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What is the Active School Flag all about?

Whitechurch National School is working towards receiving the 'Active Schools Flag'. The Active School Flag is a non-competitive initiative which highlights the importance of physical activity and sport in schools and communities in which they are based. The programme encourages all schools to evaluate their current position regarding the provision of Physical Education (P.E.) and after-school sports. Another area that requires attention is investigating community based activities for the children and increasing parents' awareness of facilities, teams and clubs in the community. The school has selected representatives from 1st - 6th Class to form an 'Active Schools Committee' with these pupils working co-operatively with school staff and parents. This committee has been in place since April 2013. The committee meet and discuss activity-based topics within the school and community. The committee also encourage their classmates to 'Be Active' both during school and after school. It is our overall aim to provide a wide and varied approach to physical health in Whitechurch National School through the medium of P.E. and after-schools activities. We want to raise the awareness of the importance of being active, how fun it can be, how you can make friends and enjoy the benefits of a happy, healthy lifestyle. Watch this space as we endeavour to achieve Active School Flag status over the next year.

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We welcomed distinguished guests Ian Madigan and Stephanie Roche to our school on Wednesday 30th April.  Ian Madigan is an professional International Irish rugby player. Stephanie Roche is an Irish footballer who plays as a striker for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team. These athlethes helped the charity GOAL to launch their new event for schools Sports Challenge. RTÉ also made an appearance. Click on the icon to see the action of the day on RTE's 'News2Day' 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Active School Noticeboard

Keep an eye out for our Active School noticeboard and ‘Well Done Wall’ . This is a special area to recognise any sporting achievements of our students, both inside and outside school. You can also find out about upcoming events such as: Information on matches, information on any school activities, and information about community sports will also be available. So if you are thinking of taking up a new sport or activity outside of school, come and have a look here.

 

Well done Wall....

On Saturday 10th May I will be going to a little gymnastics competition. It is for my gymnastics club. After the competition there will be a family fun day. I am really looking forward to it, especially the competition. I really I hope I win. By Shona MacFadyen. (2nd Class)

 

Hi I am Conor. Me, my aunt, her 2 dogs Holly and Gigi and my dog and my mom walked around the fairy fort ruins  in Ticknock Mountain. The view was amazing. I threw sticks for the dogs while the grown-ups talked about boring stuff. When the dogs got thirsty, mom poured water into my hands and the dogs licked it up off my hands. It was great fun. Conor Walsh (3rd Class) 

 

Active School Committee
The following children have been elected for the Active School’s Committee:



Stephen Milmo-Penny 

Ross Williams

Shona MacFadyen

Lilianne Mutwarasibo

Stephen Sullivan

Stephen Whitehead

Jade-Lily Bannister 

David Forbes

 

 

The Active School Games Squad are also doing an excellent job at organising games and activities for the Junior 

and Senior Infant classes. They have volunteered some wonderful ideas and novel games for the Infants to play during their break time.

Well done 5th Class.

 

Thank you to Solo Anthoni, Ms. Jackie Sullivan, Mr. Paul Cron, Ms. Alison Walsh and Mr. Billy Quill

 for acting as the parent representative on the Active School Committee. 

If any other parent is interested please let Ms. Horan know.

 



The Active School Motto

We can confirm that our new School Motto is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well done to all the wonderful suggestions and ideas. Our new school motto makes an appearance in all classrooms. Please look out and see if you can spot it in your class!

 

 

 

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Active School Run to Mizen Head
Over the summer term we are aiming to run 380 kilometers, which is the distance from our school gate to Mizen Head. Mizen Head peninsula is Ireland's most south westerly point. We will do this by calculating how many times we would have to run around our basketball court to run 380 kilometers. Each week there will be an announcement in assembly, telling us how far we have gotten and how much more we will need to run in order for us to reach our target.
Off we go! 

























 

 

 

Active School Idea Box
There is a blue Active School Idea box just inside the front door. This is for parents, pupils or other people in the community who have any good ideas about how to make our school more active. Anyone who wants to give information about active events/ clubs in the area can also drop it in here and the Active School committee will make sure that it is placed on the noticeboard

 

 

 



How you can help:

 

• Do at least 30 minutes physical activity after school every day.

• Bring in any cups/trophies/medals that you are awarded and let us know about any sporting achievements.

• Make an effort to walk/ cycle to school. If you live far away you could try walking some of the way.

• Think about a suitable slogan/motto to help us encourage everyone to become more active.

•  Put all your great ideas into the Active School Flag Ideas box.

• Bring a healthy lunch with lots of fruit and vegetables to make sure you have enough energy for an active school.

• Keep an eye on the website and the Active Flag Noticeboard for upcoming events.

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The Active School Flag was launched by the Department of Education in 2009.
It is a non-competitive initiative which seeks to recognise schools (both primary and post primary) that provide quality PE, co-curricular physical activity and sports programmes for their students.​

 

In order to be awarded the Active School Flag Whitechurch National School must:​
 

1. Commit to a process of self evaluation in terms of the PE programmes and physical activity opportunities that we provide our students

2. Plan and implement a series of actions that will result in improved PE and physical activity provision

The initiative encourages a partnership approach. It empowers schools to become more proactive in approaching groups like the HSE, the PDST, NGBs, Local Sports Partnerships and Education Centres in assisting them to promote physical activity. We look forward to making even more improvements in our activities as a result of being part of the programme.