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About UsAbout the Active School Flag Project:
The Active School Flag is a Department of Education and Skills initiative which recognises schools that strive to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community, by awarding them with an Active School Flag (ASF). To learn more about the Active School Flag Initiative, visit their website – http://www.activeschoolflag.ie Exercise is really important. It keep us fit and healthy, helps us to concentrate better in school and improves our mood. We should be exercising for at least 60 minutes a day. |
Our School |
Here at St. Gilson's National school we are working towards becoming an Active School. We are making changes in our school to promote physical activity and to encourage everyone to become more active.
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Our Committee |
Meet our committee members 2016/2017
We have children from 3rd to 6th class on our Active Schools committee. 2017/2018 We have children from 3rd to 6th class on our Active Schools committee. 
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How we are becoming an Active School
Busy Breaks:
We are having busy breaks throughout our school day. For our busy breaks, each class has been given a 10 minute slot on our timetable. During these 10 minutes, each class engages in an activity. Our Active Schools Committee have decided that it would be a good idea to vary this activity from month to month. For the months of October and November, we used Go Noodle. We danced to different songs such as Pop See Ko and Pop See Ko 2.0. We tried some zumba too. For the months of December and January, we made use of our running track in our school playground. Every day for 10 minutes we ran as many laps as we could. We recorded some of our personal bests and we could see a big improvement in our fitness over the two months of running laps. For February, we have decided to skip.
We are having busy breaks throughout our school day. For our busy breaks, each class has been given a 10 minute slot on our timetable. During these 10 minutes, each class engages in an activity. Our Active Schools Committee have decided that it would be a good idea to vary this activity from month to month. For the months of October and November, we used Go Noodle. We danced to different songs such as Pop See Ko and Pop See Ko 2.0. We tried some zumba too. For the months of December and January, we made use of our running track in our school playground. Every day for 10 minutes we ran as many laps as we could. We recorded some of our personal bests and we could see a big improvement in our fitness over the two months of running laps. For February, we have decided to skip.
PE Curriculum:
-Aquatics
-Outdoor and Adventure Activities
-Dance
-Athletics
-Games
-Gymnastics
-Aquatics
-Outdoor and Adventure Activities
-Dance
-Athletics
-Games
-Gymnastics
- Aquatics
- Swim classes for 2nd, 4th and 6th in Term 1 of our school year.
- Swim classes for 1st, 3rd and 5th in Term 2 of our school year.
- Kells Swimming Pool, Kells, Co. Meath.
- Outdoor and Adventure Activities
- Co-operative games
- Walks to and from our local library for 4th and 5th classes
- Orienteering in our school grounds
- PDST lesson plans are used throughout the school
- Dance
- Céilí do Seachtain na Gaeilge
- Go Noodle Dances used regularly throughout the school year to promote dancing in classrooms
- External dance teacher teaches dances to 6th class pupils for our Christmas concert
- Cha Cha Slide is performed as a whole school from time to time
- PDST lesson plans are used throughout the school
- Athletics
- Schools cross country is attended annually with children from 2nd - 6th class taking part in the Under 11 and Under 13 categories
- Skipping challenge completed in 2017 as part of a whole school initiative organised by our Healthy Ireland committee
- Running 9 laps of our running track equals 1km
- Taking part in running laps is part of our September and October daily activity in every class
- PDST lesson plans are used throughout the school
- Games
- GAA Coaching provided by our local GAA club
- Basketball Coaching provided to 4th and 5th classes
- Tag Rugby Coaching provided by Cavan Rugby Club
- Tennis Coaching provided to junior classes up to 3rd
- Some games included in our PE lessons: Benchball, Olympic Handball, Dodgeball, Foxes and Rabbits, Crab Football
- Playground Games: Tag, Dodgeball, Basketball, Football, Tip the Can, devising new games
- PDST lesson plans are used throughout the school
- Gymnastics
- Gymnastic movement and balancing sequences practiced on mats
- Counterbalances and partner balances practiced
- Our PE Curriculum is varied and allows children an opportunity to become exposed to a variety of physical activities. Our school offer Tennis Coaching for children in junior infants up to 3rd class. The children from 1st class to 6th class are given the opportunity to attend swimming lessons on a Friday afternoon for one full term. This gives our pupils a chance to engage in the Aquatics strand of our curriculum. Our school participates in the annual Meath Cross Country event. This promotes a huge interest in Athletics for our pupils. Earlier this year, John visited our school to teach us how to play tag rugby. It was great fun and we learned a lot of new techniques and skills from him. Our school boys and girls football teams are currently training for the up and coming Cumann na Bunscoil matches. Children from 4th to 6th class get involved every year. We are learning some new dances to perform at our school Céile for Seachtain na Gaeilge.
