Sandpit N.S.
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Physical Education

Our Wonderful Active Club Committee members

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                                   Physical Education

Our Committee:

​Each class nominated two pupils from their class to represent them on the Active Flag Committee. The committee team are as follows,

Active Flag Co Ordinator: Mr Reilly

First Class
Arthur Deveroux
Cormac Elmore

Second Class
Tommy Flanagan
Miles Connor
Emily Mae Hodgins

Third Class
Frankie Divine
Chloe Flynn

Fourth Class
Adam Mc Glew
Analeigh Tracey

5th Class:
Grace Marr
Finn Dunne
Aoife Meegan
Layla Smith

​6th Class
Charlie Flanagan
Brianna O Reilly
Dylan Gallagher

Our Poster Competition and Motto Competition Winners

We ran a poster and motto competition. There was a huge interest in  both competitions. It was very difficult picking out winners as the standard was very high. 

Well done to everyone and congratulations to the winners selected.

Our winning motto, written by Grace is the following;
'Don't let those feet drag, lets get our Active Flag'

Congratulations to Bobby, Ella and Lily for winning the poster competition.  


​During our Croke Park Hours we met as a whole staff and assessed how Physical Education was going in our school? As a staff we created a new PE policy.  We incorporated the fundamental movement skills, move well, move often into our yearly timetable. As a whole school we are following the same strand and skills simultaneously. The policy was approved by our Board of Management. We decided as a whole school staff that the area of the Physical Education Curriculum that needed to be prioritized in the future is the Dance Strand. We invited set dancers into our school to display their talents and they inspired us to improve our dancing skills. We practiced our Irish dancing/jigs and had great fun. We hope to develop our dancing skills further by introducing hip hop dance in the last term. 

Further Physical Education:

Mr Reilly has attended the Active Flag Webinars.

Each class has participated in the Primary Aquatics Water Safety Programme and every child in the school has received their certificate. Below is a picture of 5th Class with their certs from completing the PAWS programe.

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Above are photos from a very special day at school when rugby international star Tom O Toole visited our school.

Physical Activity


In addition to the teaching of the Physical Education Curriculum each class has taken on active challenges within the classroom setting. The purpose of these are to reduce the amount of sedentary time the children experience in the classroom and it also allows the children to be more active on wet days.

Junior Infants has taken on the programme Movement ideas/ challenges

Senior Infants have taken on Movement breaks

First Class are partaking in Bizzy Breaks

Second Class are partaking in Get Active Ireland Programme

​Third Class are partaking in line dancing rhythm and clapping movement

Fourth Class are doing Bizzy Breaks 4th class level

Fifth class are doing 10 mindful movements for daily mindfulness practice and wellbeing.

Sixth Class are partaking in Bizzy Breaks 6th class level.

Our two Special Ed classes are partaking in activities for all, Sports Ireland.
 
We also are partaking in Walk Around Ireland / Run Around Ireland Challenge

Each class has taken on this challenge and has picked a location in Ireland to walk/travel/run the distance to

Junior Infants are walking/running the distance to Dublin City

Senior Infants are walking/running the distance to Wicklow

First Class are walking/running the distance to Waterford

Second Class are walking/running the distance to Galway

Third Class are walking/running the distance to Westport

Fourth Class are walking/running the distance to Limerick

Fifth Class are walking/running the distance to Cork

Sixth Class are walking/running the distance Kilrush

​A chart is placed in each classroom to track the children’s progress.
 
In addition to the above we have/had outside agencies coming into our school as mentioned in the Partnership section. 

Classroom Based Active Activities
Bad weather does not stop us from being active in Sandpit School. We reduce sedentary time by making our lessons more active.  We enjoy all the activities and it makes our learning more enjoyable.  Below are pictures of us in action within the classroom. 

Active time in hall

Play ground leaders
In our school we have fostered positive environment where our students on the Active Flag Committee team are actively involved in the Physical Education Development of the all children. On a daily basis they organise, promote and engage with students to be as active as possible during break times when playing outside. The play ground leaders organise PE resources/structure games and assist children in understanding the skills requires to play these games as successfully as possible. 

