Being Active
In our school we have been very good when it comes to being active. Each class from Junior infants up to 4th class have been going out to the GAA coach every week for gaelic football. 5th and 6thclass have had a rugby coach come in and teach them rugby skills. These activities have been very enjoyable and we are very willing to participate. On Mondays the whole school have dance and each class have learnt a new dance. The children in our school also do go noodle for movement breaks as well as completing their mile a day around the River Fane and then onto the astro turf to run a few laps. We all love getting to do this and the fresh air is great for our minds and concentration. Speaking of the astroturf, we are extremely lucky to have this and it’s absolutely brilliant as we can get out on it in all types of weather without worrying about muck from the grass. In May time, we have our active schools week which is so much fun! We get to wake up, shake up in the lines in the morning followed by fun activities throughout the day. Swimming is also part of the curriculum and we go swimming in May. Last year we had gymnastics in the school and we learnt lots of new tricks and moves in a safe environment. Finally, Sports Day is one of the main things we look forward to at the end of the year as we have lots of races, The Ciáran Mc Geough Cup Final and the obstacle course.
Well-Being
Well-being is very important for our health. In our school we believe that school isn’t a place you should have to go rather you should want to go. We do several things to help with our “well-being”. Some things we do are mindfulness colouring in class, also 10-minute breaks help to make sure we don’t get too stressed. We follow the Kiva Program. Kiva helps prevent bullying which makes school a happier place. We have methal in our school. Methals are all 5th and 6th class pupils who take it in turns to go on yard duty to help with junior and senior infants. We also have one very important thing that every school needs, which is caring staff.
Healthy Eating
Healthy Eating is good for us all. In our school, we eat healthy and have healthy lunch boxes. On Fridays we have treat sized snacks. We also have had the opportunity to have Food Dudes come into our school. We tasted lots of different fruit and vegetables that we hadn’t tasted before. The school has water dispensers to keep us hydrated. We are very lucky to have a breakfast club and school lunches. We also learn about food and nutrition in our daily lessons.
The Mile a Day Challenge
The Daily Mile is a by-schools-for-schools programme designed as a way of children achieving improved health and wellbeing through daily physical activity.
Simply put, The Daily Mile is 15 minutes wherein children jog or run, at their own pace, during the school day at a time of the teacher’s choosing. We recommend this be during lesson time, so children have their full break / play time. The Daily Mile is not Sport or PE, but rather health and wellbeing through physical activity.
The Daily Mile is a free, effective concept that any school can implement without the need for staff training. Its impact can be transformational – improving not only the children’s fitness, but also their concentration levels, mood, behaviour and general wellbeing.
Simply put, The Daily Mile is 15 minutes wherein children jog or run, at their own pace, during the school day at a time of the teacher’s choosing. We recommend this be during lesson time, so children have their full break / play time. The Daily Mile is not Sport or PE, but rather health and wellbeing through physical activity.
The Daily Mile is a free, effective concept that any school can implement without the need for staff training. Its impact can be transformational – improving not only the children’s fitness, but also their concentration levels, mood, behaviour and general wellbeing.
