Active School Flag Campaign
What is an Active School?
The Active School Flag (ASF) is awarded to schools that strive to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community. The process aims to get more schools, more active, more often.
Schools wishing to achieve the ASF begin the process by self – evaluating their current provision across 3 areas; Physical Education, Physical Activity and Partnerships. Schools must also organise an Active School Week programme and commit to having it as part of their annual school calendar. Schools that can say ‘yes’ to all of the ASF success criteria will be awarded with the active flag. The flag remains valid for a period of 3 years after which time schools will be invited to re-apply.
ASF is a Department of Education and Skills initiative supported by Healthy Ireland.
Our school website page is dedicated to Our Active School Flag Campaign is packed with lots of the things we have been doing to get our pupils more active! See below for an insight into what we have been up to!
“Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte”
Active School Flag News & Events!
The Physical Education Curriculum 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. The P.E. curriculum provides a balanced range of activities for children through the six strands: Athletics Dance Gymnastics Games Outdoor and adventure activities Aquatics. The current curriculum was introduced as part of the Primary School Curriculum (1999). Here in Saint Michael’s National School we aim to provide a balance PE Programme, contributing to the overall development of the child. Schools have long been viewed as important settings for the socialisation of children, thereby influencing their health and social development. Educational outcomes are a recognised determinant of both child and adult health, consequently schools have both an immediate and longer-term influence on children’s well-being. In recognition of this role, the concept of the HPS was first proposed. Offering PE is essential to promoting physical, social, emotional and mental health in children and helping in developing a holistic child. Saint Michael’s National School have embraced becoming an Active School in order to provide this opportunity for all our pupils. As a staff we have looked at several different areas in order to improve our approaches and knowledge in the area of PE education, some of which are detailed below. Planning: […]
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During our school closure due to Covid -19, we were very conscious of the impact the virus was causing on our students and whole school community. As both a Health Promoting School and Active School, we decided to introduce an initiative called Wellness Wednesday to support children and families in maintaining fitness and mental health! […]
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The children in our in our school really enjoyed their first session of Relax Kids on Thursday 30th January 2020 and are excited about their next class. The sessions are aimed at primary school children and run in 6 week courses. They involve warm up and movement, relaxing mindfulness games, stretching and breathing exercises, massage, […]
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We got active for our Health Promoting Schools Campaign on Thursday 24th October 2019. We looked terrifyingly good as we did our various circuits. Well done everyone for your participation and a huge thank you to all our active leaders for leading the events.
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Our children continue to focus on Health Promotion and continue to practice our Active Flag Initiative as they take part in soccer skills with Euan Treanor during September and October. Have a look at some of their activities below! Thanks to Euan for visiting our school and sharing his knowledge and expertise with us.
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On Friday 21st June 2019, we were very fortunate to be offered a free taster session from Bike Green by the Monaghan Sports Partnership. Junior Infants, Senior Infants and First Class got to learn many valuable cycling skills, using balance bikes. A massive thank you to Seán and Francis for coming to visit us today […]
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There was huge excitement in St. Michael’s National School on Wednesday 19th June 2019 as we came together as a school community to raise three very important and well-deserved flags. Both staff and pupils have worked extremely hard and have shown huge dedication and commitment to achieve a flag for Water Conservation and Preservation, a […]
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Congratulations to the children from Mrs. Mc Guirk’s first class who were chosen to represent us at the Conor Mc Skeane Memorial Shield Football Blitz. Well done on your fantastic efforts and congratulations on receiving your two beautiful medals! It is wonderful to see our school competing in this very special and worthwhile annual event. […]
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Congratulations to the boys in third class on their recent achievement in the Under 10 Gaelic Football Community Games Competition. The boys reached the county final and should be very proud of their efforts!
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On Tuesday 14th of May 2019 we were very active in our school. We were fortunate to have Ryan Gaffney (on behalf of Monaghan G.A.A.) with us today to give us a taster session in hurling. The boys and girls had great fun and they also got the opportunity to practice some hurling skills. See […]
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