Active School Flag

The Active School Flag (ASF) is awarded to schools that strive to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community. The process aims to get more schools, more active, more often. ASF is a Department of Education and Skills initiative supported by Healthy Ireland.

St Mary’s has always been a very active school. Our sporting facilities include a large state-of-the-art PE Hall, a Multi-Use Games Area (external), a walking track, a ball wall, a tarmac playground and a Jungle Gym Playground. We also have access to a large green area and we use this for activities such as Gaelic Football, Camogie, Athletics, Rounders, Mini-Rounders and of course on Sports Day. We are very well resourced in terms of sports equipment, thus enabling pupils of all ages and abilities to partake in activities encouraging fitness, exercise and team sports.

Pupils are encouraged to recognise the lifelong health benefits of exercise and the importance of maintaining fitness levels. Furthermore, team sports provides a social outlet for its participants and as a staff we try to instill this in our pupils.

In 2016, the Department of Education and Skills awarded St Mary’s with an Active School Flag in recognition of our efforts to achieve a physically educated and physically school community.

Our Active Schools Flag is on display in front of the school building to remind us all of our collective achievements and to encourage us to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, at school and at home.