Outdoor Activities 

Peter's Path:

​We use Peter's Path to keep us active and it is an excellent resource for rainy days when our pitch is too wet to use and to record our running/walking around Ireland initiative. We also use the markings on our yard for fun games and activities. 

Table Tennis

​We were fortunate enough to win table tennis sets at the webinars Mr. Reilly attended. The teachers have been busy teaching this new sport to the children. The children are loving it and it has been a great success. We are looking forward to developing this skill into the future. 

Wake Up/ Shake Up Activities 

​A fantastic whole school approach to start the school day! 

Partnership:

GAA: working with our local GAA club, St. Feichins
On a weekly basis it is timetabled and organised to facilitate coaching from our GAA club for Gaelic and Hurling training in our school. We participate in the annual Cumann na Mbunscoil competitions for boy's and girl's in both gaelic, camogie and hurling. 

IRFU: We were fortunate to be able to collaborate with the IRFU/local international rugby star Tom O Toole. He came to visit our school and met with all classes. He engaged with the children on the benefits of participating in sports and understanding the consistency , motivation and determination required to succeed in sport.

Basketball Academy/Drogheda Wolves: The children benefited greatly from our weekly visit from our Basketball coach to our school. The children have shown great progress in developing a range of fundamental movement skills through the sessions given by our fantastic coach.

Bike Green Cycling: As a rural school, we have gained invaluable training from Bike Green . A lot of our children cycle in their spare time and the lessons taught by the coaches have considerable real life safety benefits for our children. 

The teachers also learnt a range of techniques from these visiting coaches and have been able to reinforce the techniques with the children. 

All of the Active Flag Webinars and resources on their website has helped us along on this journey. 

We work closely with our Parents Council and they are always there to help us in any way possible in the further development of leading active and healthy lives. 

Every Monday after school we have an Active Club taking place. 

Our School holds an annual Active Summer Camp.


Competitions we entered :
GAA Matches, FAI Soccer Competitions, GAA Trials 

​Congratulations to all involved. 

Active Week 
Active Week took place from 24th April to 28th April 2023. The photo albums above highlight some of the great activities that took place during the week. It was a fun, energetic week for all classes.
Below is a record of the activities each class took on and the active homework each class did. Whole school activities included Wake Up/ Shake Up, Table tennis and watching the webinar provided by Active Schools. 

6th Class Timetable for Active Week
Monday Activities

Obstacle Course in the school hall
Crab football in the school hall
 
Tuesday

Wake Up/Shake Up
Soccer on the pitch
Tennis on the basketball court
Peter’s Path
Connie attended Camogie trials
 
Wednesday
Wake Up/Shake Up
Peter’s Path
Athletics/Races
Bleep Test
Soccer
Tennis
 
Thursday

Wake Up/Shake Up
Peter’s Path
Soccer
Table Tennis Competition
 
Friday

Wake Up/Shake Up
Peter’s Path
Table Tennis Friday
Soccer

Monday Active Homework
20-minute walk/run/jog with your family
 
 
Tuesday
30-minute walk/run/jog with your family
 
Wednesday
40-minute walk/run/jog with your family
 
 Thursday
60-minute walk/run/jog with your family
 
 Friday
Weekend walk/jog/run with your family

 
5th Class Active Week Plan
Monday Activities
Go Noodle Dancing in Classroom
Dodgeball
Mindful Movements
Wake up/ shake up
 
 Tuesday Activities

Wake Up/ Shake Up
Just Dance- Dancing Videos
Peters Path running laps
Skipping
Hoola hoop games
Mindful Movements
 
 Wednesday Activities:

Wake Up/Shake Up
Mindful Movements
Just Dance Video
Capture the Flag
Octopus
Peter’s Path
 
 Thursday Activities
Wake Up/shake up
Webinar with Olympians
Hoody Challenge
 
 Friday Activities
Table Tennis Challenges
Taught each other games from homework
 
Monday Active Homework
20 mines play outside
Joe Wicks Workout Card 1
40 seconds on/ 20 seconds off
March on spot
Star Jumps
Low Sprint Shuffle
Squat
Climb the Rope
 
