Physical Education is an integral part of the primary curriculum, providing vital opportunities for the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of the child. The opportunities sport provides contribute to the understanding and promotion of a healthy life-style.
Physical Education provides our pupils with opportunities to develop personal and social attributes such as, the concept of fair play, the acceptance of success and failure and the ability to cooperate in group situations. We provide our pupils with a wide range of physical education opportunities across the six strands of the curriculum: Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics, Games, Outdoor & Adventure Activities & Aquatics.
As part of our sports programme we provide opportunities for our pupils to train with experts from our local sports clubs. We have coaching from:
- St. Pat’s GAA Club
- Portrane Hockey Club
- Donabate Tennis Club
- Doctor Bike’s Cycling
Our senior pupils also have regular swimming lessons in Sports & Fitness Ballymun. These coaching sessions are fantastic opportunities for our students to develop new skills in various sports and invites our pupils to get involved in the wide variety of sporting activities in our community.
Active Homework
In St. Patrick’s Boys’ National School, we are passionate about sports and activity! Our pupils are always itching to spend time outside and get moving. As part of our school’s active plan, we have active homework during the months of September and June. This essentially means that the boys receive no written homework but instead spend time each day developing their movement skills. We focus on a different strand unit each week, with the boys choosing three activities everyday – one activity from each level. Active homework is highly successful and is always fun for the whole family to get involved!
See below for our Active Every Day activities, organised by strand unit.
Dare to Believe Programme
Our 5th Class students take part in the ‘Dare to Believe’ programme run by the Olympic Federation of Ireland. This programme explores the Olympic values through an interactive curriculum and encourages pupils to ‘dare to believe’ in themselves. Through this programme students engage in a variety of challenges, game activities and reflective practice while exploring the Olympic values of Respect & Equality, Healthy Mind & Body, Joy of Effort and Striving for Excellence.
The boys were lucky enough to meet Team Ireland diver, Oliver Dingley, who competed in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. The programme inspires students through athlete’s inspirational stories of resilience and perseverance and teaches students how to set goals and adopt healthy lifestyles through participation in sport. The school has received an Olympic flag for our participation in this programme.