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JANUARY Newsletter

Please Note: If you would like us to send the monthly ASF newsletter to a different email address please click the Update your Preferences link at the bottom of this newsletter. 
 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION

PDST PE: In-School Support
PDST in-school support is ongoing at this time. A primary PE advisor can visit your school to support you with planning and preparation of your PE programme, or to facilitate lesson modelling across all strands of the PE curriculum. Schools can apply for in-school PDST PE support through the online application system HERE.


(2022) PExpo - April 6th
The PExpo competition is now open! The PExpo Day for post primary schools will take place in DCU on April 6th. PExpo for primary schools will be online for 2022. 
FIND OUT More 
 
IPPEA Annual CONFERENCE: Change of Date
Due to current restrictions, the IPPEA 2022 annual conference will take place on 7th May 2022 in Marino Institute of Education. Keep an eye out on IPPEA website and social media for updates!
 
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY 
IMPORTANT - All ASF activities during 21/22 must comply with Covid-19 safety guidelines 

#FeelGoodFridays: SANTA Dash
It was great to see so many SANTA DASH events taking place in schools across the country during December. An award is on its' way to the following schools in recognition of their whole school community's involvement and enthusiasm:   

  • St Joseph's CBS, Marino Park Avenue, Dublin 3
  • Gaelscoil Bhréifne, An Cabhán
  • Crinkill NS, BirrCo Offaly
  • St Declan’s NS, Ashbourne, Co Meath
  • Scoil Chiaráin CBSDonnycarney, Dublin 5
  • Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa, Baile Feithean, Corcaigh 

#FeelGoodFridays: JUMP in to January (28th January) 
ASF encourages teachers and their classes to bring out their skipping ropes for this month's #FeelGoodFriday 'Jump in to January'  Add all your skips (teachers too!) together to see which of the mountain peaks of Europe YOUR school/class can reach.
 If children do not have access to skipping ropes. or haven't yet learned to skip, they can complete the challenge using jumping jacks instead. 

Please share your photos/videos via Twitter @ActiveFlag @HealthyIreland @Education_Ire
or by emailing resources@activeschoolflag.ie  


'Climb the Heights' 4-Week Skipping Challenge               
If skipping proves popular, why not extend this initiative out into a 4 week individual/class challenge during the spring or summer terms? Skipping is an ideal activity for
  1. Active Breaks 
  2. Active Homework 
The 'Climb the Heights' pupil chart allows children to record their daily progress (page 1) as well as teaching them about the highest mountain peaks in Europe (page 2). Parents, guardians and siblings can contribute their 'FAMILY skips' to the 'Daily Total', making this a great family activity.  
NEW Walkway Challenges for 2022
Keep an eye on the ASF Members Area in early February for NEW Walkway challenge charts designed to help children learn about time, flags, maths shapes and colours.  

 
PARTNERSHIPS
 
NEW 'Road to BEIJING' Olympic Schools' Challenge
(Feb 4th- 18th)

'Road to Beijing' is a FREE 2-week challenge (4-18th February) organised by the Olympic Federation of Ireland, as part of their 'Dare to Believe' programme. The aim of 'Road to Beijing' is to open up the world of winter sports to Irish school children, as well as teaching them about Team Ireland at the Winter Olympics and celebrating the Chinese culture. Modelled on the successful 'Road to Tokyo', schools log their physical activity on the 'Road to Beijing' website. This is then converted to KM, helping their class/school team to travel to Beijing, with lots of FUN and learning along the way

'Road to Beijing' launches TOMORROW, Friday, January 21st. An information webinar for teachers will take place on Tuesday, January 25th (4pm). We hope to see you there!
REGISTER for Teachers Information Webinar (25/1/22)

Irish Heart Foundation: Let’s Get ACTIVE Award
(Primary Schools)  

This 4-week fun, FREE initiative challenges pupils to get 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Each pupil will get a booklet with a physical activity tracker and loads of tips and ideas for FUN ways to get active each week. At the end of the challenge, each class will receive a certificate, as well as stickers for all pupils.
'Let’s Get Active' Award
Irish Heart Foundation -  Primary Schools' page

Irish Heart Foundation: LOVE RUN
(February 12th/13th) 

Show some heart and join the Irish Heart Foundation virtual 'Love Run' – a 5km run or walk – this Valentine’s weekend. Everyone who registers will receive a 'Love Run' pack, which includes a lovely red beanie hat. This could be a great STAFF wellbeing physical activity initiative! .
FIND OUT More

 
ACTIVE SCHOOL WEEK 

National 'Active School Week' (#ASW22) will take place 3-6th May, 2022  
 
ASF APPLICATIONS Process 

UPCOMING WALKWAY Webinars (Primary Schools) 
All registered primary schools working towards ASF will be invited to attend WALKWAY webinars, on the dates below. Practical advice will be given about:

* Mapping and Sign Posting the Walkway route
* Using the Walkway to Support Physical Education
* Energising the School Day
* Promoting ‘Learning on the Move’
* Walkway Inspiration


Schools in attendance will receive an Active School WALKWAY resource pack. 

Webinar 1: Tuesday, February 1st @ 7pm
Webinar 2: Wednesday, February 2nd @ 4pm  


Booking opens on Friday afternoon, January 21st. Please check your school and coordinator emails for the registration link and encourage as many teachers as possible from your school to attend. If you do not receive this invite, please contact Majella eolas@activeschoolflag.ie 

ASF PUPIL Leadership Webinar (Primary Schools) 
We hope to re-schedule this webinar during February/March.   


_________________________________________________________
NEW ASF - Template PowerPoints
The ASF website showcase is an important part of the ASF applications process. Recognising that this aspect of the process can be challenging for some teachers, we have created four template PowerPoints (PPTs) available to schools to populate with their own text/photos/videos, if required. 
  1. Physical Education
  2. Physical Activity
  3. Partnerships
  4. Active School Week
The templates (Irish/English) are designed to:
  • Guide schools in relation to the evidence that the ASF screening committee require
  • Provide a ready-to-use resource for schools that do not have a website/have difficult to use websites. 
Please Note: 
It is not a requirement that schools use the ASF PPT templates. Schools are encouraged to design their own PPTs and to populate the ASF sections on their websites, in the way that suits them best. 


For further information, and to access these template PPTs and GUIDELINES document, please visit the ASF Members Area.  

__________________________________________________________
ASF ADMINISTRATION

ASF Primary Schools: Please UPDATE School Profile Page 
IMPORTANT ALL primary schools with current ASF status, and schools due to renew their ASF this year, are asked to LOG IN to their online ASF school account to update their SCHOOL PROFILE page. This is particularly important for renewal schools as out of date information will result in delays to your application being processed. 

CONTACT US
As we continue to work remotely. please direct all enquiries to 


General/Applications: Majella eolas@activeschoolflag.ie 
Training/Resources: Aideen resources@activeschoolflag.ie
Post Primary: Carol postprimarysupport@activeschoolflag.ie 

In all correspondence with ASF, please remember to quote your school ROLL NUMBER in the subject line.
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