Active School Committee worked together to identify four key Fundamental Movement Skills that we would focus on developing across the school:

Running

Developing efficient running techniques, improving speed, coordination, balance and stamina. Running is an essential skill used in many games, sports and everyday activities.

Dodging

Learning how to change direction quickly and safely while maintaining control and awareness of others. Dodging helps children develop agility, decision-making and spatial awareness.

Catching

Developing hand-eye coordination, timing, concentration and confidence when receiving different types of equipment, such as balls.

Throwing

Improving accuracy, control, strength and technique when throwing a variety of objects. Throwing skills are important across many sports and physical activities.

Throughout the school year, these skills are incorporated into our P.E. lessons, playground activities, games and Active School initiatives. Teachers provide pupils with regular opportunities to practise, develop and apply these skills in fun and engaging ways.

To support the teaching and learning of Fundamental Movement Skills, our teachers use the Move Well, Move Often resources, which provide practical activities and guidance to help children develop their physical literacy.

Further information and resources on Fundamental Movement Skills and the Move Well, Move Often programme can be found here:

https://www.scoilnet.ie/pdst/physlit/fms-activities/

At St. Mary’s Woodside N.S., we believe that developing strong movement skills helps children become confident, capable and enthusiastic participants in physical activity.

Physical Activity

At St. Mary’s N.S., we believe that regular physical activity is essential for children’s health, wellbeing, confidence and overall development. As part of our Active School Flag journey, we are committed to creating a school environment where being active is encouraged, celebrated and enjoyed by all members of our school community.

Physical activity at St. Mary’s extends beyond our timetabled Physical Education (P.E.) lessons. We actively promote the message that children should aim to achieve at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Through a wide range of programmes, initiatives and opportunities, we encourage our pupils to move more, have fun and develop positive lifelong attitudes towards physical activity.

Active Play at Break Times

We place a strong emphasis on active play during break times. Pupils are encouraged to practise and develop their Fundamental Movement Skills through running, playing games, taking part in challenges and participating in our “Talking as You’re Walking” initiative.

Our school has two daily playground breaks, and our yard is carefully zoned and marked to provide pupils with a variety of opportunities to be active. Different areas allow children to participate in a wide range of activities, games and sports.

Our Playground Leaders play an important role in promoting activity during breaks. They help to organise games, set up equipment and encourage their classmates to participate in fun and inclusive activities.

Active Walkway

St. Mary’s N.S. has developed an Active School Walkway Route, which provides pupils with another opportunity to be active throughout the school day. The walkway is also used to support learning across the curriculum, allowing pupils to combine movement with learning.

Examples of activities completed on our Active Walkway include:

• Practising sight words

• Revising grammar

• Learning multiplication tables

• Practising spellings

• Reinforcing curriculum topics in an active and engaging way

Active Breaks and Movement Opportunities

We understand the importance of movement throughout the school day and encourage all classes to include regular physical activity breaks. These short bursts of activity help pupils to stay focused, energised and ready to learn.

Examples of movement breaks used throughout our school include:

• GoNoodle activities

• Astro laps

• Active Walkway activities

• Working while standing

• Drop Everything and Dance

• Busy Breaks

• Running and exercise breaks

On wet days, when outdoor activities are not possible, pupils take part in extended classroom-based physical activity sessions to ensure that they continue to have opportunities to move and stay active.

Active School Events and Initiatives

Throughout the year, St. Mary’s N.S. takes part in a wide range of physical activity events, challenges and seasonal initiatives that encourage participation, teamwork and enjoyment. These events form an important part of our school calendar and provide opportunities for every child to get involved.

Our school has also created an Active School Flag slogan that reflects our enthusiasm for being active:

“We love fitness, yes we do.
We love fitness, how about you?”

This message is shared across our school community and helps to promote a positive attitude towards exercise and movement.

At St. Mary’s N.S., we are proud of the many ways we encourage our pupils to be active every day. Through active breaks, playground activities, school events and community links, we aim to make physical activity an enjoyable and important part of everyday school life.

