Physical Activity
Physical Activity is the promotion and engagement of exercise and movement in addition to the 60 minute per week timetabled curriculum subject of Physical Education. St. Margaret’s National School actively promotes the message that children require 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. We have been very busy engaging in a wide variety of different programmes, ideas, and initiatives which have inspired the children to become more active.
St. Margaret’s National School promotes the full range of fundamental movement skills during break times and pupils are encouraged to run, play and to do ‘talking as you’re walking’. We have two daily playground breaks and our schoolyard is zoned to allow children to engage in a variety of different activities. Our school has playground leaders who set up activities and sports equipment during break times for others to use.
All pupils engage in an extended classroom-based physical activity break on wet days and short physical activity breaks during the day.
Our school incorporates physical activity into school calendar events as we hold different seasonal activities.
St. Margaret’s N.S. Active School Slogan 2023-2024
The children came up with their own slogans and colourful posters to promote the importance ‘being active’. They came up with so many creative ideas and the overall winner was Robyn in Fifth Class who came up with the slogan ‘IF YOU MOVE FOR AN HOUR YOU CAN PROVE YOUR POWER’.
Active Halloween – Feel Good Fridays 2021
As part of our Active Halloween Fun Friday initiative the children participated in Halloween flash mob dances on the last day of school before the midterm. Infants and 1st & 2nd Class had been busy learning the Monster Shuffle dance throughout the week while 3rd – 6th Class learned the Monster Mash dance moves.
Active Yards 2021
The Active Squad have been trained in as playground leaders. They set up the cones and equipment on the yard for big lunch every day. They also collect the equipment at the end of yard time and clean it down to ensure that it's ready for the next day. The children are...
Jerusalema Dance Challenge
St. Margaret's NS accepted the Jerusalema Dance Challenge just before the mid-term break. This is a dance challenge popular around the world. It is intended to spread joy and positivity. Well done to all the children, families and staff that got involved. A big thank...
Goal Posts & Basketball Nets
We would like to say a big thank you to James Fitzgerald for sponsoring goal posts for our new playground. Many thanks also to Tommy Leonard for supplying our school with new basketball nets. The children are thrilled with the new sports equipment.
Playground Circuits
The Active Squad have been busy coming up with innovative ways to promote activity among fellow students. Since our playground extension, the children were eager to put up active circuits that everyone can use. Teachers can take their classes outdoors for movement...
Winners of the Mr. Mooney Shield Swimming Competition 2020!
Congratulations to the two children who won the Mr. Mooney Shield Swimming Competition for 2020. Here they are pictured with the coveted shield, presented by St. Margaret’s N.S. retired principal, Mr. Mooney. Well done to all the children who participated.
Active Home Week 2020
Normally Active School Week in St. Margaret’s N.S. takes place the first week of June. This year that’s not possible so we are reaching out to you to ask for your help with the Active HOME Week challenge, starting Tuesday 2nd June.
Christmas Flash Mob
On the last week of school before the Christmas holidays the 'Active Squad' decided to organise a flash mob for the last day of school. They came up with their own dance moves and taught the steps to every class in the school. We had great fun performing the dance in...
The Benefits of Exercise for Children
Do your children walk or cycle to school? Skip at home? Walk the dog? Dance to their favourite music? Whatever it is, we should all be more active, more of the time. There are many reasons that children should become involved in Physical Activities. Here are just some...
Seachtain na Gaeilge
During Seachtain na Gaeilge Irish music was played on the yard at playtime. The children also learned three new dances throughout the week which included the following: Ballaí Luimnigh, Shoe the Donkey and Dreoilín. Once each class had learned the steps "as gaeilge"...