Physical Activity
'Be Wise, Exercise' Active School Slogan
Active Lines.
When the bell rings at the end of break and lunch-time every student participates in Active Lines. This takes place on a daily basis. Active Lines is led by our Active School Committee who blow the whistle to start and finish and they also demonstrate the exercises. Example of exercises include: Burpees, squats, line cross, high heels and punch bag, to name but a few! The exercises are displayed on a notice board and are changed weekly. There are two options placed on the notice board, one for dry ground and one for wet ground.
Playground Leaders
Since January, students from 3rd to 6th classes have volunteered as playground leaders. They teach Junior and Senior Infants games and skills on a weekly basis. The leaders teach the games at lunch-times on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The infant classes were surveyed to find out which games they wanted to learn. Playground leaders continues until the end of the year. Examples of games that have been taught can be seen below.
National Fitness Day
On the 29th September 2017 we marked National Fitness Day. All students, as part of their school teams participated in a Treasure Hunt Trail. This involved 24 exercise points at a variety of locations around the school grounds. Each team started at a different marker. At each marker they completed an exercise and then moved to the next station, following the trail cards. Each team was given a rope to hold on to when going from place to place.
10@10
Our 10@10 takes place on the first Wednesday of every month at 10 o'clock. It takes half an hour. Every student gets involved in this activity as part of their school team. 10@10 begins with a warm-up in the school yard led by our ASC. We then participate in 12 exercise stations. We have some tunes pumping to help us move faster. Example of exercises include: Skipping, mountain climbers, step-ups, invisible chair, pop squats.
10 @ 10 on Sunny Days moves up the field!
'Do Your Talking as You’re Walking’
We have created a ‘Do your Talking as Your’re Walking’ route around the school. Students are encouraged to use this route at lunch and break-times. We have had several weeks where at the end of break and lunch-times the whole school participates in a ten minute walk of this route.
'Early Birds on the Move’
Since September we have been participating in ‘Early Birds on the Move’ to get the whole school moving more in the mornings and to build fitness levels. This involves a run around the school after the bell rings. Every class has a designated morning for running at 9.20am. The children run laps of the school. The distance and time is increasing as the year progresses. Infant classes use counters to keep track of their laps. This is really improving our students fitness levels and means they are wide awake when they arrive into class.
Active Archie
Archie is a very active teddy bear. Archie has travelled around Ballyadams parish visiting the homes of the children in Junior and Senior Infants and First and Second class. He has been on woodland walks, bounced his heart out on trampolines, played soccer, cycled, you name it he has done it! The children record Archie’s adventures in his diary and each child tells the class all about his adventures the next day.
Basketball Leagues.
During February, March and April we have run basketball leagues in the school hall at lunch-time and break-time thanks to the addition of our new hoops and basketballs. The students took on the roles of referee, score-keeper and time-keeper. The league for 5th and 6th class boys ran during March and April. The basketball league for 3rd and 4th class is running at present. It takes place at break-times in the school hall.
Gaelic Football League
During September and October we ran a Gaelic football league for girls from 3rd to 6th class. These games were played during lunch-times. The children took charge of refereeing, umpiring and side-line duties.
Hallowe'en Walk
On 27th October 2017 we had our annual Hallowe'en walk. The students put a huge effort into making some really creative, home-made costumes. Lots of parents joined us on our walk down the road from the school to the crossroads and back to the school.
Santa Dash
Our Santa Dash took place on December 17th 2022. All students who participated ran/walked 3.3kms The route was on roads around our school. Members of the community and parents/guardians helped steward the route. Teachers ran and helped with providing refreshments of water and oranges when the children finished the run.
Seachtain na Gaeilge
In the weeks leading up to Saint Patrick’s Day the children from Junior and Senior Infants and First and Second classes enjoyed some Irish dancing lessons. Students from the older classes helped to teach the steps of the one, two, three. We created our own version of 'An Damhsa Mór' thanks to the help of our senior classes. The children enjoyed a Ceilí on the 15th March 2018.
Easter Exercise Trail
On April 8th 2022 all students, as part of our school teams participated in an Easter Exercise Trail. We made 24 points around the school yard and field. Each team followed the directions to go from place to place completing a variety of exercises along the way.
Easter Egg Hunt
On April 8th 2022 the children from Junior and Senior Infants, 1st and 2nd classes enjoyed searching for plastic eggs around the school grounds and field. The Active Committee hid all the eggs and kept track of how many eggs we had left to find. We searched for over 120 eggs.
Brain Breaks and Rainy Day Activities
Brain breaks are becoming part of our daily routine in Ballyadams NS. On rainy days teachers choose from a bank of activities they have to ensure students get their exercise, despite the weather. These activities range from doing a dance using go noodle, to squats, mountain climbers, lunges, pop squats to name but a few. All teachers have been given posters for their classroom with ideas for brain breaks and activities for rainy days.