Together, we are creating a happier, healthier and more active school community.

Active School Calendar Events and Initiatives

At St. Mary’s N.S., we believe that physical activity should be a fun, enjoyable and regular part of school life. As part of our Active School Flag journey, we incorporate movement and physical activity into a wide range of school events, celebrations and initiatives throughout the year.

By linking physical activity with seasonal events, curriculum activities and whole-school celebrations, we provide every pupil with opportunities to be active, work together, develop new skills and enjoy being part of our school community.

Throughout the year, pupils participate in a variety of active events and initiatives, including:

Autumn

🍂 Autumn Trails – pupils take part in outdoor activities and movement challenges while exploring the changing season and developing teamwork skills.

Halloween

🎃 School Disco – an opportunity for pupils to enjoy music, dancing and movement in a fun and energetic environment.

Christmas

🎅 Santa Dash – a festive whole-school event where pupils get active together while enjoying a fun seasonal challenge.

Easter

🐰 Easter Egg Hunt – combining problem-solving, teamwork and movement as pupils take part in an active Easter-themed challenge.

Spring

🌱 Spring Trails – encouraging pupils to explore outdoors while completing active challenges and learning activities.

🌍 National Spring Clean – promoting physical activity, teamwork and care for our local environment through outdoor activities.

Curriculum-Based Active Learning

📚 Maths Week Trails – using movement and problem-solving activities to make maths learning active and engaging.

Active Schools Week (ASW)

During Active Schools Week, pupils participate in a wide range of activities designed to encourage everyone to get involved and enjoy being active. Activities include:

• Walk on Wednesday

• 10@10 activities

• Active Lines

• Playground challenges

• Team games and competitions

• Whole-school physical activity events

Whole-School Physical Activity Initiatives

Throughout the year, pupils participate in a variety of initiatives that encourage regular movement and healthy habits, including:

• Operation Transformation activities

• Daily Mile

• Active breaks

• Movement challenges

• Seasonal scavenger hunts

Active School Trips

We also aim to include physical activity opportunities as part of our school tours and trips. Many of our school outings encourage pupils to be active, explore new environments and develop confidence through physical challenges.

Examples include:

• Explorium

• Fort Lucan

• Emerald Park

• Flynn Park

These experiences provide pupils with opportunities to climb, explore, move, challenge themselves and enjoy active adventures outside the classroom.

At St. Mary’s N.S., we are proud to create a school environment where physical activity is part of everyday life. Through our events, initiatives and active learning opportunities, we continue to encourage all pupils to move more, have fun and stay active.

Together, we are building a happier, healthier and more active school community.

Partnerships

At St. Mary’s N.S., we believe that strong partnerships are an essential part of creating a happy, healthy and physically active school community. Working together with organisations, clubs, families and the wider community allows us to provide our pupils with a greater range of opportunities to participate in physical activity and develop a lifelong love of sport and movement.

As part of the Active School Flag (ASF) Programme, schools are encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with both internal and external partners. These partnerships help to promote physical activity, increase participation and provide children with opportunities to experience a wide variety of sports and activities both inside and outside of school.

We are very fortunate at St. Mary’s N.S. to have fantastic links with a number of local sporting clubs and organisations. These partnerships provide valuable opportunities for our pupils to develop their skills, learn from experienced coaches and become involved in activities within their local community.

We work closely with our local clubs and organisations through initiatives such as coaching sessions, sports programmes, competitions, community events and opportunities for pupils to try new activities. These links help to ensure that children are aware of the many sporting opportunities available to them beyond the school environment.

We also value the support and involvement of our parents, families, past pupils and wider community, who play an important role in encouraging children to be active and supporting our Active School initiatives.

Through these strong partnerships, we aim to create a culture where physical activity is celebrated, encouraged and accessible to all pupils.

Together, we are helping our children to be active, build confidence, develop new skills and enjoy being part of a positive sporting community.

