Active School

‘Keep it lit, let’s get fit’

Since proudly receiving our second Active School Flag in 2022, our school has continued to promote physical activity and well-being through a wide range of fun and inclusive events. Children have enjoyed taking part in activities such as rounders, cross country, indoor athletics, and much more. From daily movement breaks to active school walks and sports days, we are committed to keeping our students active, healthy, and happy. The enthusiasm and participation from all classes have made these past few years a celebration of movement and teamwork!

Take a look at the slideshow to see some of the activities we’ve enjoyed at school over the past three years

Meet our Active School Committee

Our Active School noticeboards.

Our Active School Committee has played a vital role in promoting physical activity and well-being throughout the school. This dedicated group of pupils has shown incredible commitment over the past few years. They help to organise a wide range of events, support Active Week activities, and have even prepared healthy breakfasts for the whole school community.

The committee also keeps everyone informed by updating the Active School noticeboard and sharing news of upcoming events with all classes. From managing equipment for the yard to keeping the PE store tidy and well organised, they work hard behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly. Their enthusiasm, teamwork, and leadership have made a big difference in helping us maintain an active, fun, and healthy school environment for everyone!

physical education

Aquatics

As part of our commitment to health and well-being, our whole school takes part in the PAWS (Primary Aquatics Water Safety) programme each year. During Active Week, teachers deliver engaging lessons to help children learn essential water safety skills. The children will also watch the webinar on water safety during water awareness week.

Looking ahead to the upcoming school year, children from 3rd to 6th class will take part in a six-week block of swimming lessons, giving them the opportunity to build confidence and develop their swimming abilities. These lessons, along with the PAWS programme, are an important part of our Active School journey and help promote lifelong water safety awareness.

Games

Rounders

This year, our students had the fantastic opportunity to take part in a Rounders Training Day at the Centre of Excellence in Convoy. With the support of a dedicated coach, the children learned the official rules of rounders and improved their skills through focused coaching sessions.

They worked on perfecting their striking techniques, improving their throwing accuracy, and developing their overall understanding of the game. It was a fun and active day that boosted both confidence and teamwork—and has inspired even more enthusiasm for rounders in our school!

Gaelic

We have been fortunate to welcome Gaelic Games facilitators to our school over the years, supporting pupils in developing key Fundamental Movement Skills. This year, we are focusing on running, jumping, catching, throwing, and kicking. These fun and engaging sessions cater to all age groups and help build confidence and coordination. We are also proud to participate in Cumann na mBunscol competitions, giving pupils the opportunity to represent the school and enjoy Gaelic Games in a team setting.

We look forward to continuing this strong tradition of Gaelic Games in the years to come.

Basketball

We are delighted to have had Sharon, our dedicated basketball facilitator, visit our school over the years. Her enthusiasm, expertise, and engaging coaching style have made a lasting impact on our students. Sharon is regularly invited to take part in our Active Week, where she shares her deep knowledge of basketball through fun and skill-building sessions that our pupils thoroughly enjoy.

Dance

Dance is a fun and active part of school life. During Seachtain na Gaeilge, we enjoyed a lively Céilí with a local school, where the children performed traditional Irish dances together. We also welcomed Rinka, who led energetic sessions that got everyone moving and having fun. From Irish dancing to fitness routines, dance brings great energy and enjoyment to our school! During Active Week a local dance instructor came in and led dance routines with all classes on the pitch.

Outdoor & Adventure

We embrace the outdoors as an extension of our classroom, offering students a variety of engaging activities that promote physical activity and environmental awareness. Throughout the year, pupils participate in nature walks, scavenger hunts, and walking initiatives like “A Kilometre a Day”, spooky walks at Halloween, encouraging daily movement and exploration.

Our Active Walkway serves as a dynamic space for orienteering activities, helping students develop navigation skills while enjoying the fresh air.

The Junior room takes a hands-on approach to learning by observing tadpoles in nearby drains, fostering a connection with local wildlife.

We organise annual spring clean-ups, where students actively participate in keeping our school grounds clean and green. These outdoor adventures not only enhance physical well-being but also instil a sense of responsibility and appreciation for the natural world. This year we participated in the picker pal initiative where a family brought the pack home each week and did a clean-up around their homes.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics continues to be a favourite strand in our PE curriculum paticularly with the younger children. The children have been developing a wide range of skills including balance, coordination, flexibility, and strength. They have worked on various movements such as rolls, jumps, and safe landings, as well as building sequences that combine these elements. We are very lucky to have an international gymnastics coach on our staff, whose expertise has greatly enhanced the quality of our gymnastics lessons.

