Goggins Hill NS is currently working towards attaining our first Active School Flag.
The active school flag initiative is a Department of Education and Skills initiative supported by Healthy Ireland.
It is aimed at encouraging a physically active school community.
There are 3 major parts of the process
- Physical Eduction
- Physical Activity
- Partnerships
In the school we have an Active School Committee made up of children from different classes.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
There is a PE timetable for all classes. The whole-school PE timetable has at least 2 timeslots devoted to PE classes per class.
Teachers use the Move Well, Move Often resources as well as the PSSI lessons for all strands.
the strands are Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics, Games, Outdoor and Adventure Activities and Aquatics.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Physical Activity is promoting movement and exercise in addition to PE already timetabled.
It is our aim that our school promotes 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity every day.
During breaktimes, children are encouraged to run or walk. We use equipment during the breaks and we aim to have Playground Leaders who set up these activities.
In summer 2021, the Active School Committee, with the help of 3rd/4th/5th classes came up with a whole- school slogan for ASF.
The winning slogan was ....
"DONT SIT-GET FIT"
Walkway
We set up a walkway/trail arounds the school.
This consists of 10 green control signs and 3 blue control signs. The Blue Signs are for active zones within the walkway , children can decide to give children active tasks at these stops e.g. star jumps, heel flicks, high knees, etc.
There are many activities that can be done along the walkway and the Active School Committee has been busy preparing handbooks for each class.
OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE SCHOOL WALKWAY – JUNE 2021
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
- Daily Mile – classes aim to participate in this as much as possible. A class record sheet is used to log their Daily Mile.
- Run Around Europe – this challenge will be starting in September 2021
- Active Breaks – these include Go Noodle, Busy Breaks, Tabata workouts, Table Tennis (Senior Classes)
- Active School Week in Term 3 – 1 week filled with lots of physical activities.
- Lunchtime soccer leagues – these are planned for Terms 2/3 of 2022
- Active Homework- occasionally PE is given as homework, especially during Active Schools Week or in June, where there is less written homework.
- Playground Leaders (pictured below)
Active School Playground Leaders
3rd Class Active Playground
4th Class Active Playground
5th Class Active Playground
6th Class Active Playground
PARTNERSHIPS
Local partnerships include Cork Sports Partnership and Ballinhassig GAA:
The school has strong links with eth local GAA club. A recent survey by the Active School Committee found that 42% of children in 4th, 5th and 6th classes were members of Ballinhassig GAA (hurling/camogie/football). The club has provided equipment for the school and has in the past provided coaches to support PE classes.
So far, the school has worked with CSP (Cork Sports Partnership) to introduce new sports to the school. Prior to lockdown a Tug Of War coach visited the school and worked with 3rd and 4th classes.
Joe, Tug of War Coach
- Table tennis at home programme – we began this programme in May 2021. it is hoped in the new school year we can access other sports
- Junior Parkrun – Incentive System (2021-22 in Ballincollig – after 3 parkruns a homework pass is awarded!
- 2k Junior Parkrun on Sunday mornings & 5k Parkrun on Saturday mornings.
Our SNA Louise spoke to the classes about Parkrun and helped create a lot of interest. We hope to get back soon!
