Lets get Active
Our Active School
An Active School is a school where physical activity is valued, promoted and enjoyed by all. The aim of the active school initiative is to enable
schools to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community. The ASF initiative provides schools with a framework to
guide, support and incentivise them to work towards achieving a physically educated and physically active school community. We have engaged with the active school program since 2014 and continue to practice its philosophies.
Active School Flag
We are now the proud recipients of three active school flags and continue to work towards receiving more in the future.
The Active School committee, under the guidance of Mrs Newman and
Mrs Monahan, ensure that we are all very active throughout the school
year.
Active School Initiatives
- The playground leaders organize sports equipment and play games with younger pupils during school breaks.
- Free Dance Friday is very popular. Two DJs play the songs while the leaders co-ordinate and lead the dance moves for the younger children. The pupils love to request their favourite songs and they choose themes to suit the time of the year.
- Movement breaks were incorporated into the school day. Pupils enjoy Bizzy Breaks, Gonoodle and laps of the astro or the field.
- The Active Schools Walkway was launched around the school field and the whole school took part in the 4 week ‘Run around Ireland’ challenge in March. Classes did laps of the astro or the field each day and virtually visited famous Irish landmarks.
- The whole school Active slogan competition was a huge success with entries from all pupils from 2nd to 6th class. Clodagh Leen, 6th Class, was the overall winner in the 2022/23 competition with her slogan ‘Don’t run a mile with negativity. Run a mile with Capability’.
- All classes go on Nature walks to the Grotto or the old school, a great way to keep fit and enjoy the fresh air.
Active School Week
29th May to 2nd June
The Active schools committee worked very hard to ensure a successful Active School’s week. The children participated in various activities; Hurling/Camogie(Willie Joe and Katelyn Leen), Football(Mairtín Ferris), Fitness Classes and yoga(Ready Hub Fitness), Boxing(Ballyduff Boxing Club), Badminton(Michelle and Misha from Ballyheigue Badminton club). Friday was jersey day and the pupils enjoyed Free dancing in the astro at lunchtime. During breaktime each day of active schools week, Rang a Sé organised games for the other classes e.g. Egg & Spoon, 3-legged races, sack race, wheelbarrow races, etc.
‘It’s My Party’ visited the school on Friday June 9th for an action packed and fun-filled day. The pupils enjoyed the following playground games;
Triple Hoop Basketball
Giant Inflatable Darts Board
Inflatable Footpool
Sumo Suits
Limbo Set & Astro-Soccer/football
Ball in the Bucket
Ring the Bull
Connect 4/Jenga/Snakes Parachute and Ladders
Please visit our facebook and instagram pages to see how much fun we had during our active schools week
PE Curriculum
Students at Scoil Naomh Erc spend at least one hour of timetabled physical education each week. The pupils engage in lessons that include the strands of athletics, games, dance, gymnastics, aquatics, and outdoor and adventure. Each strand is developed individually throughout the school year. Our curricular focus for this year is Games strand.
Teachers teach the fundamental movement skills of physical literacy using the ‘Move Well Move Often’ programme. Teachers target a minimum of 4 FMS in the school year.
Pupils get PE homework on days that they have PE as we recognise the importance of PE as a curricular subject.
5th & 6 th classes did swimming lessons in Banna Beach leisure centre in March 2022.
Our School Sports
At Scoil Naomh ERC we play a variety of sports in our PE classes and when representing our school in Cumann na mBunscoil competition , FAI soccer, basketball tournaments and Athletics meetings.
We are extremely lucky to have a state of the art astroturf pitch and a sports pitch in our school grounds
Our football, hurling, basketball and athletic teams always represent our school with pride and respect and in 2022 our school football team made history and broke new ground when they won the 6/7 class teacher schools competition in Cumann na mBunscoil, Ciarrai.
Not to be outdone by the boys our girls camogie team also made history in 2024 when they won the Cumann na mBunscoil Ciarrai camogie for the first time.
GAA
GAA is actively promoted in Scoil Naomh Erc. Giles O Grady coaches the pupils in hurling/camogie skills and Morgan Madden coaches the pupils in football. Mr. Pierce, Mr Lyons and Ms Diggin also coach the schools football and hurling teams. Many of Scoil Naomh Erc’s pupils are members of the local GAA Juvenile hurling club. To promote the game, Ballyheigue GAA club kindly presented the school with a set of hurleys which are always put to good use in the school.
Ms Brick organizes a school hurling league annually. Last year pupils from 3rd to 6th class were divided into 4 teams and played matches during lunchtime. The final was refereed by Ballyheigue and Kerry hurler Michael Leane, who presented the winning team with a trophy. Michael gave the boys and girls an inspirational speech and some valuable tips!
Athletics
Many pupils in Scoil Naomh Erc are members of St. Brendan’s Athletic club. Orla Fitzgerald coaches and prepares pupils for the Primary Schools Sports which is held every year in Ardfert. Qualifiers progress to county level in An Riocht, Castleisland. Glenderry pupils have been very successful in recent competitions.
