Physical Education

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Physical Education (PE) is a very important subject to us here in St. Helen’s!  It provides children with learning opportunities through the medium of movement. It contributes to their overall development by helping them to lead full, active and healthy lives. Children can experience the joy of physical exertion and the satisfaction of achievement while developing the skills of positive attitude that enhance self-esteem.

 Through PE we aim to help children develop physically as well as socially, emotionally and intellectually. We use PE in our school to support children in every aspect of their lives and development. To achieve that goal, we use our agreed approach to teaching PE and the content of the curriculum programme at each year level.

The PE curriculum is for children from junior infants to sixth class. It provides a balanced range of activities for children through the six strands:

• Athletics
• Dance
• Gymnastics
• Games
• Outdoor and adventure activities
• Aquatics

We have focused on the development of the DANCE strand this year.  We have plans to include new dance initiatives into every day school life in St. Helen’s. These will include activities such as discos, céile, Drop Everything and Dance, flash mobs and much more. Our ASF Committee is busy brainstorming and organising these activities. Teachers are also working on new and creative ways to teach dance, as well as using PSSI lesson plans for their planning of lessons.