Pupils step it up for Active Schools’ Week

ST FIACHRA’S Junior National School, Beaumont, had children, teachers and even parents on their feet for their annual Active Schools’ Week event.

The week of exercise and activities took place as part of the national Active Schools’ initiative of which the school is a member.

Led by Junior Infants’ teacher, Pauline Keane, children in all four years took part in new sports and games daily such as Ultimate Frisbee, yoga and athletics.

One of the highlights was the new ‘Wake Up, Shake Up’ programme in which children and their parents did 10 minutes of dancing and light exercise alongside their teachers before classes began.

Speaking to Northside People, Ms Keane explained how it quickly became one of the most popular events of the week and the effect it had on her students.

“It really improves their concentration first thing in the morning and shakes away the cobwebs,” Ms Keane said.

“The feedback has been excellent. Parents find that the kids are dying to get out of bed and be on time because they want to get to school for the ‘Wake Up, Shake Up’.”

The week also saw children from each of the 26 classes run one mile around the school throughout the week as part of a ‘school marathon’.

This, in conjunction with the new sports the children were introduced to, had a positive impact on the their mood and behaviour, both inside and outside the classroom.

“When you see them coming up to lunchtime when they’re flailing a little bit, we go out and do our lap of the school,” Ms Keane said.

“They love it and they come back energised and I’ve heard a number of the teachers saying we should keep this up too. I’d love to keep it going. The children also took part in a hula hoop championship, ‘skipathons’ and a mixed teacher-students’ football match.

An Active Schools’ Committee, comprising children who provided positive feedback and suggestions throughout the week, assisted Ms Keane for the initiative. 

Ms Keane is hoping that the events will have a positive effect on the children’s physical wellbeing throughout the year.

“We feel we have a responsibility to do our part by ensuring they (the children) are getting their 60 minutes of PE a week and encouraging parents also,” she added.

“We’re trying to mould a healthy lifestyle with our Active Schools’ flag and drum in how important it is for kids to go out and get active.”

REPORT: Daniel O’Connor