Active Schools – Scoil Mholainge Listerlin

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.

Physical Education

All classes complete 1 hour of Physical Education per week

Physical Education Timetable

Tuesday

Mrs Ryan	Junior Infants
Ms Ryan	Senior Infants & 1st Class

Thursday

Mrs Ryan	Junior Infants
Ms Doyle	1st & 2nd Class
Ms Prendiville	3rd & 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.

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.

Our Playground Leaders

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.

Outdoor and Adventure Activities

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

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.

Yearly Events

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.