Partnerships within and outside the school are an important aspect of the Active School Flag to promote a physically active school community.
​

Active School Committee

Our Active School Committee play a very important role in the day-to-day promotion of physical activity in our school. It the committee members job to represent their class at Active Flag Meetings, provide feedback back to their class and to help organise and lead activities. The team meet with our teacher representative to identify priorities, offer suggestions, problem-solve any issues and plan new ideas. Each committee member is in charge of liaising with their classes to ensure that everyone’s feedback is taken on board. This ensures that the Active School Flag process is inclusive of everybody. The committee members are also very good at reminding their teachers to take movement breaks throughout the day. Our Active School committee do a great job promoting active initiatives in our school and ensuring that everyone is encouraged to be as active as possible! 

Student Questionnaire

We believe one of the most important partnerships in the Active School Flag programme is with the pupils of Scoil Bhríde. We invited the children to participate in a questionnaire giving us their views on Physical Activity in our school. We learned that:

1. Children enjoy PE in our school.
2. Children enjoy participating in the Active School challenges such as Run Around Ireland and Climb the Heights.
3. Children feel they can focus better when they have movement breaks throughout the school day.
4. Active Week is a favourite event in the school calendar. ​

Our Active School Slogan

We challenged the children to come up with an Active School Logo. The results were so impressive we have lots of them displayed on the walls in our hallway. 
​

Active School Suggestion Box

To ensure that all pupils have their voices heard we have an Active School Week suggestions box in the hallway. Children can write down their ideas on a piece of paper and post it in the suggestions box. We welcome any ideas on how we can make our school more active! 
​

Active School Notice Board

We make use of our Active School Notice Board to keep our school community informed and updated on initiatives, challenges etc. It also serves as a great way to remind both students and teachers of our Active Logo and upcoming events. We have found the introduction of the Active School Notice Board an invaluable way to motivate our students and develop their physical literacy skills. Seeing the information on a daily basis has encouraged the children to become more engaged in the process, as the programme has now become embedded in our school culture.
​

Partnership with Parents

Parents are a very important part of the Active School process. Parents are kept updated on the Active School process through discussing it with their children, newsletters sent home, the Active School notice board and on the Active School page. The parents play an important role in ensuring their children have the clothes and equipment needed for P.E. and any other physical activities taking place in the school. 
​

What Club are you in?

The Active School Committee surveyed all the children in the school to see what local clubs they are all part of. The results are: 

Local Sports & Clubs

In Scoil Bhríde Ballyboy we strongly believe in encouraging our students to try as many different sports as possible. Over the years we have formed strong links with numerous clubs in our local area. We regularly ensure children are celebrated for their involvement in these clubs through the acknowledgement of both their participation and success on the Wall of Fame, Community Notice Board and School Website. We encourage children to bring medals, trophies or certificates to school to celebrate with them. 

We have strong partnerships with Kilcormac/Killoughey GAA and Camogie clubs. Many of the children in our school are active club members, training and playing hurling, camogie and football matches regularly. 
​

We work with Offaly GAA Development Officers to provide children from 3rd to 6th class with hurling/camogie and football training throughout the year. Children from junior infants to 2nd class focus on Fundamental Movement Skills, while the children from 3rd-6th also introduce ball handling skills. The children look forward to these sessions and always enjoy them immensely.
​

We are very lucky to receive two 6-week blocks of Athletics coaching from Offaly Sports Partnership for the past number of years. This is an invaluable opportunity for the children in our school to learn fundamental movement skills from expert coaches.
​

In Scoil Bhríde, we have a long tradition of participation in Offaly Cumann na mBunscol games and activities. We compete in Hurling and Camogie competitions in Spring, and the boys Football competition in Autumn. We also enter the Cumann na mBunscol Skills Competition each year. In 2022 Emer Bracken won 3rd place in Offaly which was a super achievement. Well done Emer! 
​

Many of the boys and girls in our school play soccer with Frankford F.C. This football club offers our children a wonderful opportunity to train and play matches with their friends.
​

Two boys teams and a girls team from 5th and 6th class represent the school each year in the Offaly Track and Field Championships in the Tullamore Harriers Athletics Club. The children participate in the Long Jump, Shot Putt, 80m Sprint and the 600m events. We always have a wonderful day and are very proud of each and every one of our athletes.

A number of boys and girls in our school are members of Killoughey Badminton Club. We were delighted to be able to have two teams represent the school at last year’s Offaly Championships, and this year 3 teams participated showing how interest in the sport is growing in our school.
​

The children enjoyed four weeks of pilates with Amanda Martin. Amanda's fun-filled pilates classes provide so many benefits for the children including increased flexibility, concentration and muscle strengthening. A sincere thanks to our Parents Committee who very generously fund pilates each year for our children.

Offaly Minor Hurling Team Visit

We were so grateful to the Offaly Minor Hurling Team for visiting our school after their historic achievement winning the Leinster last year. Our past pupil Mark Mulrooney along with teammates Adam Screeney, Brecon Kavanagh, Leigh Kavanagh and James Mahon brought their trophy to show the pupils and staff of the school. There was great excitement as the players visited each classroom with the Hanrahan Cup. The players talked to the children about their game verses Laois in O' Moore Park, Portlaoise and signed hurls and jerseys for the children.
​

Coláiste Naomh Cormac Annual 5km Run

Each year there is great excitement when the CNC annual 5km run comes past our school. We set up water stations outside the school with refreshments for the students and teachers running the race. We are always delighted to see so many of our past pupils taking part in the run and do our best to cheer them on up the hill!

Ballyboy Tidy Towns 3km Spooky Walk

We are delighted to be able to support our local Tidy Town Committee in their annual 3km spooky walk. What a great way to celebrate our community while also getting some fresh air and exercise!