Active School
Physical Activity
Donoughmore NS has always been a school that prides itself on its involvement in sport and physical activity. From the Halloween disco to interschool matches to Active School Week, the whole school community is always very active. This year we are working towards getting an Active School Flag.
60 Minutes a Day
We are promoting the message that children need 60 minutes of physical activity every day. The children will learn about the many benefits of leading a healthy and active lifestyle.
Movement Breaks
We are also trying to increase physical activity in the classroom throughout the school day by introducing movement breaks. For some classes this may mean doing action songs, having a short playtime, Bizzy Breaks or doing a GoNoodle activity.
Wet Day Activity
On rainy days, when the children cannot go outside, they engage in an extended classroom based physical activity break. This may involve doing exercises in the classroom or a GoNoodle activity.
More Information
Keep an eye on this section of the website to find out more about our physical education programme, partnerships and Active School events being held throughout the year.
Physical Education Programme
Games
The children engage in a variety of games in the different classes, including benchball, handball, basketball, bumball and rugby. The children in the senior classes also participate in inter-school sports, such as indoor hurling, tag rugby, gaelic football and basketball.
Athletics
The children engage in the four strands of athletics: running, jumping, throwing and understanding and appreciation of athletics. Each class uses a variety of resources to develop these skills, including hurdles, skipping ropes, bean bags, baton and foam javelins.
Dance
The children enjoy eight weeks of learning a variety of dance styles from Pat O’Dea. Pat taught the children set dancing, sean-nós dancing and line dancing. The children showed off what they had learned in an open-air Rhythm and Dance Showcase in the school yard.
Gymnastics
The children love the opportunity to try out different balances and rolls and create different sequences in gymnastics. It is fascinating to see what they can come up with when they work as a team.
Aquatics
Every year 3rd class attend 8 swimming lessons in Bawnmore. The children build up their water confidence and learn and improve on basic strokes.
Outdoor and Adventure Activities
The children engage in some basic orienteering activities in school and while on school tour.
Raising of our Green Flag
Our school was awarded its first Green Flag on the 27th May in the Silver Springs Hotel in Cork. The school was represented by Miss Cleary, 6th class teacher and green schools co-ordinator, Mrs Clifford and 2 sixth class pupils – Luke Parker and Bronagh Dollard. On the 18th June, Mayor Michael Sheahan officially raised the first green flag of Donoughmore School. It was a great day of celebration. Our 4th class added to this celebration by opening and closing the ceremony on their tin whistles! I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody involved in the green schools, all our teachers and staff of Donoughmore, all the pupils and of course the parents of our school. Everybody’s co-operation is very much appreciated. I would like to thank the PTA for co-ordinating the refreshments on the day and to you the parents for providing the home bakes.