 Tuesday Active Homework
Go for walk with family
Joe Wicks Challenge Card 2
40 seconds on/20 seconds off
Star Jumps
Running and punching
Frog Jump
Squat
Marching High knees
 
 
Wednesday Active Homework
Make new active game and teach your family
Joe Wicks Challenge Card 3
40 seconds on / 20 seconds off
Touch the sky
Climb the rope
Touch Toes, Clap hands
Lunges
 
Thursday Active Homework
Plank Challenge
Joe Wicks Challenge Card 4
Squat Knee Up
Mountain climbers
Knee lifts
 
Friday Active Homework

The Mummy
Lunge Punch

 
 5th Class Active Week Record (We have two 5th class)
Monday Activities
Standing Desk Challenge
Mindful Moves
Dodge ball
 
Tuesday Activities
Wake Up/Shake Up
Hula hoop activities
Skipping
Mindful Moves
 
Wednesday Activities:
Wake Up/Shake Up
Hoodies challenges
Capture the flag
Octopus
Laps of Peters Path
 
Thursday Activities
Wake Up/Shake Up
Webinar
Balance Challenge
Table Tennis
 
Friday Activities
Wake Up/Shake Up
Table Tennis Challenges
Monday Active Homework
Go for a brisk walk
 
 
Tuesday Active Homework
Circuit:
10 jumping jacks
30 sec sprint on spot
30 sec high knees
5 Burpees
30 sec plank
Repeat x 3
 
Wednesday Active Homework
Play an Active game
Football, basketball, tip, jockies
 
 Thursday Active Homework
8-minute spin the wheel
Kids workout/ The Body Coach
 
 Friday Active Homework
Family walk on the beach
Teach your family a short circuit and show your class on Monday

 4th Class Active Week Plan
Monday Activities
Wake Up/Shake Up
Skipping
 
Tuesday Activities
Wake Up/Shake Up
Dance: Bizzy Break
Stuck in the mud
Capture the Flag
PAWS programme
 
Wednesday Activities
Wake Up/Shake Up
Webinar
Obstacle Course
PAWS Programme
Bizzy Break – Hand Jive
 
Thursday Activities
Wake up/ shake up
Webinar
Obstacle Course
Paws – Water Safety
Bizzy Break – Hand Jive
 
Friday Activities
Wake Up/Shake Up
GAA Coaching with Frank – Gaelic
PAWS Water Safety Programme
Monday Active Homework
10 Burpees
10 High Knees
 
Tuesday Active Homework
10 Jumping Jacks
10 Sit ups
 
 Wednesday Activities
Skipping with/ without rope
10 lunges
 
 Thursday Activities
10 high feet (kick bum)
10 press/push ups
 
 Fridays Active Homework
Walk with your family

 
3rd Class Active Week Timetable and record
Monday Activities
6 laps of Peter’s Path
Go Noodle
Basketball
Stuck in the mud
 
 Tuesday Activities
6 laps of Peters Path
Active Time – stations
 
Wednesday Activities
Athletics- running/hurdles
Basketball
Penalty shoot out
 
Thursday Activities
Wake Up/ Shake Up
Peters Path
Table Tennis
Webinar in hall
 
Friday Activities
Wake Up/ Shake Up
Hurling training
Monday Active Homework
Activities from Active homework sheet and colour when completed
 
 
 Tuesday Active Homework
Activities from Active homework sheet and colour when completed
 
Wednesday
Active homework sheet
 
 
Thursday Active Homework
Active Homework Sheet
 
 Friday Active Homework
Training football and hurling
Running
Active Family Time

 
2nd Class Active Week Timetable and record
Monday Activities
Relay Races
Active Walk
Wiggles Game
Stuck in the mood
Numbers Game
 
Tuesday Activities
Wake Up/ Shake Up
Skipping
Hurdles practice
Bean Bag balancing games
 
