Active flag flies above St Mary’s NS

THERE was great excitement at St Mary’s NS recently as this year’s Strawberry Queen and student teacher Ciara Byrne officially hoisted the school’s first Active Flag. The flag was the result of quite a bit of work from the whole school community as pupils, parents and staff strove to adapt a more healthy and active lifestyle.

Throughout the year, the 59 pupils threw themselves into the active schools programme, filling in their own ‘exercise diary’ each day and encouraging friends and family to get involved.

‘The school curriculum only allows for 60 minutes of P.E. per week,’ explained Principal Gillian Wilson. ‘In order to achieve the flag, we had to show that they were active for closer to an hour every day. It was quite an effort from everyone involved and the children took part in a wide variety of activities such as hurling, yoga, dancing, circuits, swimming and a morning routine called wake up shake up.’

In addition, the pupils also took part in Active Schools Week which saw them partake in a huge range of activities and spending some time at Enniscorthy Sports Hub where they got the chance to try their hands at athletics and gymnastics.

Everyone associated with the school was delighted to finally receive their Active Flag and the task fell to Strawberry Queen Ciara who had been on work experience at the school to do the honours, appropriately enough, at the school’s sports day.

Strawberry Queen Ciara Byrne raises the Active Flag over St Mary’s NS. She is pictured with pupils at the school and the Active Schools Committee.