Esker ETNS is An ACTIVE School.
​An active school is a school where physical activity is valued, promoted and enjoyed by all.

At Esker we continue to be passionate about maintaining are love of all things active.
We' are applying for a renewal flag.
As part of this process we continue to meet all previously attained criteria and more.
This year we continued to work in partnerships as both teachers and students with a new Active committee and teachers working together to communicate with the school community about our work.
We continue to have volunteers from Lucan Harriers, Cricket Ireland, Adamstown Cricket Club, Westmanstown Gaels, Weston Hockey  and Barnhall Rugby Club who have visited our school to do training with the children. We have many sporting after school clubs ongoing too.
We had new partnerships with Basketball Ireland and Athletics Ireland.
We continue to take part in the Cumman na MBunscoil GAA and Athletics schools competitions.
For our Renewal Flag the main focus was organising our Active Walkway and embracing Crazy Golf as a new sport in the school. Prescribing PE homework each week for the children. Ensuring teachers used the move well move often programme and picking priority fine motor skills to work on for the year. Our staff are increasing their own sporting and movement time too.  

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​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.

Schools wishing to achieve the ASF begin the process by self-evaluating their current provision across 3 areas: Physical Education, Physical Activity and Partnerships. Schools must also organise an Active School Week programme and commit to having it as part of their annual school calendar. Schools that can say ‘yes’ to all of the ASF success criteria will be awarded with the active flag. The flag remains valid for a period of 3 years after which time schools will be invited to re-apply.
ASF is a Department of Education and Skills initiative supported by Healthy Ireland.

We have been previously awarded two Active Flags for our school. This will be our third.  We have our own pupils and teachers committee that coordinate activities in our school to help make us more pe active. ​

Earning a Flag

We had to fulfil criteria in four sections. Once we had done this we had to create a website that showed the criteria below and also submit our our application for review. Then an inspector came to our school to view our progress and make a decision on our flag!

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
• Confirmation that all classes receive 60 minutes of timetabled PE every week.
• Confirmation that at least 5 different PE strands (Athletics, Aquatics, Dance, Games, Gymnastics, Outdoor and Adventure) are taught at every class level every year.
• Visual Evidence of the work undertaken in the priority PE strand.
• Renewal Schools —Visual evidence of the monthly FMS focus.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
• Active Playgrounds (playground leaders, playground equipment, etc. )
• Signposted Active School WALKWAY.
• Running Initiative.
• Run a Day challenge.
• Renewal Schools — ASF Physical Activity Reward Chart.
​• Renewal Schools — 60 Minute Physical Activity Challenge

PARTNERSHIPS
• ASF committee (staff and pupils).
• ASF school slogan.
• What Clubs are You In? survey results.
• Links with local clubs.

ACTIVE SCHOOL WEEK
#ASW programme.
• Whole school FUN event.
​• Cross-curricular activities.
• Physical activity as homework.
​• Taster sessions of NEW activities.