Follow Your Star - Primary Schools Paralympic Education Program

The countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games is well under way so why not encourage primary children to follow an athlete! Follow Your Star is an education program aimed at primary school children to learn about Paralympic Sport and the Paralympic Games.

For more information, register here.

The 'Fitness' Debate - InTouch Magazine - March 2012

Check out the IPPEA's article in the March edition of InTouch magazine here (go to page 44).

Communities of Practice (CoP) Workshops

At various times throughout the year our regional CoPs hold interesting and fun workshops which aim to to develop teachers' knowledge and skills in primary Physical Education. To find out more about upcoming workshops happening in your part of the country, click on the relevant region below.

Active School Week (April 30th - May 4th)

We encourage all schools to make 'Active School Week' (ASW) a part of their annual school calendar. During this week schools are encouraged to increase the amount of time allocated to PE and to offer students a variety of fun and exciting ways to increase the amount of physical activity which they undertake daily.

CLICK HERE for more information.

EUCAPA 2012

The European Congress of Physical Activity will be held 6-8 May 2012 in The Malton Hotel, Kerry. More information below!

IPPEA responds to Senator Eamonn Coghlan's Seanad Motion

The Irish Primary Physical Association (IPPEA) welcomes the 'Points for Life - Physical Fitness for a Healthy Life' report delivered by Senator Eamonn Coghlan on Wednesday 23rd November 2011 which highlighted that effective health awareness and physical activity programmes are essential for the overall well-being of children. Indeed our association was founded almost 10 years ago as a result of primary teachers' individual and collective concerns regarding quality PE and physical activity provision for children. However, while the association concurs with Senator Coghlan's overall aim to encourage a more concerted government effort to address childrens' learning, participation and understanding of fitness for life, the concept of 'physical fitness' is one which must be clearly separated from 'Physical Education (PE)'.

To read the IPPEA's full response, please CLICK HERE.

The full debate can be found on the Oireachtas website HERE.

MEDIA COVERAGE

For a synopsis of Senator Coghlan's 'Points for Life' speech, read The Irish Times article from Thursday, 24th November 2011 here.

Read the article entitled PE teachers oppose exercise plan for schools by Sheila Wayman in The Health Supplement of The Irish Times from Tuesday, 27 December 2011 HERE.

Caitríona Cosgrave, Chairperson of the IPPEA (and PE lecturer in Marino Institute of Education), was interviewed on Newstalk's 'The Right Hook (Live)' on Monday, 2 January 2011 in relation to Senator Coughlan's report. She was also interviewed by presenter Seán Delaney on 103.2 Dubln City FM's Sunday night edition of Inside Education on 27 November 2011. To listen to Caitríona discussing Senator Coughlan's motion use the Podcast Player below. Alternatively, click here to go to the Dublin City FM website.

For teachers who want to listen on their iPods, the iTunes link is here: www.itunes.apple.com

Listen now:

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