​" Run, Jump Skip and Hide because there is more to life than being Inside!" ASF Slogan By Charles 6th Class

At St. Michael's BNS we greatly appreciate and value the positive effects physical activity has on your child's development. Our aim is to support each student in pursuing a physically active lifestyle. Research shows how physical activity supports children in developing key movement skills, maintaining healthy body weight, improving self-esteem, memory and concentration levels. Physically active children and adults are less likely to experience feelings of depression and anxiety than those who are inactive. Take a look below at some of the ways we have tried to support physically active lifestyles among our whole-school community.

"Do Your Talking as You're Walking"
This slogan was put in place by our Active School Committee who created posters and displayed them at all exits out to our playground. Their aim was to encourage students and staff to be active during breaktimes when they're catching up with their friends.

Daily Mile
Our school signed up to the Daily Mile initiative. Thanks to Mr. O'Brien and his 5th class for measuring out our route (8 laps around the school = 1 Mile). Staff and students engaged in a 6-week block with a aim of increasing physical activity and fitness levels in a non-competitive environment. Each student received a record card to allow them to keep track of their progress if they wished to. Teachers and students found this a very effective initiative and we therefore included it into our Active School week. From time to time classes can be seen completing the daily mile challenge to compliment the work they are doing within the classroom. More info. can be found here https://thedailymile.ie/ 
 
Playground Leaders
Our Playground Leaders are set up and run by our 6th class students. Volunteers from 6th class set up activities, act as referees and so much more in order to maximize the physical activity levels of students at break and lunchtimes. Thier motto is 'Get Everyone Moving and Having Fun'. A few snaps of their contributions to life in the playground throughout the year can be seen below.

Go Noodle
This year classes have been engaging with Go Noodle. It is a fun and active which allows us to increase physical activity within the classroom. It is a great way to waken our bodies up, release energy and good feelings (endorphins) throughout our bodies. Teachers also find it a great way to provide activity breaks particularly on rainy days. 

Active School Walkway
Our Active School Walkway is in place to be used by the whole-school community. It is in place around the perimeter of our school grounds. Teachers and pupils find our walkway a great way of utilising physical activity to benefit their learning inside the classroom. For example at the end of a unit of learning/before a test students can revise together in pairs along our Active School Walkway. Research has proven that physical activity before tests has a direct link with higher results.
 
Active Learning
Teachers' appreciation for the benefits of physical activity in relation to their students' development and learning can be seen in their teaching. Maths trails, surveys, word tennis, watch and repeat, using our senses and learning through the outdoors are only to name a few active teaching and learning methods at play in our school. Check out a few action shots from some of these activities below.

Sensory Area
This year Mrs. Quinn has created a sensory area to help enhance the experiences of students through touch and physical Activity within our school.

School Kitchen - Fueling Our Bodies
At St. Michael's BNS we value the importance of healthy eating in relation to physical activity and general wellbeing. This can be seen through our policies, lunches and day to day interactions. This year Ms. Sheridan's 6th class have been working hard at equipping themselves with the skills and knowledge they need to support themselves in fulfilling long and healthy active lifestyles. They have done so through weekly cookery classes in small groups each Friday with Ms. Sheridan and Ms. Connerton. 

School Garden
Congratulations to the boys, Mrs. Flanagan, Ms. Foy, Mrs. Jessup and The Men's Shed Longford on the fabulous job they have completed on our school garden. It is thanks to all their hard work that we can start growing our own produce!

Physical Activity in conjunction with Our Green School's Programme
Both are Active School Flag and Green School Flag Programme have complemented each other greatly this year in our strive to make our school a more active and environmentally friendly learning environment. Students' Activity levels are enhanced weekly through regular litter rotas in and around our school grounds.