Welcome to our Active Flag Page:
In March 2014 we as a whole school decided that we wanted to get as
active as possible. We learned the benefits of leading an active lifestyle and
we wanted to become a school of active learners in and out of the classroom.
We decided that we would aim to apply for an Active Flag by April 2015. Mr Reilly became the active flag co coordinator and he asked teachers to join him on the active flag committee. The response amongst the staff was terrific and five members of the staff joined, Mrs Griffin, Ms Geraghty, Ms Lynch, Ms Nic Giolla Rua and Ms O Callaghan. Two students from each class also joined the committee. Below is a photo of our committee.
Throughout the last 15 months the whole school community gathered together for wake up, shake up activities. The children on the committee led the activities and the whole school community took part. Exercises varied and we all got very used to working out first thing in the morning. It is a great way to start the day. Below are photographs of the wake up, shake up activities.
We held two active weeks in our school over the past 15 months. They were very busy weeks and we had great fun. Normal day to day lessons were replaced with active lessons. Certain day’s active homework replaced normal written homework. Activities included the continuation of wake up, shake up activities, running races, skipathon, three legged races, egg and spoon races, parachute games, bench ball, obstacle courses, sack races, football, penalties etc. Below are photos of our active week.
We realised that we are very fortunate to be living so close to a beautiful beach so we decided we would use this fantastic resource to our advantage. As part of the two active weeks we visited Seapoint Beach and we walked 15k in total on three different days. We also did various activities on the beach such as rounder’s, football, bench ball etc. It was a great day enjoyed by teachers, students and parents. Below are photos of the days on the beach.
With the great help from Mrs Griffin and her Junior Infant class we have continued map my walk over the last 15 months. Below is our log activity from February to present date.
We wanted the children to remain as active as possible outside the classroom so we decided that the children would fill in logs of their activities outside school hours. Below are examples of these logs that were filled over the last 15 months. This really encouraged the children to remain active outside school hours.
We made links with our local community by asking our local football club St. Feichins to help us with our active flag process. They kindly offered weekly Gaelic training to the whole school and provided us with extra sporting equipment. As part of active week we joined up with our neighbouring school for friendly soccer matches. Below are photographs of this.
During break times we set up a designated skipping area where the children have ample room to practice their skipping skills.
We got new football jerseys for our boys and girls football team. Two parents and the parent’s council have kindly donated towards the cost of these. Below are photos of our football teams wearing their new jerseys
We held a poster competition to highlight the importance of getting active and to promote active lifestyles. Well done to all the children and to the winners. Below is a photograph of the winners with their prizes. The posters can be seen throughout the school corridors.
We held a competition for our active flag motto. The winners were announced in April 14 and the whole school community learnt the motto. It is also displayed in our school hall.
Throughout this process we wanted to help others. Mrs Griffin and her class led us on two charity walks. The older children nominated the younger children and helped them on these walks. Our first charity walk took place in May 14’ and we raised 1200 euro for the Jack and Jill foundation. In April 15’ we had our second charity walk and we raised a massive 808 euro for the Gary Kelly Centre a fantastic achievement by the whole school community.
Other active activities include swimming for 3rd class, tennis coaching for the whole school, entering Cumann na Bunscoil Competitions for girls and boys gaelic, 5th class fitness test chess and karate.
We decided that we would aim to apply for an Active Flag by April 2015. Mr Reilly became the active flag co coordinator and he asked teachers to join him on the active flag committee. The response amongst the staff was terrific and five members of the staff joined, Mrs Griffin, Ms Geraghty, Ms Lynch, Ms Nic Giolla Rua and Ms O Callaghan. Two students from each class also joined the committee. Below is a photo of our committee.
Throughout the last 15 months the whole school community gathered together for wake up, shake up activities. The children on the committee led the activities and the whole school community took part. Exercises varied and we all got very used to working out first thing in the morning. It is a great way to start the day. Below are photographs of the wake up, shake up activities.
We held two active weeks in our school over the past 15 months. They were very busy weeks and we had great fun. Normal day to day lessons were replaced with active lessons. Certain day’s active homework replaced normal written homework. Activities included the continuation of wake up, shake up activities, running races, skipathon, three legged races, egg and spoon races, parachute games, bench ball, obstacle courses, sack races, football, penalties etc. Below are photos of our active week.
We realised that we are very fortunate to be living so close to a beautiful beach so we decided we would use this fantastic resource to our advantage. As part of the two active weeks we visited Seapoint Beach and we walked 15k in total on three different days. We also did various activities on the beach such as rounder’s, football, bench ball etc. It was a great day enjoyed by teachers, students and parents. Below are photos of the days on the beach.
With the great help from Mrs Griffin and her Junior Infant class we have continued map my walk over the last 15 months. Below is our log activity from February to present date.
We wanted the children to remain as active as possible outside the classroom so we decided that the children would fill in logs of their activities outside school hours. Below are examples of these logs that were filled over the last 15 months. This really encouraged the children to remain active outside school hours.
We made links with our local community by asking our local football club St. Feichins to help us with our active flag process. They kindly offered weekly Gaelic training to the whole school and provided us with extra sporting equipment. As part of active week we joined up with our neighbouring school for friendly soccer matches. Below are photographs of this.
During break times we set up a designated skipping area where the children have ample room to practice their skipping skills.
We got new football jerseys for our boys and girls football team. Two parents and the parent’s council have kindly donated towards the cost of these. Below are photos of our football teams wearing their new jerseys
We held a poster competition to highlight the importance of getting active and to promote active lifestyles. Well done to all the children and to the winners. Below is a photograph of the winners with their prizes. The posters can be seen throughout the school corridors.
