Active School Flag

The Active School Flag is an initiative of the Department of Education and Skills supported by Healthy Ireland. The Active School Flag is awarded to schools that strive to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community. We have been working very hard in Monksland N.S. to try and achieve our Active Flag in the school 2025-2026. Please check the different areas of our Active Flag section on our school website to find out what physical activity the children have been up to.

Active School Committee

The Active School Committee is made up of pupils from the senior part of our school. They meet regularly with Ms. Ferguson to ensure that the school day in Monksland N.S. is as active as possible. The Active School Committee are kept busy by promoting Active School Flag initiatives, planning and co-ordinating Active School Week, leading Wake Up and Shake Up, researching and organising P.E. equipment, assisting with Sports Day preparation, organising the annual Skip-A-Thon fundraiser along with other events that may arise throughout the year.

Playground Leaders

Playground Leaders were selected from applications from 4th to 6th Class. Our Playground Leaders follow a weekly rota and work in the Junior Yard each day at 11:00 – 11:15.

What does a Playground Leader do?

  •  Teach games to pupils in the Junior Yard 
  • Play with pupils in the Junior Yard.
  • Demonstrate how to take turns.
  • Introduce sports equipment to pupils in the Junior Yard.
  • Encourage new friendships.
  • Promote the concept of working as a team.
  • Help pupils who don’t know how to play or what to play.

Physical Education

The Physical Education curriculum allows for an hour of physical activity each week for each class. In Monksland N.S. teach all 6 strands each year: Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics, Games, Outdoor and Adventure and Aquatics. PAWS Water Safety Programme is taught to a class group each year. Monksland N.S. invest regularly in a wide variety of P.E. equipment and also work with community groups to gain access to other sports equipment. We have access to a yard space and a large green field. 

Physical Activity 

To promote physical activity in the school, we have introduced a number of initiatives to ensure our pupils are encouraged to be as active as possible. Some of the initiatives we have introduced include:

  • Playground leaders
  • Active School Walkway
  • Daily Mile 
  • Bizzy Breaks 
  • Active School Week 
  • School Sports Day
  • Skip Around Europe 
  • Annual Skip-A-Thon Fundraiser
  • Wake Up Shake Up
  • Movement or Dance Breaks in Class

Partnerships 

Our list of current partners:

  • Louth Disability Cycling Club  
    • Each year, we welcome the Louth Disability Cycling Club to our school. 
  • Louth Local Sports Partnership
    • Participating in the annual Daily Mile Challenge 
  • Cumann na mBunscol Lú
    • We compete in both Boys’ and Girls’ G.A.A Football competitions, along with Cumann na mBunscol Lú Tráth na gCéist   
  • FAI Schools Louth 
    • Monksland N.S. take part in blitzes with both our Boys’ and Girls’ teams.
  • Cooley Kickhams G.F.C and L.G.F.A.
    • Cooperating with juvenile coaches, using Fr. McEvoy pitches and welcoming teams to our school are all ways that this partnership benefits our school. 
  • Cooley Camogie Club
    • Cooley Camogie generously lend Monksland N.S. equipment to allow the pupils to experience Camogie and Hurling.  
  • Glenmore Athletics Club
    • Participating in the Annual Jim Savage Races is a fantastic way of promoting athletics to our pupils.  
  • Carlingford Knights Rugby 
    • Carlingford Knights Rigby Club provide a block of coaching to our pupils, allowing them to experience rugby within their school day. 

We encourage our pupils of Monksland N.S. to get involved in activities outside of school. Involvement in a local club is most likely to encourage lifelong participation in a sport or activity.

Activities available locally include:

  • G.A.A. (Football and Camogie)
  • Soccer
  • Creative Dance
  • Athletics
  • Rugby
  • Tennis
  • Golf
  • Martial Arts
  • Swimming
  • Gymnastics
  • Kickboxing
  • Boxing
  • Horse Riding
  • Bowls
  • Hiking 

What Club Are You In?

The pupils on our Active School Committee carried out a “What Club Are You In?” survey in all classes in the school.

G.A.A. football emerged as the most popular sport among the pupils of Monksland N.S. 

Active School Week

Active School Week is the biggest event of the Active School calendar and a favourite of many students, staff and families.