ST. GARVANS NS

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

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As a whole school staff, we chose Games as the area to focus on this year in St. Garvan’s NS. We began by carrying out a survey of the children's favourite games. This data was gathered in pupil surveys and displayed on the Active School Flag Noticeboard. We purchased the necessary sports equipment needed to support the teaching and learning of games in our school such as new footballs, tennis balls and tennis rackets. All teachers made a special emphasis on teaching games in PE lessons with the warm-up for most lessons consisting of small games to promote movement. As a way of introducing our students to games and sports they may never have tried, we made a conscious effort to introduce taster sessions of games such as Handball to our Active Week program of events.

 

MORE PICTURES AND UPDATES HERE ACTIVE FLAG 2023

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Teacher training is a valued part of the professional ethos in St. Garvan’s NS. Ms. Kingston attended the PDST training days on implementing the Move Well Move Often Fundamental Movement Skills this year and last year. This knowledge and the accompanying resources were shared with the staff.

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Active School Flag progress has been discussed at staff meetings during the year. Upcoming events such as Active Week, visits from coaches, PAWS visitor and sports days were all communicated to staff.   PE lessons were discussed regularly with staff sharing ideas for games development as this is our chosen area to work on this year.

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The PSSI Lesson Plans and Move Well Move Often Skills and Activities books were a great help in this regard.  

In September, the pupils did a survey of PE equipment in our school to see what we had available. The active school committee carried out a stocktake. We found that we needed to purchase some simple new equipment to help teachers with PE lessons and help us implement better playground games. We purchased items such as beanbags, tennis rackets, tennis balls, footballs, basketballs. The Active Committee pupils then tidied and labelled our PE Equipment storeroom.

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Physical Activity

As well as teaching Physical Education in St. Garvan’s we strive to encourage Physical Activity throughout the school day. All pupils are aware of the importance of receiving 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each day.

​We have established a committee comprised of students and teachers who help come up with ideas and initiatives to keep our students and staff active. The 5th&6th Class pupils all take turns at being ‘Playground Leaders’, their role includes following the rota of activities set up by the Active Flag Committee, ensuring that each pupil in the school takes part in the activities, taking out any equipment needed and returning it after break time and collating data.

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​We have active breaks every day at St. Garvan’s. Some of the activities we take part in are 10@10, Go Noodle, Guided Dance, 10 minute HIIT sessions, Walk on Wednesday, No Football Fridays, Game of the Week and Music in the Yard. The Senior Room stand up for their Mental Maths which promotes less time sitting.

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We are trying to be more active instead of standing still in a line while we wait for our teachers to take us back to class!

​We have taken part in the ‘Run Around Ireland’ challenge. The Playground Leaders record the total number of kilometres/metres walked/ran/skipped each week and see which town/landmark they have arrived at.

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​At Halloween we dress up, meet at our local football pitch and walk to school. At Christmas we do the 12 Days of Fitness and the Crazy Santa Dance. During Seactain na Gaeilge we play our active games/activities using Gaeilge instructions. Pupils, parents and teachers all participate in the National Spring Clean up. On St. Patrick’s Day we do Irish dancing.

We encourage all pupils to walk or cycle to school.

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Partnerships

We encourage all pupils in St. Garvan’s to get involved in activities outside of school. We completed a survey and found that a lot of our pupils are involved in community sports clubs.

Each week the pupils receive football/athletics training from a local sports coach/Gaelic footballer Christopher Barrett. Christopher is a coordinator with Clg Baile Na NGalloglach. He prepares the pupils for the Community Games and other competitions.

We have had a visit from Kirsty Browne from Donegal Sports Partnership for Ag Sugradh le Chéile

Every year we combine our Schools Sports Day with Brownknowe N.S

During the last term of school 5th and 6th Classes join with the pupils from St. Joseph’s N.S and Brownknowe to complete a week of sailing at Rathmullan Sailing Club

We have taken part in the FAI 5 Aside and 7 Aside Football tournaments.

We have links with the Whitestrand Football Club and often use their pitch for various activities.

An Education Development Officer at Water Safety Ireland will visit the school on the 2nd of June to consolidate the pupils’ learning of the PAWS programme.

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Active Schools Week 2023

The Active School committee devised a timetable of activities for the yard, for break times and they set a challenge each day. We had a skipping challenge, a hula hoop challenge, a running challenge, a penalty challenge and a handball challenge.

We had visitors who gave us demonstrations, talks, advise and taught us new skills, as well as having lots of fun.

Our visitors included; a coach from our local GAA club, a Donegal County footballer, a World Champion Handball player alongside a parent and a past pupil who did soccer with us. We also attended the Zoom Dare to Believe Olympic Schools Programme where we met two of Ireland's top Olympians Rhys McClenaghan and Olympic Medalist Aidan Walsh.

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