We held a competition for our active flag motto. The winners were announced in April 14 and the whole school community learnt the motto. It is also displayed in our school hall.
Throughout this process we wanted to help others. Mrs Griffin and her class led us on two charity walks. The older children nominated the younger children and helped them on these walks. Our first charity walk took place in May 14’ and we raised 1200 euro for the Jack and Jill foundation. In April 15’ we had our second charity walk and we raised a massive 808 euro for the Gary Kelly Centre a fantastic achievement by the whole school community.
Other active activities include swimming for 3rd class, tennis coaching for the whole school, entering Cumann na Bunscoil Competitions for girls and boys gaelic, 5th class fitness test chess and karate.
Wake-up, Shake-up morning activity.
We are all delighted to be back at school and getting active once again as a whole school community. On Friday mornings we are continuing with our wake up shake up activities. The whole school is involved and the Active flag Committee members lead the activity. Its a great way to start the school day and the children enjoy it immensely. To support our local football team in the county final the children wore green in last Friday. Click on the gallary below to see some pictures of our wake-up, shake-up morning activities.
Links with the Local Community:
As part of our Active Flag programme we had two senior players from our local Football Club visit our school and train all the children in Gaelic skills from Juniors to 6th Class. We enjoyed these training sessions and our skills were developed and most importantly the whole school community was involved.
A big thank you to St. Fechins Club for donating footballs and other G.A.A. equipment to our school. No doubt this new equipment will be used to help us maintain our active lifestyles here in Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal. Click on the photo to your left to see Brian Devlin from the St. Fechins Club presenting the pupils with the new equipment.
A big thank you to St. Fechins Club for donating footballs and other G.A.A. equipment to our school. No doubt this new equipment will be used to help us maintain our active lifestyles here in Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal. Click on the photo to your left to see Brian Devlin from the St. Fechins Club presenting the pupils with the new equipment.
The Infants are leading the way......
Since March 22nd last the Junior Infants are attempting to walk 1km a day for the remaining of the school year. The children walk around the large football pitch 4 times taking approximatly 10mins. A differentt class is invited to participate in the walk with the Juniors. This has been very successful. Other walking activities by infants include a walk around Flynns field where the children were sponsored and raised a massive 1200 euro for the Jack and Jill foundation. A big thank you goes to Mrs Griffin who is such a great role model to the infants of our school and organises these walks with the help and support of other teachers.
Poster Competition
To promote an active lifestlye we ran a poster competition. Each poster highlighed the benefits of staying active and showed ways of how to become more active in our daily lives. The standard was extremely high and Mr Reilly was very proud of the childrens efforts. Ms. O Callaghan and Ms Geraghty picked various winners from first to sixth class. They were presented with a prize during assembly and Mrs Victory congratulated everyone for their great effort. Below is a photo of the winners and some of the amazing posters.
Our Motto
Thank you to all the children who placed an active motto in our suggestion box last week. We had over fifty mottos. Our chosen motto was by John, Robbie, Ciara, Cian and Isabelle from sixth class. The motto is ;
" Get Active go out and play, thats the way to spend your day"
On Friday mornings we are continuing our morning wake up activities led by our active school committee members.
" Get Active go out and play, thats the way to spend your day"
On Friday mornings we are continuing our morning wake up activities led by our active school committee members.
Active School Week:
Last week we had our Active School Week. The whole school community got involved. We began each morning with wake up, shake up morning activities. On Wednesday morning 3rd to 6th class went to the local beach and walked 6k while juniors to 2nd class went for a walk close to the school. We then returned and had our annual sports day. This was a fun active day where all the children participated in all stations. On Thursday we had a skipathon for each class and on Friday we had a Jersey Day. Thank you goes out to all the children who gave the activities one hundred percent effort and also big thank you to the parents who provided lifts to the beach. Next week we will be picking our active motto for the school so watch this space!!! Click below to see the many photographs of our active school week
The pupils of Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Cartown have been very active this year. As well as following our P.E curriculum, we have had extra tennis coaching, hurling training, football caoching, football matches, walks in relation to our Greenschools Travel Flag, Buntus training for teachers etc. As a result of all of this hard work we have decided to apply for our Active School Flag. It is a whole school initative that works towards achieving the flag. Next term we are hoping to have an active week where all classes will partake in various active events and we will explore ways in which we can energise all subject areas so that learning can happen in a more physically active way throughout the day.
Our Active Flag Committee
Active School Flag Coordinator: Mr Reilly
Staff Members: Ms Geraghty
Mrs Lynch
Ms Nic Giolla Rua
Mrs Griffin
Ms O Callaghan
Second : Hannah Murphy, Holly Murphy , Daniel Reilly, Nicole Flynn.
Third Class : Sean Keane, Jayne Maher, Robert Mc Carthy
Fourth Class: Rosie Savage, Daniel Whealen, Hannah Mc Mahon
Fifth Class: Molly Mathews, Cathal O Reilly
Sixth Class: J.P. Clinton, Luke Mc Ardle
First Class: Kate Lynch, Charles Kirwan
Our Active Flag Committee
Active School Flag Coordinator: Mr Reilly
Staff Members: Ms Geraghty
Mrs Lynch
Ms Nic Giolla Rua
Mrs Griffin
Ms O Callaghan
Second : Hannah Murphy, Holly Murphy , Daniel Reilly, Nicole Flynn.
Third Class : Sean Keane, Jayne Maher, Robert Mc Carthy
Fourth Class: Rosie Savage, Daniel Whealen, Hannah Mc Mahon
Fifth Class: Molly Mathews, Cathal O Reilly
Sixth Class: J.P. Clinton, Luke Mc Ardle
First Class: Kate Lynch, Charles Kirwan
