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Active Flag

Welcome to the Active School Flag (ASF) section of our website.  The Active School Flag is awarded to schools who strive to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community. One of it's aims is to raise awareness, in the whole school community, of the need for physical activity in a healthy lifestyle. We are engaging in the active school process this year and hope to obtain our first Active Schools Flag. We have established our ASF team with our co-ordinator Mr Flanagan. Enjoy the photo album well you will see lots of activities. Committee members and more!
 

Our Active School Motto is:
‘Keep Active, Keep Cool, Even in St Columba’s School’  


​Physical Education
In accordance with our school PE plan, every class in our school receives at least 1 hour of physical education each week. Teachers use the primary school PE curriculum as well as the PSSI lessons plans to plan their lessons. We complete each of the following strands every year;
1. Games,
2. Dance,
3. Athletics,
4. Gymnastics,
5. Outdoor and Adventure
6. Aquatics. 

 

 

Physical Activity

 

St Columba's has registered for the Active Flag and has formed an Active Flag Committee. The committee comprises of the ASF coordinator, pupils from Junior Infants to 6th classes and other members of the teaching staff. The committee will work together with teachers, parents and local agencies to enable the whole school community to become more physically active.

The pupils on the active schools committee have been given leadership roles:

  • Active line leaders at the end of break

  • Playground leaders

  • Keep the P.E. store neat and tidy

  • Carry out surveys

  • Report any messages back to their class teachers and classmates

  • Organise and help set up equipment for Sports day/ Be Active ASAP/ Santa Dash etc

  • Organise equipment and look after their teams during 10@10

  • Lead warm ups/ cool downs as part of the 'Be Active ASAP' programme. 

 

St Columba’s incorporates physical activity into school calendar events. For example:

  • Autumn - Autumn Trails

  • Halloween – Classl Disco

  • Christmas – Santa Dash

  • Easter – Easter egg hunt

  • Spring – Spring Trails

  • National Spring Clean

  • Maths week – maths trails

  • ASW – Walk on Wednesday

  • 10@10 

  • Active Lines

  • Operation Transformation 

  • Daily Mile


Our School provides equipment for the children to use during break and lunch time as part of our Active Schools programme. Spongeballs and fun game ides are given to children as the Playground leaders help as much as possible. 

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As part of working towards our Active School Flag, we are taking part in a Running Challenge for 4 weeks. During this time, we build a running break into every day. It is an excellent way for children to learn about some of Ireland’s most famous landmarks and ideal for bringing learning outdoors. Class teachers will be given:

  1. A map of Ireland’s famous landmarks

  2. A class challenge chart where you can tick off each landmark as you run to it

  3. A laminated Progress Chart where you can record your progress daily and weekly.

  • The Challenge was completed at different times by different classes and on various routes throughout the day. 

  • We also chose to focus on the strand of Athletics in PE while taking part in this challenge.

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Partnerships

Partnerships within and outside the school are an important aspect of the Active School Flag to promote a physically active school community.

 

One of the most important partnerships in the Active School Flag programme is with the pupils of the school. Our Active School committee do a great job promoting active initiatives in our school and ensuring that everyone is encouraged to be as active as possible! The team meet regularly with our teacher representatives to identify priorities, offer suggestions, problem-solve any issues and plan new ideas. Each committee member is in charge of liaising with designated classes in the whole to ensure that everyone’s feedback is taken on board. This ensures that the Active School Flag process is inclusive of everybody. The committee members are also very good at reminding their teachers to take movement breaks throughout the day.

 

To make sure that all pupils have their voices heard we have an Active School Week suggestions box in the hallway. Children can write down their ideas on a piece of paper and anonymously post it in the suggestions box. We welcome any ideas on how we can make our school more active! This was also a great way to incorporate more of the children’s ideas into our recent Active School Week!

 

We have a strong partnership with our local GAA club Na Fianna. Donal, a coach from Na Fianna, visits our school regularly throughout the year to provide coaching in football & hurling/camogie to each class. The children look forward to these sessions and always enjoy them immensely!

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Children from each class also enjoy Basketball with Praha, learning new skills and playing some fun games.

Fun Fitness takes place in two blocks over the year, children enjoy lots of different topics such as Boxercise, Gymnastics and lots more!

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There is always lots of interest in Hurling and Football teams and also attending the Santry Athletics Competitions organised by Cumann na mBunscol each Summer. The GAA team won in Croke Park and the hurling team made it all the way to the final. The students compete in long distance; shot putt; high jump; long jump; relay races; sprint races and long distance events. They practise hard at school & also attend some after school coaching sessions with teachers! Last year we were delighted to come away with a some medals

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