Irish Primary Physical Education Association

Conference 2009: Workshop Resources

Annual Conference
Our 6th Annual Conference took place this year in St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 on Saturday March 28th.

Conference Workshop Resources:

Advanced Athletics (John O'Donnell). Click HERE

Stations in Athletics (John O'Donnell). Click HERE

Games with the Frisbee (Tony Sweeney). Click HERE

Walking with Physical & Sensory Challenges (Susan Marron). Click HERE

Activities and Games for the development of ball-handling and ball-game skills (John Murphy). Click HERE

Salsa for Kids (Carmel Smith). Click HERE

Movement Programmes for children with motor difficulties (Michael Quealy). Click HERE

Encouraging children to be active at break time (Susan Marron & Anne Cawley). Click HERE


Professor Margaret Talbot OBE, PhD, FRSA was the keynote speaker at the Conference.Margaret’s current role is Chief Executive of the Association for Physical Education (UK), which is the single representative organisation for physical education in the UK. Its role is to provide an effective voice for physical education with government and its agencies; continuous professional development and other opportunities for its members. Previously, Margaret was CEO of the Central Council of Physical recreation, the umbrella body for national governing bodies of sport. Prior to that appointment Margaret was Carnegie Professor and Head of Sport at Leeds Metropolitan University. She was vice chair of the Government’s Physical Education Working group on the National Curriculum (England and Wales) and national convenor for “SPEEDNET”, the Sport and Physical Education Network, bringing together all the UK national organisation for physical and sport education. Recently Margaret was elected President of the International association of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) for the term 2009-2013.

Current Physical Education Information
Revised structure for IPPEA
As we enter into our 6th year of the IPPEA, we have looked at how the structure of the association could be developed in order to enable further growth and success within the primary PE community. As a result a new revised structure has been put forward consisting of the following elements:

As members we encourage you to get involved in the organisation through any of these committees. Election to committees will take place on 28th March at the annual conference.

Regional Development through Teacher Professional Communities (TPCs)
One of the most exciting developments to take place in 2008 was the establishment of TPCs in PE in various areas around the country. These communities comprise of primary teachers who have an interest in PE and wish to develop their own skills and knowledge in the area and also as a support network for the sharing of best practice. Throughout the year teachers attended various workshops in many areas of the PE curriculum including dance, outdoor & adventure activities and use of PE equipment in schools. These were free of charge and were funded by Education centres. We look forward to continuing promoting this support for teachers in 2009 at local levels. If you wish to set up a PE TPC in your area or have any other queries, please e-mail ccosgrave@mie.ie

Be Active Project
The Be Active After-School Activity Programme introduces children to fun physical activity in a safe, familiar, structured setting, with an emphasis on enjoyment, learning and variety of activity. The programme aims to improve the attitudes of both children and their parents towards physical activity and lay the foundation for positive, lifelong physical activity habits.

The Be Active ASAP links with the Physical Education Curriculum for 1st/2nd class, building on what has been learned in class through after-school activities including games, gymnastics, dance, athletics and outdoor and adventure activities. The programme is targeted towards seven/eight-year-olds and takes place for 50 minutes immediately after school on selected days every week throughout the year. The Be Active ASAP uses school facilities and is led by teacher leaders and supported by volunteer parent leaders.

The pilot study of the Be Active ASAP was supported by the Irish Sports Council, the Health Service Executive and Cuisine de France and facilitated by St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. The programme is currently running in 16 primary schools, mainly within Meath Local Sports Partnership. For more information please contact the programme co-ordinator, Eileen McEvoy, St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9. Phone: 01 8842343 Mobile: 087 2402020 Email: eileen.mcevoy@spd.dcu.ie

INTOUCH Article
The INTO will be issuing an article in INTOUCH magazine in relation to the Role of the PE Specialist at Irish primary schools. Responses would be gratefully received to our email address: john@irishprimarype.com

The Active School Flag
For the past four years the Active School Awards have been a huge success. The Active School Awards have evolved each year in order to meet the needs of schools. In 2009 the Active School Awards became the active School Flag.
The Active School Flag invites schools to engage in a process of self-evaluation, leading to an action plan that will make a tangible, positive impact on Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport provision in schools.
The Active School Flag is non competitive and does not have a deadline. When schools are ready to be evaluated they contact the Active School Flag committee in Mayo Education Centre and an accreditor will go to the school to accredit the flag. It should be noted that a maximum of 150 flags would be awarded in the first year.

Active School Week
Active School Week has been embraced in many schools Feedback from teachers, children and parents indicates that it is a wonderful celebration and that the wider school community benefits from participating in it. The week beginning 27 April is the designated Active School Week for 2009 of course if this week does not suit the school can have Active School Week at another time.
Schools may enter the Active School Flag by registering their interest on www.activeschoolflag.ie. This website also contains the steps towards gaining the Active School Flag for your school.
Schools can also register by emailing activeschoolflag@mayoeducationcentre.ie or by phoning 094 9020704

Congratulations
Congratulations to Margaret Mc Hugh, Mike Quealy and Tony Sweeney on their recent achievement of Masters in Education with a specialism in Physical Education awarded by St. Partick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.

Certificate/Diploma in Physical Education for Primary School Teachers
The Cetificate/Diploma Course in Physical Education, which was advertised last autumn, has now commenced at St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. Twenty-five teachers participated in the first weekend 23-25 January 2009 with the attendance of primary school teachers from Cork to Donegal and many from Dublin. The weekend consisted in the practical engagement in activities suitable for physical education classes. These activities were underpinned by theory related to the teaching of physical education. It is very encouraging to work with primary school teachers wishing to deepen their knowledge and understanding of primary physical education.

Assessment Project
A project had commenced in relation to ‘Assessment for Learning in Physical Education; first steps towards supporting teachers’. This is a collaborative project that involves the Colleges of Education. The aim is to improve quality teaching and learning through physical education assessment. The project will work with a small group of teachers based in Dublin and Limerick. It is hoped to be able to share the developments as the project develops.

Membership Application Form 2009
The Irish Primary PE Association (established 2003) is a subject association committed to the support and promotion of PE in the primary school delivered within an integrated primary school curriculum.
Name………………………………………………………….................................
Address………………………………………………………................................
………………………………………………………………....................................
…………………………………………………………........................................
School……………………………………………………....................................
E-mail address……………………………………………...............................
Phone No. ………………………………………………..................................
Fee: 10 Euro (cheques should be made payable to the IPPEA)
Please return this form along with membership fee to:

IPPEA,
c/o Ita Seoighe,
Castletown ,
Cross,
Co. Mayo.