Just a little snapshot of our active break times! Happy heads and healthy hearts!
Just a little snapshot of our active break times! Happy heads and healthy hearts!
Well done to all classes who completed their 2nd Active break challenge this year . Not only are we getting fitter, but we are also improving our concentration and having lots of fun at the same time!
The children worked on the Fundamental Movement Skill of ‘Jumping for Height’ and the strand of games today. The children worked in groups to play various games. They then worked in smaller groups to create games using footballs, bean bags and cones. They children then displayed their games to the other children.
This week the senior room are taking on the Pedometer Challenge . The children’s steps will be recorded after each lunch break. Prizes will be given to the child with the most steps accumulated over the week but also to the child with the biggest %age increase between Monday and Friday.. So your only competitor is yourself!
Next week the Middle room will also get their opportunity to participate in this challenge next week if weather is on our side .
Each classroom has started their Active break challenge which will also run for the whole week. Each class will aim to complete a run break, a dance break and an exercise break each day.
We continue to work on the strands of Dance and games in P.E. Last month we focused on the Fundamental Movement Skill (F.M.S.)of balancing . This month we will focus on Jumping for height.
Later on this month, children in the senior room will take on the Climb the heights skipping challenge, which will link in nicely with their Geography knowledge .
Thank you to all the pupils and parents who completed the Active Flag Questionnaire .
A summary of most popular suggestions is posted on the Active School board in our hall. We will endeavour to tick some of these suggestions off during Active week!
The children worked very well on the FMS for this month-balancing. They then had great fun performing a Folk Dance.
The children had great fun during PE class yesterday. We are working on the strand of dance and the FMS being focused on is balance.
The children really enjoyed developing their GAA skills today.
We had great fun again this week on our ‘Active Walkway’
The first, second and third class children really enjoyed walking on our walkway this week.
As part of our Active Flag Initiative, we have a few activities scheduled for the coming months. Please see table below . If you feel you have something to offer (a skill/qualification in any area of fitness or health and wellbeing) and would like to help out, we would only be delighted to have you on board.
As you are probably aware by now, all children have P.E. homework on PE days, so please, if you can at all, make this a family activity and join in, in the fun! (Each child received a PE Homework Grid)
Our ‘K a day’ initiative is up and running and will continue right through January. Each class aims to complete a kilometre walk around and inisde the school grounds on our Active Walkway, at least 3 times a week and at least 1 class every day! Children are encouraged to ‘Do your talking while you’re walking!’ On rainy days, however, running/exercise takes place within the classroom, so as to avoid unnecessary illnesses. I would like to say a huge Thank you to Gerry Sweeney (B.O.M) for erecting and measuring the Inver Active Flag Walkway (and the many other jobs also!) and invite you to join us on our K a day, if you spot us out and about.
Remember to stay updated on many aspects of school by checking our blog, on a regular basis. Anyone interested in helping out with the skipping challenge, please let us know.
Thanks again for your support.
Deborah
September | · Committee meetings
· Yard Rota established and duties for Active Agents · GAA with visiting coach |
October | · GAA with visiting coach
· Active Meetings |
November | · Active Walkway launched
· 60 minute challenge Part 1 (3rd to 6th) · Committee meetings · What club are you in Survey? |
January | · Km a day on our walkway – (at least 3 days a week for month of Jan, each class does it in their own time, children encouraged to do their talking as they’re walking)
· Pedometer Class challenges ( pedometers sponsored by Western Strands Hotel) · Committee Meeting · Playground Leaders (children in Senior Room) lead/guide stations on Thursday at big lunch, for 6 weeks working with Junior/senior infants initially. · GAA with visiting coach |
February | · Climb the heights skipping challenge – Senior Room
· Active break challenge 3rd to 7th Feb– All classes · Committee meetings · Walk to School week 24th to 28th Feb . Children encouraged to walk/scoot/cycle to school. Reminder closer to time. · Walk a mile with a smile @ 2.15pm on Friday 28th. All Parents invited to join us. Reminder closer to time · GAA with visiting coach |
March | · Run around Europe challenge (all classes, 3 days a week at least for 4 weeks, in own time. Starting March 2nd to 27th.
· Committee Meetings -TimeTable for Active Schools Week · Equipment Audit · Seachtain na Gaeilge – Céilí · 60 minute challenge Part 2 (3rd to 6th) sheet will be provided at time · GAA with visiting Coach |
April | · Committee meeting
· Easter Hunt · Active Schools Week 27th -May 1st -Staff /Pupils to wear sports gear all week. PE homework every day this week · Gymnastics with visiting Coach · GAA. with visiting Coach |
May | · Spring Clean around School (date tbc)
· Committee Meeting · March for May – All children encouraged to walk to school · School Tour · Gymnastics with visiting coach · Aquatics (If available) · GAA with visiting coach |
June | · Active Break challenge Part 3 (3rd to 6th)
· Walk to school Month (Cycle/Scoot) · Presentation Day |
May be subject to slight adjustments
On P.E. days , every child has P.E. homework. Below is a copy of the grid each child in school has received, which is like a menu. Every child can choose and combine a variety of activities to make up at least 20mins of exercise. Lots of fun if all of the family join in. Let’s get fit together!
This month we are focusing on the strand of Dance in P.E.
We had lots of fun today exploring all the different ways our bodies can travel/move. We had fantastic suggestions from the children which included hopping, walking, crawling, bum shuffling and skipping to name but a few. We also moved with some parts of our bodies awake and some asleep. We had to use our magic dust for this one! We discussed and explored changing the level, direction and pace of the way we moved also and finished up grooving out to smooth criminal… so much fun!!
Below is just a little snapshot of the level of activity in school today.
Our Playground leaders kept Junior And Senior Infants super busy with stations at lunch time. They will now plan new activitites themselves for each station next week . Playground leaders should be very proud of themselves because their words of encouragement and patience with the little ones was admirable!
We also had Finn from 2nd class keeping the entire school fit with our active line after break exercise. Finn chose Jumping Jacks as today’s exercise and everyone joined in.
The entire school also did the K a day so we have all certainly contributed, if not exceeded ,the recommended 60mins a day!
Well done everybody.