Athletics

Since earning our second Active School Flag in 2022, our students have actively participated in various athletics events, including Sportshall Athletics, Cross Country, and the Small Schools Athletics in Carrickfinn. These events have provided opportunities for students to enhance their physical abilities and teamwork.

Part of the athletic strand we worked on skipping with our local athletics club. The senior children also enjoyed skipping at break times.

Through these activities, children have developed fundamental athletics skills such as running, jumping, and throwing. They’ve also improved their endurance, coordination, and strategic thinking, all while fostering a love for active living.

physical activities

We actively promote physical activity throughout the school day with movement breaks such as GoNoodle, Joe Wicks workouts, Cosmic Yoga, and 10@10.

During good weather, pupils enjoy using PE equipment on the yard to stay active and engaged organised by the playground leaders.

Since receiving our last Active Flag, we’ve added a fantastic new play area, which includes swings, slides, balance beams, and a climbing frame — a space all children enjoy.

Our ‘Line-Up Leaders’ initiative takes place every Tuesday and Thursday after lunch, helping classes line up through fun and movement. At Christmas, this was made extra special when two pupils led the activity dressed as Santa!

We include physical activities for our school tour each year.

Bike Week

As part of Bike Week, we were delighted to welcome two members of the Tír Chonaill GAP Cycling Club to our school. They shared their cycling skills with the children, offering tips on bike safety, balance, and control. One of the visitors is a trained bike mechanic and kindly repaired all the children’s bikes, making sure they were safe and ready for the road.

The senior children also got the opportunity to cycle on the road near the school with Mrs. Breslin, putting their cycling skills into practice in a safe and supervised environment. It was a fantastic, active day that encouraged everyone to get cycling and take care of their bikes. A big thank you to the club for their time and support!

In 2023 3rd-6th class participated in the Cycle Right programme, which was fantastic.

We are delighted with our bike shelter which was erected last summer.

Table tennis

In the good weather children enjoy playing table tennis outside.

Sports Day

Excitement is building as we get ready for our Annual Sports Day, taking place this June! It’s always a highlight of the school year, filled with fun activities like sack races, novelty relays, and colourful parachute games.

We look forward to a day full of energy, laughter, and school spirit as our students come together to celebrate fitness and fun. Stay tuned for all the highlights!

partnerships

As a small primary school, our wide range of partnerships plays a vital role in enriching the educational and physical development of our pupils. Collaborations with local sports clubs such as Cumann na mBunscol, Loughros Point Rowing Club, Fintown Harps Soccer Club, our local basketball club, Ardara GAA, Tír Chonaill Athletics Club, and Tír Chonaill GAP Cycling Club offer our students diverse opportunities to stay active, develop new skills, and build confidence in a supportive environment.

These connections also help foster a strong sense of community and belonging, encouraging lifelong participation in sport and healthy lifestyles. In addition, our ongoing partnerships with national initiatives like Super Troopers and the Irish Heart Foundation enhance our school’s health and wellbeing programmes, promoting positive habits from a young age. For a small school, these relationships greatly expand our resources and impact, ensuring that every child benefits from a broad, inclusive, and active school experience.

active school week

We had a fantastic Active Week, filled with energy, fun, and a wide range of activities that covered all strands of the PE curriculum—games, dance, athletics, gymnastics, outdoor and adventure activities, and Water Safety.

The Active Week committee kindly organised a healthy breakfast on Monday morning to kick-start the week, promoting good nutrition alongside physical activity.

We were delighted to have facilitators from local clubs throughout the week, including Ardara GAA, Loughros Point Rowing Club, Fintown Harps, Tír Chonaill Athletics, and Sharon from the local basketball club. Each group worked with the children during the week, giving them the chance to try out different sports and develop new skills.

The children really enjoyed the wide variety of activities on offer—and there was plenty of fun for the staff too! Some of the teachers & our SNA even took part in an egg and spoon race, much to the delight of the children.

Check out the photos below to see some of the highlights from a truly memorable week!