Active School Flag Committee

At St. Mary’s N.S., we are committed to creating a positive and active school environment where every child is encouraged and supported to participate in physical activity. As part of our journey towards achieving the Active School Flag (ASF), we have established an Active School Flag Committee made up of our ASF Coordinator (Mr. Hoey), pupils from Junior Infants to 6th Class, and members of our teaching staff.

Our Active School Flag Committee plays an important role in promoting physical activity throughout the school. The committee works together with pupils, teachers, parents and local sporting organisations to develop initiatives that encourage everyone in our school community to Move More, Have Fun and Stay Active.

A key part of our Active School approach is giving pupils opportunities to develop leadership skills and take ownership of physical activity within the school. Our pupil committee members are excellent role models and help to inspire their classmates by taking on a variety of important responsibilities.

Active School Committee Roles Include:

• Active Line Leaders – helping to organise and encourage active movement at the end of break times.

• Playground Leaders – supporting and encouraging younger pupils to participate in playground games and activities.

• Equipment Leaders – looking after sports equipment used during break times and ensuring it is returned safely.

• P.E. Store Leaders – helping to keep our P.E. storage area organised, tidy and ready for use.

• Equipment Organisers – ensuring all P.E. equipment is stored correctly in the appropriate baskets, bags and storage areas.

• Survey Leaders – gathering feedback from pupils and helping the committee identify new ideas and areas for improvement.

• Communication Leaders – sharing important Active School messages and updates with their classmates and teachers.

• Event Support Leaders – helping to organise, prepare and set up equipment for whole-school events such as Active Schools Week, Sports Day, Be Active ASAP, the Santa Dash and other physical activity initiatives.

• Class Activity Leaders – organising equipment and supporting their teams during activities such as 10@10.

• Warm-Up and Cool-Down Leaders – leading exercises and activities as part of our Be Active ASAP programme, encouraging safe and enjoyable participation for all pupils.

Through these leadership opportunities, pupils develop valuable skills such as teamwork, communication, responsibility and confidence. Most importantly, they play an active role in making St. Mary’s N.S. a more inclusive, energetic and physically active school community.

Our Active School Committee shows that every pupil has a role to play in helping our school become more active!

Active School Notice Board

Our Active School Notice Board celebrates the wide range of physical activity and sporting achievements taking place throughout St. Mary's NS. It is regularly updated with photographs, news, upcoming events, competition results and Active School initiatives from across the school.

The notice board highlights pupils' participation in PE lessons, Active Breaks, Active Walkway challenges, playground games, sports competitions and extracurricular activities. It also promotes upcoming events and encourages all pupils to get involved in leading healthy, active lifestyles.

The notice board is a fantastic way to recognise our pupils' achievements, celebrate success and keep the entire school community informed about everything happening as part of our Active School journey.

Active Slogan Competition

As part of the beginning of our Active School Flag renewal journey, we launched a whole-school competition to create a new Active School slogan.

The response from our pupils was fantastic, with so many creative, imaginative and inspiring entries submitted from every class. Choosing a winner was no easy task!

To make the process as fair as possible, all of the shortlisted slogans were shared with each class, and pupils voted for their favourite.

Congratulations to Mr. Mulholland's 4th Class, whose catchy and creative slogan received the most votes and was chosen as our new Active School slogan. We are delighted with the winning entry and look forward to seeing it proudly displayed around our school as we continue to promote active, healthy lifestyles for everyone in St. Mary's NS.

"What Club Are You In?" Survey

As part of our Active School Flag renewal process, the Active School Committee carried out a "What Club Are You In?" survey to discover the wide range of sports and physical activities our pupils participate in outside of school.

The survey highlighted the fantastic level of involvement in our local community, with pupils taking part in a variety of sporting clubs and organisations. The results were displayed on our Active School Notice Board for everyone to see and celebrate.

We were delighted to discover that pupils from St. Mary's NS attend 13 different sports clubs, demonstrating the strong culture of physical activity within our school community. The survey also helped us promote local clubs and encouraged pupils to explore new opportunities to stay active and enjoy lifelong participation in sport.

