Active Schools Flag

Welcome to Our Active Schools Page

2022/23

This year we are working towards getting our second Active Schools Flag for our school. The aim of the Active Schools Flag is to encourage schools to be more active, more often. It links in with all of the work we are doing throughout the year on Healthy Living – being active, getting exercise, taking care of our minds and bodies. You will find all the latest Active Flag news below.

Active School Committee Members 2022/23

PE Timetable

PE Timetable

 Marathon Kids

Over a period of 8 weeks, 5th and 6th class participated in 32 running sessions and completed their first marathon. They also learned about the physical and mental benefits of running. Former Irish athlete and world class sprinter, David Gillick, visited Ballygar N.S to present the students with their medals.

Marathon Kids

Marathon Kids Medal Presentation

Active Break Every Day

For the month of January all classes took part in a four week challenge to increase movement breaks during the school day. Every day, classes took a 5-10 minute break from school work to move. Some days the classes went outdoors to walk around the courts, while other days they had a movement break in their classrooms. The teachers and pupils enjoyed the challenge and were committed to achieving our goal to increase movement and physical activity throughout the school day.

Active Break Photos

Climb the Heights Skipping Challenge

During February the students completed the ‘Climb the Heights’ skipping challenge. This initiative encouraged students to be active and to work together to scale some of the highest peaks in Europe. It was a wonderful way of linking Physical Education with SESE. The ‘Climb the Heights’ poster was displayed in each classroom to monitor the students’ progress and to keep track of the mountains as we completed them. The aim was to climb to the top of Mont Blanc which is 4810m tall!

Climb the Heights Skipping Challenge

Playground Leaders

We have fantastic playground leaders in Ballygar N.S. The playground leaders plan and organise games for the Junior and Senior infants at lunchtime. They set up the equipment, explain and demonstrate the activities or games and then tidy away the equipment when lunch is finished. They are also great for encouraging and motivating everyone to get involved and to have fun.

Playground Leaders Photos

Dance

We have chosen Dance as our prioritized strand for this year. Every week, the playground leaders  organise ‘Hip Hop Wednesday’ which is a fun and exciting way to get everyone moving. Each class also had 5 dance sessions with the incredible Maeve from Fun2BeFit. The classes comprised of fun and exciting routines danced to the latest chart music as well as fitness games. We also learned some traditional Irish dances as part of our Seachtain na Gaeilge activities. Check out some of our dance moves below!

Dance Photos

Run Around Ireland Challenge 2023

All classes participated in the ‘Run Around Ireland’ Challenge from 17th April-12th May 2023. Each class displayed the Ireland map, laminated class challenge card and laminated progress chart in their classroom. We also completed the Maths project by working out the distance from our school to various landmarks around Ireland. Each class completed a running session daily and recorded the total amount of laps completed on their class progress chart. We had great fun completing this challenge.

Run Around Ireland

Active Schools 2018/19

Ballygar N.S is striving to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community. With help from our teachers, students, parents and wider community we hope that in 2019 our school will be recognised as an official ‘Active School’ and will be awarded our first Active School Flag.

As always, when the school community puts our collective minds to something we can achieve big things. This will be no different. So with everyone’s help, ideas and support, we expect to be flying the Active School Flag with pride at the end of this school year.

Meet Our Committee

Run Around Europe Challenge

We are taking part in the Run Around Europe Challenge.  This is a project by Sports Ireland to get children active.   Each day we will be running laps of our tennis court and will add our total distance together.

Maths Week

During maths week we took our lessons outside and took part in Maths Trails in our local environment

Science, Fun and Play

Our infants had great fun learning about push and pull forces in the playground.  We love incorporating physical activity into our lessons….Science, fun and play all in one.

The Irish Press Cup

On 1st October we had a very special visitor.  All Ireland Galway Minor champion Michael Flynn visited our school with the Irish Press cup.  There was great excitement on the day.  Michael spoke to the children and answered questions on fitness, training, diet and the All Ireland final.  Thank you to Michael Flynn and to Ronan Muldoon and Frank Harkins from Ballygar Hurling club for organising the visit.

Tug of War

Lisa from the Irish Ladies Tug of War team visited our school.  We had great fun learning the proper techniques.  We even had a challenge against the teachers. and the Teachers won!!!!!!!!!