St.Patrick's GNS HOLLYPARK
PE Curriculum in our School
Our PE curriculum is broad and varied. Pupils are provided with 60 minutes of PE per week. We teach five strands of the PE curriculum. These include Games, Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics and Outdoor & Adventure Activities.
ATHLETICS
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Running
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Jumping
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Throwing
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Understanding and appreciation of athletics
GYMNASTICS
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Movement
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Understanding and appreciation of gymnastics
GAMES
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Sending, receiving and travelling
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Creating and playing game
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Understanding and appreciation of games
oUTDOOR AND ADVENTURE
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Walking and cycling activities
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Orienteering
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Outdoor challenges
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Water-based activities
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Understanding and appreciation of outdoor and adventure activities
DANCE
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Exploration, creation and performance of dance
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Understanding and appreciation of dance
Strands in Focus
2022-2023
Every year we prioritise a new strand for development. In 2022/2023, the swimming strand was extended to all classes from third up. The pupils attended an 8-week programme in Newpark Swimming Pool. Parents and pupils were delighted to avail of these swimming lessons to build on this essential life skill particularly when so many pupils lost out on lessons during COVID.
Last year we also prioritised the outdoor and adventure strand with a particular focus on the skill of striking for outdoor games such as rounders. Teachers taught the correct striking technique by showing classes the PDST striking video and by using the FMS and PSSI lesson plans in PE. The girls are improving their striking techniques using a variety of implements whilst enjoying very energetic outdoor games such as rounders. Children are encouraged to practise what they have learned in the PE lesson at school by completing the corresponding activities at home using the following link:
https://www.scoilnet.ie/pdst/physlit/beyond/
We availed of our local park in Granada to set up orienteering activities for the girls in June.
Teachers use the PSSI lesson plans to help when teaching and delivering the different strands. Our teachers also use a number of other programmes to support their teaching such as the Move Well, Move Often programme . The strands are also supported by our GAA coach Emma, and sports coach Mr. Oreo.
Our 3rd and 4th class pupils are being taught the Land Paws Water Safety Programme this year providing them with essential skills to keep safe when waterside this summer.
2023-2024
This year we are prioritising the games strand with a particular focus on the first four skills from the fundamental movement programme – walking, running, hopping and skipping. All class levels were issued with a hard copy of the PSSI lesson plans and were directed to the Scoilnet site to access the videos, lessons and resources pertaining to the Fundamental Movement Skill being taught.
The whole school focused on:
Walking in September,
Running in October,
Hopping in November,
Skipping in December.
Teachers taught the correct FMS techniques by showing classes the appropriate PDST videos and by using the FMS and PSSI lesson plans in PE. For homework children were asked to practise what they have learned in the PE lesson at school by completing the corresponding activities at home using the following link.
https://www.scoilnet.ie/pdst/physlit/beyond/
Curricular Areas taught in our school:
Athletics
UCD Athletics Competition 2023
Our school athletics squad took part in the Cumann na mBunscol Athletics event in UCD on Thursday 1st June. They proudly and successfully represented the school winning both the U12 and U14 relay races. They also took home the silver medal in Shot Put and the gold in the Long Jump and U12 sprint. Hollypark Abú!
Well done to our amazing squad members -Emma Drury Byrne, Camille Fagan, Rachel Anne Irwin, Sarah Kelly, Robyn Kennedy, Juliana Toole, Catarina Mora Martins, Kate Clare Buckley, Holly Cassidy, Millie Cronin, Amelia Doyle, Aisling Kavanagh, Sian McCrohan, Genevieve McGhee, Eva Batt, Sylvia Burns, Saoirse Gallagher, Zoe Kelly, Heidi Keogh, Layla Twamley, Sarah Cruise, Anna Dunphy, Julia Smialek. We are very proud of you all!
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Games
As mentioned above, we are prioritising the games strand with a particular focus on the first four skills from the fundamental movement program – walking, running, hopping and skipping.
Dance
In Hollypark, we believe that dancing is not only a great form of exercise, but also a fun way to express ourselves! Every Friday, our 6th class girls come to school early to dance with the younger classes along with some fun music. This ensures that our girls come to school feeling happy and energised. Our girls also enjoy active breaks or Go Noodle throughout the week to have a fun movement break during the school day.
We have a school tradition in Hollypark for our 6th class girls to come together to make a Sports Day dance. The 6th class girls choreograph the dance together and teach it to all the younger classes. On Sports Day, 6th class perform their dance and the other classes dance along with their friends.
We are really looking forward to making our own 6th class Sports Day dance with our friends this June!
By Amelia Browne, Amy Gillen, Rachel Anne Irwin, Saoirse McDermott and Lexi Murphy
Ms. Lamont’s 6th Class Active Team
Whole School Dance, Sports Day 2023
Gymnastics
Since January 2024, all classes in our school have been completing our gymnastics module in the hall with our P.E. teacher, Mr. Oreo. We have been so excited for this strand of the P.E. curriculum. All students have had to listen carefully to ensure they are safe while participating. They have completed warm-ups before beginning each lesson to get their muscles ready! They are looking forward to learning many new skills involving travelling, rolling, balancing and creating symmetry using different apparatus. They are excited to showcase these new skills in a sequence in pairs and/or groups for their classmates. Each lesson concludes with a cool down and we have been learning how to put the equipment back in a safe manner.
swimming & Water Safety
This school year our 3rd to 6th class pupils will be taught the Land Paws Water Safety Programme. This will provide them with essential skills to keep safe when waterside in summer.
We are looking forward to a visit from David Fitzpatrick from Irish water safety.