In Ballyfinane NS, we are working towards our first ever Active School Flag! A school is awarded their Active Flag status when they “strive to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community. The process aims to get more schools more active, more often.” Have a look below at our ASF activities over the past year!
Drop Everything and Dance
In December, 2 or 3 times during the school day we stopped whatever we were doing and just danced to the “Crazy Santa Dance.”
Active Lines
Each day, for the first week of each month, we danced to various songs like, the Macarena, the Birdie Song, at the end of each break. The playground monitors looked out for the line that was dancing really well.
Active School Walkway
During lockdown, Mrs Roper set up a Walkway in Kilaclohane and Ballyseedy Woods. A number of instructional videos were posted. We had to locate the stones with inspirational words such as “hope” & “love” written on them. We also enjoyed the walkway when we returned to school. It was great fun!
Feel Good Fridays
During lockdown families participated in many Feel-Good Friday activities, including going for walks, doing yoga and other activities. Back at school we are continuing to maintain links with the parents and community by encouraging all to participate in the Feel-Good Friday tradition on the last Friday in each month.
Daily Mile
We set the daily mile as homework during lockdown and we have continued this at school. Below see pictures of us picking blackberries in September. We later made blackberry jam.
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- We walked 2km whilst litter picking
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- We danced barefoot on the grass
Active Week
We had Yoga lessons with Miss O’ Connor
We took up some Olympic Challenges. Here we are shooting the can
Another Olympic challenge – carrying the glasses of water whist stepping through the hoops and trying not to spill a drop.
We completed a “Run around Ireland” in the senior room and a “Run Around Kerry” in the junior room. We calculated the number of km from here to Carrauntoohil and ran laps around the field each day until we had completed the distance.
Bizzy Breaks
Since last December, we have been having Bizzy Breaks in class. This is where we stop and have a short period of physical activity. In the picture below we are having a Bizzy break with Linda.
Climb the Heights Skipping Challenge
In May, we challenged ourselves when skipping and recorded how many skips we did at home and at school. We also did some skipping as part of homework during lockdown.
Other Activities
Getting Active at the Beach
Getting Active digging for worms
In April, as part of our PE curriculum, we enjoyed orienteering
We enjoyed some hurling lesson for the first time in December 2020
We tidied up our PE cupboard
Water Safety Lessons - We completed a number of lessons on water safety from “Water Safety Ireland (PAWS).
