Active School Flag is an initiative supported by the Dept of Education & Skills, based in Mayo Education Centre.  Once awarded this flag is valid for 3 years. This initiative wishes to recognise schools that strive to achieve a physically educated, physically active school community by awarding them the Active School Flag.

Flags were awarded to schools that:

  • Follow a P.E. timetable for all students
  • Teach a broad, balanced and Inclusive P.E. curriculum-Research shows that active children find it easier to concentrate and focus, behave better and enjoy school more.
  • Inform and invite the whole school community to participate in the ASF process
  • Organise an ‘Active School Week’ (Our Active Week will take place from May 22nd to 26th).
  • ASF encourages less active pupils to enjoy physical activity more. It asks schools to move their focus away from sport, towards physical activity and away from competition towards participation.
  • The process provides ongoing opportunities for student voices to be heard. It invites student feedback, ideas and suggestions and challenges students to lead change within their schools.

Healthy minds and bodies “Mens sana in corpore sano” is integral to our planning here in St. Joseph’s. We offer a wide and varied menu of physical activity, both indoor & outdoor as well as instilling the importance of healthy eating.

Please visit our Instagram @stjosephs_ps for lots of pictures, videos and also to keep up to date with our Active Flag news.

Local Sports Partnerships

We are lucky that our school has strong connections with local sports organisations such as the Camogie Club, Athletics Club, Gaa Club, Ladies Football Club, Pitch and Putt Club, Badminton Club and Soccer Club. We are very grateful to North Tipperary Sports Partnership with whom we have worked closely over the past few years and kindly deliver Indoor Athletics Equipment in the first school term each year.

A coach provided by Leinster Rugby came to the school for a 12 week period this year to coach the children from senior infants to 6th class in tag rugby. The children really enjoyed this. This coaching will resume again in September 2023.

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Active Schools Committee:

Our Active Schools Committee has a representative from classes Seniors to 6th Class in the school.

This year’s committee is:

Sierra & Sinéad 6th Class, Ava 5th Class, Caoimhe 4th Class, Bridie & Ellen 3rd Class, Ciara S 2nd Class, Ciara C 1st Class, Cian & Phoebe Senior Infants.

 

 

Active Schools Motto

We ran a competition amongst all pupils to choose our Active Schools Motto.  We got some fantastic suggestions and the winning slogan was designed by Aimee Fogarty  from 5th Class with her motto – ‘Hop, Skip, Jump, Play. A New Adventure Everyday’.  This motto is now on display in all classrooms throughout our school.

Active Schools Noticeboard:

Keep an eye on our Active Schools Noticeboard in the Halla for all of our Active Schools news!

 

 

Below are just some of the activities that we enjoyed since September 2022!

Cross-country running

Well done to all of our girls who participated in Cross Country Championships in Thurles Crokes last September. An active and fun start to the new school year.

Ladies Football U13 and U11 teams 

 

We enjoyed an excellent Football season, and were heartened by the numbers of girls who were interested in joining our football team and after-school training. This year we were finalists in both U11 and U13 Roinn A competitions.

 

Volleyball

Our 5th & 6th class Volleyball teams participated in the regional finals in Portlaoise this year.  Our 6th class team progressed to National Finals in U.L. and finished the year as All Ireland Quarter Finalists.

Orienteering in The Park!

In October 5th and 6th class enjoyed a day orienteering in the Park with Tipperary Orienteering.

 

Gymnastics

During term one, Jill from School Fitness Ireland provided very enjoyable lessons in gymnastics. The children thoroughly enjoyed this while improving their fundamental movement skills.

Pilates for Teachers

A lot of our staff availed of after-school pilates classes with Ciarán. This went on for eight weeks and some never seen before poses were discovered by the staff!!

     

Pilates for Students:

We were delighted when Ciarán agreed to teach a three week programme to the children in term three.

Basketball

6th class girls attend basketball training after school on Wednesdays. This is a fun based approach to basketball while learning the basic skills of dribbling, passing and shooting. We went to Borrisoleigh NS in October for some friendly games and will attend a basketball blitz on May 17th in the Presentation Convent, Thurles.

Skipping- Climb the Heights Challenge

Every class took part in the Climb the Heights Challenge. Classes picked a mountain and found the height of the mountain in metres. The aim was to get to the top of the mountain. Each skip was equal to 1 metre. Well done to all classes for reaching their summits!

Our classes take turns to use skipping ropes at breaktime in the yard. On Sports Day we will have our Skipping Race, which is enjoyed by infants right up to 6th class.

Cycling

5th and 6th class completed a 6 week Cycling & Road Safety course. This was a fantastic experience through which all of our girls became more competent and safe cyclists. Well done girls and thank you to Jason and Jim for facilitating the lessons.

 

Scoot to School:

As part of the Green Flag initiative  Infants to 6th class scooted to school as part of National Scoot to School Week which was held on the week of March 27-31. This was so successful that it was decided to continue with SOW (Scoot on Wednesday) for the remainder of the term.

 

9@9:

On Monday morning’s we begin our week with 9 minutes of exercise at 9am. This helps to energise the children and get them ready for the day ahead. We use Joe Wick’s as a 5 minute warmup, followed by a children’s choice from Just Dance.

Swimming:

Swimming has been a big part of our physical activity in St. Joseph’s. We are blessed in having a pool so near to our school, in the Garda College. Unfortunately the pool never re-opened after covid. The community and local schools fought hard  to overturn the decision not to reopen this fantastic facility. The children were involved in the campaign to get our swimming lessons returned to the Garda College pool.

The pool was eventually reopened this Spring and children from 3rd to 6th class will avail of lessons until June.

Run Around Ireland:

Before Easter all classes competed in the Run Around Ireland Challenge. Classes decided where they would run to and calculated the distance from school. One lap of the school equals one kilometre. Classes ran as far as Malin Head, Mizen Head and many places in between! Well done to all for taking part.

Active Week (May 22nd – 26th):