Proud Cloud

Our Proud Cloud celebrates the fantastic sporting achievements of our pupils both in and outside of school. We are incredibly proud of the dedication, commitment and enthusiasm they show in their chosen sports and physical activities.

Throughout the year, many of our pupils have represented their clubs with distinction, winning medals, trophies and awards across a wide variety of sports. Their success is a reflection of the hard work, perseverance and positive attitude they bring to training and competition.

We love celebrating these achievements with our school community, as they inspire others to get involved, stay active and always do their best. Congratulations to all of the pupils featured on our Proud Cloud – your accomplishments are a credit to yourselves, your families and your clubs. We look forward to celebrating many more sporting successes in the years ahead. Well done, everyone!

Questionnaires and Feedback

At St. Mary’s N.S., we believe that listening to the views of our pupils and parents is an important part of developing a positive and inclusive physical activity culture throughout our school.

As part of our Active School Flag journey, the Active School Committee (ASC) carried out questionnaires with both pupils and parents to gather valuable feedback on Physical Education (P.E.), physical activity opportunities and the initiatives taking place in our school.

The questionnaires gave our school community an opportunity to share their opinions, experiences and suggestions. The overall results were displayed on our Active School noticeboard so that pupils, staff and families could see the feedback gathered and celebrate the positive impact of our Active School initiatives.

Some highlights from the Parents’ Questionnaire included:

• 95% of parents reported that their child enjoys P.E.

• 89% of parents reported that their child enjoys Active Schools Week (ASW).

The results from the Children’s Questionnaire were also extremely positive:

• 98% of pupils said they enjoyed P.E. homework.

• 100% of pupils said they enjoy Active Schools Week.

The feedback showed that our pupils are enthusiastic about being active and that the activities and initiatives organised through our Active School programme are having a positive impact across the school.

The Active School Committee carefully reviewed the information gathered from the questionnaires and used the feedback to identify strengths, recognise areas for improvement and plan future actions. Pupil and parent voices continue to guide our decisions as we work towards making St. Mary’s N.S. an even more active, inclusive and enjoyable place for everyone.

Your feedback helps us to keep improving and ensures that our Active School initiatives reflect the needs, interests and ideas of our whole school community.

Visiting GAA Coaches

St. Mary's NS is fortunate to have a long-standing and valued partnership with Naomh Olaf GAA Club. Over the years, our pupils have benefited greatly from the expertise and enthusiasm of the club's coaches, as well as the support of the Dublin GAA Games Development Officers.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship and ongoing commitment of Naomh Olaf GAA Club, classes enjoy a series of high-quality coaching sessions throughout the year. These sessions provided pupils with the opportunity to develop their Gaelic football and hurling skills in a fun, inclusive and engaging environment while also improving their fitness, teamwork and confidence.

We are extremely grateful for the continued support of Naomh Olaf GAA Club and the dedicated coaches who give their time and expertise to our school. Their contribution plays an important role in promoting participation, enjoyment and lifelong involvement in Gaelic games.

Supporting Your Child’s P.E. Learning at Home

Physical activity plays an important role in children’s health, wellbeing and overall development. There are many simple and enjoyable ways that families can support and encourage their child’s Physical Education (P.E.) learning outside of school and within the local community.

Children are encouraged to be active every day, with a goal of building up to at least 60 minutes of physical activity that increases their heart rate. This can include activities such as walking, cycling, playing games, dancing, practising sports skills, or simply enjoying active time together as a family.

To help make physical activity fun, enjoyable and accessible for everyone, there are a range of excellent resources available to support P.E. learning at home. These activities can be adapted to suit different ages, abilities and spaces, and provide great opportunities for children and families to get active together.

Click on the leaflet below to access a very useful two-page guide with practical ideas and suggestions for supporting your child’s P.E. learning at home:

https://www.scoilnet.ie/pdst/primary/pe/HomeSupport/

Let’s continue to encourage our children to Move More, Have Fun and Stay Active!