- Staff Training
- 2 staff members attended Workshops on Gymnastics in 2017 and ideas were shared with the whole staff
- 2 staff members completed GAA summer courses in 2017 and games, notes and tips were shared with the staff
- This year 2018 our staff plan on availing of coaching in GAA skills for children
10@10:
On February the 10th, our school took part in the Operation Transformation 10@10 initiative. The children in the junior end of our school performed exercises which were demonstrated by Ms. O Brien. While the children in the senior end of our school performed various exercises performed by Ms. Molloy and her fourth class pupils. We had lots of fun.
On February the 10th, our school took part in the Operation Transformation 10@10 initiative. The children in the junior end of our school performed exercises which were demonstrated by Ms. O Brien. While the children in the senior end of our school performed various exercises performed by Ms. Molloy and her fourth class pupils. We had lots of fun.
Active Homework
Super Troopers has been introduced this year and the children complete this journal as part of their active homework weekly.
Activities from the Super Troopers journal are discussed in school and reflected upon
Super Troopers has been introduced this year and the children complete this journal as part of their active homework weekly.
Activities from the Super Troopers journal are discussed in school and reflected upon
Partnerships
Food Dudes
In November 2017 we began the 'Food Dudes' Programme .
It was a great success.
Children received lots of prizes for tasting a variety of healthy fruit and vegetable and they really enjoyed the videos that promoted healthy food.
In November 2017 we began the 'Food Dudes' Programme .
It was a great success.
Children received lots of prizes for tasting a variety of healthy fruit and vegetable and they really enjoyed the videos that promoted healthy food.
Food Dudes
In November 2017 we began the 'Food Dudes' Programme .
It was a great success.
Children received lots of prizes for tasting a variety of healthy fruit and vegetable and they really enjoyed the videos that promoted healthy food.
In November 2017 we began the 'Food Dudes' Programme .
It was a great success.
Children received lots of prizes for tasting a variety of healthy fruit and vegetable and they really enjoyed the videos that promoted healthy food.
Partnerships with the Local Community
In our final term every year the local GAA send two coaches to our school to help the children learn and practice some very valuable GAA skills
In the month of October, a Tag Rugby coach from a local rugby club visits our school each year to give the children an opportunity to experience and practice some tag rugby.
In our final term every year the local GAA send two coaches to our school to help the children learn and practice some very valuable GAA skills
In the month of October, a Tag Rugby coach from a local rugby club visits our school each year to give the children an opportunity to experience and practice some tag rugby.
A Visit From Caradh O Donovan
Gilson National school were delighted to welcome World Kickboxing Champion Caradh O Donovan to our school. Caradh took part in various exercise activities with each class. It was great fun. Afterwards Caradh discussed her life to date and demonstrated some of her kickboxing skills and movements. Some of the children from our school were involved in the demonstrations. Finally, Caradh held a Q & A where the children had an opportunity to ask her lots of questions. Caradh's answers were very interesting and we learned a lot about her and what it takes to become a champion. Caradh is competing in karate in the Olympics in 2020, as kickboxing is not an Olympic sport. Best of luck Caradh from all of us here in Gilson National School!
Gilson National school were delighted to welcome World Kickboxing Champion Caradh O Donovan to our school. Caradh took part in various exercise activities with each class. It was great fun. Afterwards Caradh discussed her life to date and demonstrated some of her kickboxing skills and movements. Some of the children from our school were involved in the demonstrations. Finally, Caradh held a Q & A where the children had an opportunity to ask her lots of questions. Caradh's answers were very interesting and we learned a lot about her and what it takes to become a champion. Caradh is competing in karate in the Olympics in 2020, as kickboxing is not an Olympic sport. Best of luck Caradh from all of us here in Gilson National School!
Our Active School Motto
We have an Active Schools notice board displaying children’s achievements and sporting events throughout the year
We have an Active school mascot(2nd class) Active Archie
We held an Active School Motto competition for pupils in our school. We got lots of entries.
School Motto ‘Be Wise and Get Exercise’ David Weir (6th class) Each classroom now has a poster of our active school motto.
We have an Active school mascot(2nd class) Active Archie
We held an Active School Motto competition for pupils in our school. We got lots of entries.
School Motto ‘Be Wise and Get Exercise’ David Weir (6th class) Each classroom now has a poster of our active school motto.
Active School Week 4th - 8th June 2017
Our school held our first active school week in June 2017. It was a great success. Everyone was active including our teachers. We all wore our tracksuits for the week and we had active homework to complete. Local sports clubs came into our school during our active week to help us practice our hurling skills and athletics.
- Monday – Bank Holiday
- Tuesday - Athletics coaching with Michael for seniors, Football with Emma for juniors
- Wednesday – Hurling and Camogie for seniors Basketball for juniors
- Thursday – Skipaton
- Friday – Sports Day
- 5k completed by every child and teacher this week
6th class climb Loughcrew every year
Cumann na Bunscoil
Our girls and boys take part in Cumann na Bunscoil every year.