Wednesday Activities
Wake Up/ Shake Up
Stuck in the mud
Running Challenge
Octopus game
Football
Go noodle
 
Thursday Activities
Pick Up games
I like being Active Game
Flush the toilet
Wake Up/ Shake Up
Running Challenge
 
Friday Activities
Wake Up/ Shake up
Go noodle
Number game
Hide and seek
Elastics
Monday Active Homework
Running Challenge
 
Tuesday Active Homework
20-minute walk
 
 Wednesday Active Homework
Dancing Challenge
 
Thursday Active homework
Football Challenge
 
 Weekend Active Homework
Jumping challenge

 
 1st Class Active Week Plan
Monday Activities
Wake Up/Shake Up
Peter’s Path 10 laps
Funky Fruit
Alphabet Actions
 
Tuesday Activities
Peter’s Path 10 laps
Wake Up/Shake Up
Pencil Jumps
Rain shower
 
Wednesday Activities
Peter’s Path 10 laps
Wake Up/ Shake Up
Tasty Tunnel
Floating Fabric
 
 Thursday Activities
Wake up/ Shake up
Peter’s Path 10 laps
Finger surfing
Teddy Taps
Table Tennis
 
Friday Activities
Wake Up/Shake Up
Peter’s Path 10 laps
Funky Fruit
Pencil Jumps
Table Tennis
 
Monday Active Homework
10 jumping jacks
10 sit up
10 push ups
10 pencil jumps
 
Tuesday Active Homework
Run 5 laps of your garden
10-minute play of sport of your choice with a parent/sibling
10 burpees
 
Wednesday Active Homework

10 star jumps
10 squats
10 lunges
5 mines skipping, hula hooping, dribbling with football
 
Thursday Active Homework
10 Straddle sit stretches
10 mountain climbers
10 front of thigh stretches
 
 
Friday Active Homework
10 mins on trampoline
10 mins. on swings
10 mins. basketball

 
Senior Infants Active Week Plan

Monday Activities
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Yoga
Enchanto Dance
 
Tuesday Activities
 Wake Up/Shake Up
Cillian: Physio Exercises
Movement Breaks
 
 Wednesday Activities
Wake Up/ Shake Up
Peters Path
Go Noodle
Dancing –Enchanto
 
 Thursday Activities
Wake Up/Shake Up
Peter’s Path
Movement Break
Yoga
 
Friday Activities
Wake up/ Shake Up
Walk to the shop
Yoga
 
Monday Active Homework
Running. Jumping, dancing
Soft play
Basketball, monkey bars
Joe Wicks
Obstacle course
Swings
 
Tuesday Active Homework

Swimming
Trampoline
Go Karts
Exercises
Football
Running
 
Wednesday Active Homework

Cycling
Swimming
Walk on beach
Made a den
Obstacle Course
Elastics
Hopping
 
Thursday Active Homework
Elastics
Danced to favourite song
Swimming
Scooter
 
 
Friday Active Homework

Swings
Running
Dancing
 
Junior Infants Active Week Plan
Monday Active Activities
Wake Up/ Shake Up
Dancing in class
Break brains/Pizza boogie
Movement Yoga
PAWS programme
 
Tuesday Activities
Wake Up/ Shake Up
Discuss the importance of movement on enhancing brain activity
1km on Peter’s Path
Races
 
Wednesday Activities
Wake Up/ Shake Up
Dance in yard
Races
Road Safety
Dance and freeze in the classroom
Parachute
 
Thursday Activities
Wake Up/Shake up
Dance in class
Yoga: We are going on a bear hunt
Parachute
Road safety
 
Friday Activities
Wake Up/Shake Up
Dance in class
Walk to the local shop
Revise the PAWS programme
Monday Active Homework
Discuss Water Safety with Parents
Active homework replaces written work
 
 Tuesday Active Homework
Discuss importance of movement to enhance brain activity
Running, Walking, football, dance
 
 Wednesday Active homework
Walk on the beach
 
 Thursday Active Homework
Running
Hopping
Skipping
 
Friday Active Homework
Hopping
Skipping
Running
Walking

 
 
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