In 2018/2019 we prioritised Dance as our P.E. strand for further development.
Two of our teachers attended the Move Well, Move Often seminar on the 6th November 2018 in Fitzpatrick’s Castle Hotel (Education Centre, Blackrock). The seminar was facilitated by the PDST. The Move Well, Move Often initiative focuses on developing the physical literacy of the pupil through the lens of fundamental movement skills. Seminar 2 focused on stability skills. In the seminar teachers were given a range of resources and tools to support the teaching of fundamental movement skills through physical education. The resources include a Teacher Guide and three Activity Books.
On the day, teachers took part in active P.E. lessons which focused on the fundamental movement skill of stability, with specific emphasis on landing and balancing techniques. Teachers also gave each other feedback by way of peer assessment.
As a follow up to attending this seminar, the teachers who attended the course went through the powerpoint presentation with the teaching staff and then taught the ‘Dance Around Ireland’ lesson to fellow teachers. This dance was then taught to pupils in P.E. lessons.
Folk Dance
Each year group held a Céilí in March 2019 as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge. Our Gaeilge coordinator photocopied resources for dance lessons and distributed these together with traditional Irish dancing music to all classes. The Junior Infant classes held a Ceilí Mór in the hall on Tuesday 12th March. The Senior Infant classes also held a Céilír Mór in the hall on Tuesday. Each of the three First Classes held their own Céilí in the hall on Tuesday and Wednesday.
All of the boys really enjoyed the Ceilí this year.
