Last year, under the stewardship of Mrs. O'Loughlin, the Active School committee of Ms. Fitzgerald, Ms. Piper and Ms. Murphy set about doing exactly that. With the help of both staff and students an Active Week was organised in May. The new state of the art MUGA (multi-use games area) facility, our playground equipment and ‘yard game’ markings are all conducive to enhanced physical activity in the school.
In October, DES co-ordinator, Mick O'Callaghan came to school to review the efforts and he was so impressed with the documentation and resources produced that he forwarded the folder to Mary immaculate College of Education, Limerick, to be used in the initial preparation of student teachers as part of their degree courses. A week later he informed the school that a ‘Blue flag’ had been awarded.
The BOM and staff were elighted to have past pupil, and current Irish U-19 Ladies Soccer international, Rianna Jarrett, return to the school to officially raise the flag. Mr. Whelan acted as M.C. for the event during which Ms. Griffin-Jones' 5th Class won the 'Most Active Class Award' while Ms. Cronin's 6th Class received individual tokens for facilitating the lunch-time activities. Mr. Whelan then presented Rianna with a gift from the BOM marking her achievements to date and wishing her well into the future.
A fine crowd of parents joined Rose-Marie O’Loughlin and Orla Fitzgerald from the school’s ‘Active School Committee’ Principal, Liam Turner, Councillors Paddy Nolan and George Lawlor (representing the Mayor Cllr. Davy Hynes)as Rianna rose the ‘Blue Flag’ following a countdown orchestrated by Mr. Whelan. After the ceremony many of the parents enjoyed a ‘cuppa’ provided by Mags, Caroline and Shirley from the Parents Council.
The flag remains valid for a period of three years and all in school are looking forward to seeing it fly proudly outside the school beside the Green Flags awarded for environmental initiatives carried out in the school.
