Active School

 

During 2018 we were delighted to be presented with the Active School Flag (ASF) for our continued efforts to keep our students active every day at school . This is a Department of Education and Skills initiative supported by Healthy Ireland. The award recognises schools that strive to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community. 

The ASF process requires schools to self-evaluate across three areas:

1. Physical Education

2. Physical Activity

3. Partnerships.

and they must also hold an

Active Schools Week

Thereafter schools are required to plan and implement improvements that will have a positive effect on their school community and will satisfy the ASF Success Criteria. 

 

Walter Walsh Raising the Active Blue Flag 2018


Physical Education


All classes complete 1 hour of Physical Education per week 

Physical Education Timetable

Tuesday

Mrs Ryan        Junior Infants
Ms RyanSenior Infants & 1st Class

Thursday

Mrs RyanJunior Infants
Ms Doyle1st & 2nd Class
Ms Prendiville3rd & 4th Class

Friday

Mr Cassin            5th & 6th Class

 

Each class takes part in the following P.E strands – athletics, gymnastics, dance, games, outdoor and adventure and aqua water safety.

School Sports Day
Athletics
games2
Games
Funky Kids News
Dance
Gymnastics
Surfing
Outdoor and Adventure
Swimming



Physical Activity

 

Active playground at small break and lunch break

We are constantly striving to encourage our students to be active everyday from actively playing in the yard both at small break and lunch time, and have adopted the motto “do your talking as your walking” during both breaks.

Our latest introduction to getting our children to be more active, more often is “Football Free Fridays” where the children are given access to the P.E equipment during their Friday lunch breaks.  Our playground leaders take charge of this, organising equipment and games. The leaders encourage everyone to take part in their fun activities.

Football free friday
Football Free Friday
Do your talking while your walking
Active Playground
Football Free Friday



Our Playground Leaders

Active Schools Committee

Schools Football and Hurling

We take part in the schools hurling and football and had an impressive year last year winning the girls football county final and boys football southern final, while also doing well in the hurling league.

 

Girls Football County Final
Girls Football County Champions 2017
hurling
Hurling
Boys Football Southern Champions 2017
Boys Football Southern Champions 2017

Outdoor and Adventure Activities

Throughout the year we introduce students to outdoor and adventurous activities such as surfing, gardening, walking, rounders and circuits.

 

Outdoor Adventure
Outdoor Adventure
Circuits
Circuits
Water Fights
Gardening
Gardening
Rounders
Rounders
Surfing
Surfing

Dance

All students take part in dance, last year we had hip hop dancers come to the school over a number of weeks and this year we had funky kids. All our students also have the opportunity to take part in after school Irish dancing which takes place in our hall every Tuesday.

Irish Dancing
Irish Dancing
Hip Hop Dancing
Hi Hop Dancing
Funky Kids
Funky Kids
Macarena
Macarena

Yearly Events

Each year we host a family sponsored walk and a school sports day!

 

egg and spoon race
School Sports Day ~ Egg and Spoon race
wheel barrow race
School Sports Day ~ Wheelbarrow Race
sponsored walk 2017
Family Sponsored Walk
sponsored walk 2017
Family Sponsored Walk

Brain Breaks & Rainy Day Breaks

We have introduced regular brain breaks and active rainy day breaks with activities such as Yoga, indoor dance and exerciese.

rainy day exercise
Rainy Day Exercise
rainy day dancing
Rainy Day Dancing
yoga
Brain Break ~ Yoga

Pitch Runs

We regularly do pitch runs, this involves the entire school taking to our pitch to do a few laps before they begin their day, mid day or at the end of a day!

Pitch Run
Pitch Run
Pitch Run
Pitch Run

Swimming

Each year all students from 1st class up to 6th class have the option of taking part in 10 weeks of swimming lessons in our local swimming pool.

All children also watch the Water Safety by Macey Smith video!

SWIMMING
swimming

Easter Egg Hunt

Every year our Easter egg hunt is a major hit with all the children as they run and race to find as many eggs as they can around the school pitch. Its a fun event that gets all the kids active while having great fun before they break up for the Easter holidays.

Easter Egg Hunt 2018
Easter Egg Hunt 2018
Easter Egg Hunt 2018


Partnerships

Super Troopers

Our school have also embraced the Super Troopers Programme . Super Troopers is associated with Laya Healthcare. It is the first health homework programme ever to be run in Ireland. It encourages children and their families to be more active and learn about healthy lifestyles.

The Programme includes short burst, fun activities around physical activity, wellbeing and nutrition. It promotes both a healthy mind and healthy body.

SuperValu is the official healthy eating partner to Super Troopers and last year our 2nd and 3rd class students visited Supervalu in Thomastown where they met with a nutritionist to learn all about healthy eating and the food pyramid. They also got to sample some delicious fruits,  breads and meat!

2017 visit to SuperValu as part of the Super Trooper Programme
Learning about healthy eating and the food pyramid
2017 visit to SuperValu to learn about healthy eating and the food pyramid
2017 Visit to SuperValu as part of the Super Trooper Programme

 

At Scoil Mhólainge we promote a healthy eating policy for all our students. All students must bring healthy lunches. No sweets or crisps are allowed. Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are sugar free. We remind parents to be aware of the high sugar content in some types of yogurt snacks and fruit based drinks. We encourage all students to include fruit and vegetables in their lunches.

Operation Transformation

 

Active School Flag teamed up with RTE’s Operation Transformation to promote physical activity in primary schools. Every school who completed the Operation Transformation 10@10 could use this as a tick towards gaining the blue Active School Flag. 

On Friday February 10th 2017 every class in our school had great fun taking part in the 10@10 which put us a step closer to receiving our blue flag. 

Watch our wonderful students and teachers 10@10 video below 


Active School Week

This years Active School Week will take place from 11th – 15th June 2018

Last years Active School Week was a massive success, every day involved all children taking part in at least 3 different activities. The children had great fun and are all the healthier for it.

2018 Timetable

Monday

Drop everything and run / walk 

Sports hall circuits

Skipathon

Daily brain break

Tuesday

Drop everything and run / walk 

Holla Hoop 15 min

Rounders

Gymnastics

Athletics

Daily brain break

 

Wednesday

Drop everything and run / walk

Yoga

Lacrosse

Tag Rugby

Daily brain break

 

Thursday

Drop everything and run / walk

Badminton/Tennis

Parachute

Daily brain break

 

Friday

Sports Day

Potato and spoon race

Sack race

Wellie throwing

Three legged race

Sprint race

Wheel barrow race

Relays

Water race

Class leagues: JI/SI, 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th

Basketball

Football

Lacrosse

Hockey

***** New Addition *****

Teachers vs Students of 5th/6th

Penalty shootout

Basketball shootout

Tug of war

Longest kick contest

Longest puck out


Hurling League will also take place in June