At Kilsheelan NS, enhancing physical activity throughout the school day has been an integral part of working towards achieving the Active School Flag. We’ve introduced several initiatives designed to keep our students active, engaged, and excited about fitness.
One key initiative is our Playground Leaders program, where 3rd and 4th class students take on leadership roles during break times to organize fun, inclusive games for younger students. This fosters a positive playground atmosphere, creates new relationships between senior and junior students as well as ensuring every student has the opportunity to be active. Our school also implemented Active Breaks, in particular the Active Break Challenge, throughout the year. These short, structured breaks get students out of their seats and moving, helping them stay focused and energized for learning. Activities range from quick exercises, yoga moves, dance, laps to group games, giving students a well-rounded experience of fun physical activity.
As part of our commitment to active living, we took on the Run Around Europe Challenge, where each class aimed to “travel” to different European cities by tracking their running distances on school grounds. This challenge added excitement to our daily activities, promoting goal-setting and teamwork, as well as clearing the heads before new curricular challenges. Finally, we designed an Active Walkway around our school and adjacent GAA grounds, where students follow a mapped trail during breaks or as part of PE. The walkway encourages walking, jogging, and even light running, allowing students to stay active in a structured yet enjoyable way. Through these initiatives, Kilsheelan NS has created a dynamic, health-focused environment that prioritizes movement and well-being, bringing us closer to our Active School Flag goal.