1. Robertstown National School
Active Schools
Robertstown National School

2. The Active School Flag was launched by the Department of Education in May 2009.   It is a non-competitive initiative which seeks to recognise schools that strive to achieve a physically active and physically educated school community. Over the last few years RNS are participating in the initiative and are hoping to achieve the Active School Flag. 
In order to be successful in the Active School Flag we must self-evaluate, plan, implement and monitor improvements in several areas such as the children’s physical activity throughout the day, our active travel efforts and our partnership with the local community. A few weeks ago we saw children wearing some very imaginative footwear in our “Funky Feet Walk to School” during Active Schools Week.
As the Active School Flag involves the whole school community we always encourage parents to provide opportunities for the children to be active at home. Weekend hill walks, housework to music, football in the garden or stretches before bed are some of the ways we can incorporate activity into our day. Your support of the Active School Flag is greatly appreciated.  Please find below the different initiatives and strategies we have undertaken through the Active School Flag programme.
Thank you .    (Ms. Conroy and Ms. Lonergan) 

3. Our Active Schools Committee 2016-2018
Our team work hard in order to promote active opportunities throughout our school day.

4. Physical Education
We prioritise physical education in our school and children are given every opportunity to be active within the school day.

5. Our Robertstown National School P.E. Curriculum
The PE curriculum provides a balanced range of activities for children through the six strands:
•Athletics
•Dance
•Gymnastics
•Games
•Outdoor and adventure activities
Aquatics.
RNS Physical Education (PE) programme is for children from junior infants to sixth class. The curriculum contributes to children’s overall development by helping them to lead full, active and healthy lives.
In Robertstown school we are committed to promoting active breaks by our “Do the Walking While You’re Talking” initiative.

6. Here at Robertstown N.S. each class receives at least one hour of P.E. For many students it is their favourite time of the week. Our P.E. classes are made up of the six strands of the P.E. curriculum and throughout the year we take part in games, athletics, gymnastics, dance, outdoor and adventure activities and aquatics. We think P.E. is a very important subject and we follow a school P.E. policy and timetable for teaching the various strands. Our teachers have dedicated time to discussing together the developmental plan for PE on a monthly basis and identify strategies to make our P.E. lessons fun and interesting. They are always sharing different P.E. ideas and activities with each other and they have completed courses on P.E. to make our lessons more fun and interesting. Our P.E team this year consists of Mrs.Sherlock, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mrs. McCaffrey, Mr. O’Donohue and Ms. Conroy. Ms.Conroy liaises with the active schools committee to provide feedback on their ideas.
It is a fun and a good way to get exercise. Ziva’s favourite game is kick rounders and Anna’s favourite is soccer and dodge ball.

7. First Class Building Shelters
First Class Building Shelters. This was part of SESE strand learning about “homes and shelters” and linkage with our PE outdoor and adventure strand.

8. Both Ziva and Anna were members of last year’s Active School Committee and are still very involved in promoting Active Schools in Robertstown National School

9. When we started the Active School process both teachers and pupils agreed that gymnastics was the are of the P.E. curriculum that we really needed to give more attention to. We got intensive P.E. instruction from fully qualified and very talented gymnasts and thoroughly enjoyed it.  It was a brilliant opportunity and everyone agreed it was very worthwhile.  We hope to continue this in the 2017/18 year and have six block lessons in the gymnastics club.  We also now try to do more gymnastics at school focusing mainly on static stretches and sequences as we can safely do these in our classroom. 
Gymnastics Strand

10. Our P. D. S. T. Workshop On Fundamental Movement Skills. Ms
Our P.D.S.T. Workshop On Fundamental Movement Skills. Ms. Magrane and Mr. O’Donoghue have both attended courses on developing the physically literate child.

12. We organised a school art competition for promoting a “Do Your Walking While You’re Talking” policy in our yard. All classes entered.

13. This encourages children to walk during lunchtime instead of standing around chatting.

15. Walking keeps you healthy and helps to boost your mood and self esteem
“Walking is fun and interesting ..you get to notice things along the way
Exercise make you feel calmer and happier
Many teachers report that children who walk and exercise regularly are more alert and ready to learn
Walking is sociable when you ask a friend to join in

16. Physical Activity – is always encouraged

18. The Golden Boot Award is awarded to classes who excel in their participation in physical activity. Junior Infants are the current award holders – Well done Mrs. McCaffrey and her active bunch !
Did You Know: The Golden Boot once belonged to star tennis player and extremely active staff member (soon to retire) – the great and beloved SHEILA LYNCH !!!!!!!

19. Celebrating Our Successes

21. Our Partnerships

22. Partnerships
“Our school is firmly committed to working closely with students, children, local community and national bodies to work towards creating a school that encourages an active lifestyle. Our teachers Ms. Conroy and Ms. Lonergan, together with the student-elected Active Schools Committee are to be congratulated for the work they do to ensure this happens in our school. Recently they organised the Active Schools Week which was a huge success. Comhghairdeachas! ”
(Marion Sherlock – Principal RNS)

23. Partnerships in Robertstown National School
RNS welcomes involvement from groups in the local community. Here are some of the groups involved:
Playball Kildare run an after-schools club in RNS
Robertstown G.A.A.
Robertstown Athletics Club
Foxes Cill Dara Rugby Club
P.D.S.T.
Coill Dubh G.A.A.
K-Leisure Swimming Naas

24. GAA Youth Development Officer (Kildare GAA, Hawkfield)
Mark Fitzharris teaching First Class some football skills.

25. Conor Gordon from Coill Dubh Hurling club was involved last year in coming in to train the children on a weekly basis.
Garda Tom Egan and the road safety authority visited the school to speak to the kids on Road Safety. Hi-vis bag covers were distributed to the kids.

27. Active Schools Week

28. Every morning the ASC organised a “Wake Up Shake Up” exercise to music.

29. Here are some of the lunchtime activities we organised !
A.S.C
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
J. Infants
Niamh
John
Teddy Throwing
Competition
Speed Cup Stacking
Hula Hooping
Target Games
Games:
Balancing
S. Infants
Shannon
Sean
1st Class
Willow
Skipping
2nd Class
Ella
Balancing/
Keepie Uppies
3rd Class
Tristan
Welly Throwing
Burpee Challenge
Keepie Uppies/
Balancing games
Stick (jumping)
4th Class
Naoise
Sticks (jumping)
5th Class
Erin
Sticks
(jumping)
6th Class
Oisín

30. Funky Feet Walk On Wednesday
25th April 2018

31. Walk to School

32. Run-A-Thon

33. We asked some Robertstown National School students what they thought of Active Schools Week

34. Representative from 3rd Class
…“all the children got active each morning for Wake Up Shake Up, it was great fun and gave all the children more energy for the day”
Representative from 3rd Class
Active school’s representatives from 3rd class did an interview about his impression of Active Schools Week

35. “I really liked when we did the running around for the Run-A-Thon
“I really liked when we did the running around for the Run-A-Thon. You could get air and you could run really fast. The music made me keep going”

36. How Much Physical Activity Do We Need ?
Children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity daily.
Aerobic Activities: Most of the 60 or more minutes per day should be either moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. Include vigorous-intensity physical activity at least 3 days per week.
Muscle-strengthening Activities: Include muscle-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week, as part of the 60 or more minutes.
Bone-strengthening Activities: Include bone-strengthening physical activity on at least 3 days of the week, as part of the 60 or more minutes.
Activities should be age-appropriate, enjoyable, and offer variety.

38. Junior Infant Winners of The Golden Boot Award for Funky Feet Participation