Walterstown N.S. recognises the importance of providing a structured, varied, and inclusive approach to physical education. We are committed to offering all students opportunities to develop their physical skills in a positive and supportive environment./p>

The aims of the P.E curriculum are:

• to promote the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of the child
• to develop positive personal qualities
• to help in the acquisition of an appropriate range of movement skills in a variety of contexts
• to promote understanding and knowledge of the various aspects of movement
• to develop an appreciation of movement and the use of the body as an instrument of expression and creativity
• to promote enjoyment of, and positive attitudes towards, physical activity and its contribution to lifelong health-related fitness, thus preparing the child for the active and purposeful use of leisure time.

We initially focused on the Athletics strand when we first achieved our Active Flag. As part of our Renewal process, we are now concentrating on developing four fundamental movement skills across all classes:

1. Running
2. Dodging
3. Throwing
4. Striking with a Hand

1. Running

Throughout the year, we placed a strong emphasis on running technique and stamina. Running was embedded across various elements of school life, including P.E. lessons, playground games, and whole-school events. We added cross-country to our calendar of activities, with many pupils representing the school in local events. Running was also a key component in many of our games, helping students to refine their form and improve endurance. We were proud to participate in the Cork City Sports, giving students another fantastic opportunity to demonstrate their running skills in a competitive and fun environment.

2. Dodging

Dodging was explored through a wide range of collaborative and competitive games, helping students build agility, awareness, and coordination. It was a core focus in both playground games and PE lessons, including favourites like dodgeball. All classes benefited from rugby coaching with Heidi from Cobh Pirates RFC, where dodging played a central role in learning game strategies. The Tag Rugby Blitz also provided an excellent opportunity for children to apply their dodging skills in a real match setting. Across these activities, children learned to dodge safely, effectively, and creatively.

3. Throwing

We focused on a variety of throwing techniques, tailored to suit different ages and abilities. From underarm to overarm, students practiced accurate and powerful throws through games such as “Dirty Town, Tidy Town”, as well as rugby and GAA drills. In the Athletics strand, all classes experienced throwing events such as shot put, discus, and javelin, giving them a chance to apply technique in a more formal setting. Dodgeball and handball were used as key sports to reinforce throwing skills in a fun and fast-paced environment.

4. Striking with a Hand

This skill was taught and developed primarily through Gaelic football, with all students learning and practicing hand-passing. In particular, 2nd and 3rd Class took part in a GAA coaching block with Mark, allowing them to refine their technique. In addition, many classes were introduced to volleyball, a new and exciting experience for most students. Volleyball helped students improve hand-eye coordination, timing, and striking accuracy, while promoting teamwork and communication.

These four skills have been carefully woven into everyday PE, extra-curricular activities, and whole-school events, ensuring that all pupils are developing the essential movement skills they need for lifelong participation in sport and physical activity.

Physical Activity is incredibly important. The HSE states that “All children and young people should be active, at a moderate to vigorous level, for at least 60 minutes every day”.

Our school aim, this year, is to reduce the time we spend sedentary in order to increase physical activity.

Maths Week 2024 was celebrated all over Ireland during October, and here in Walterstown, we absolutely loved every minute of it! Maths Week is always a special time in our school, and this year was no exception.

Our pupils had a fantastic time taking part in a wide variety of maths-based activities. From solving puzzles to tackling fun challenges, there was something for everyone to enjoy. We didn’t just keep our maths in the classroom either – we got moving and brought plenty of energy to our learning this year!

Combining maths with movement and activity made it even more enjoyable. Whether it was counting steps, measuring distances, or playing number games outdoors, we found creative ways to stay active while building our maths skills.

It was wonderful to see so much enthusiasm, teamwork, and problem-solving happening all around the school. Maths Week is such a brilliant opportunity to show how maths can be fun, exciting, and part of our everyday lives.

A huge well done to all our pupils and teachers for making this year’s Maths Week such a big success. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!

Our school has been buzzing with activity over the past four weeks as we took part in the Active Breaks Challenge. We’ve been up to all sorts of fantastic things and had great fun along the way!

We’re so lucky to have our wonderful walking track. Classes had the chance to head outside, soak in the lovely scenery, breathe the fresh air, and stay active at the same time.

Just Dance was a big hit with everyone – we had great laughs and lots of movement! During Maths and Gaeilge, we got creative with Active Games, which made learning even more enjoyable. Our daily 10 o’clock movement break outside is always a highlight, and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Even on rainy days, we didn’t let the weather stop us! We made a huge effort to use the hall for indoor yard time, ensuring we never missed out on our active break.

We’re so proud of the energy, effort, and enthusiasm everyone brought to this challenge. Well done, everyone!

February was a very busy and active month in Walterstown NS. After training all January long, we had 6 teams participate in the Volleyball Regionals in Coachford. Both the girls and boys teams won the competition and qualified for the National Final in UL. It was a great success and really showed how skilled the children have become at striking with their hand and throwing.

We combined our annual “Friendship February” campaign with the Active Flag this year and made the event active. Friendship February was extremely busy. We had a great time doing playground games with other classes and taking part in many sporting activities. We played Foxes, Snakes and Chickens; Dodgeball; Flush the Toilet; Volleyball; Table Tennis; and went for walks with other classes. We had lots of opportunities to work on our Fundamental Movement Skills of Running; Dodging; Throwing; and Striking with a Hand.

Mr. O’Sullivan facilitated cross-country training for a few weeks in preparation for another Cross-Country event in Cuskinny; The Great Island Cross Cup. We had many participants for these races, working again on our running skills and general fitness. Our athletes had a great day and we were thrilled to bring home 5 medals! Huge thanks to Trevor from Great Island Athletics and to Cuskinny Court for another brilliant Cross Country event!

April was a fantastic month of fun and fitness at Walterstown NS as every class took part in the Skip Around Europe Challenge! Each day, students brought their skipping ropes out to the yard and took part in 10 minutes of energetic skipping, helping us all to stay active and build our stamina.

As part of the challenge, we also held a whole-school Skipathon – a lively event filled with movement, music, and lots of smiling faces. It was wonderful to see the entire school community come together to celebrate being active!

Throughout the month, students not only improved their skipping technique but also learned new skipping games and traditional rhymes, which added lots of fun to our break times. From beginner hoppers to speedy skippers, everyone gave it their best effort and had a great time.

Well done to all our students for embracing the challenge with such enthusiasm and energy. We’re skipping our way to a healthier, more active school – one jump at a time!

We ended the school year on a high with our First Annual Walterstown Olympic Games – a week of fun, teamwork, creativity, and physical activity that brought the whole school together!

Ms. O’Rourke and 6th Class did an outstanding job organising and running the week’s events. From start to finish, the energy was electric and the spirit of the Olympics was alive in Walterstown!

Day 1 kicked off with Olympic preparations, including flag-making and an Opening Ceremony. The school was split into mixed-class teams, each one choosing a country name and even creating their own National Anthem!

On Day 2, creativity took centre stage as teams choreographed their own gymnastics or dance routine and performed them for the whole school. Each routine was set to their anthem, and the teachers turned into very serious Olympic judges, scoring performances out of 10!

Day 3 was all about games – ball games, throwing and catching challenges, and team relays took over the yard. Every team gave it their all in a fun and fast-paced day of friendly competition.

On Day 4, we moved to the field for a day of athletics and outdoor adventure. There were sprints, long jumps, throwing events, and even a walking challenge around the track – all earning points for each team.

The week wrapped up in style on Friday with the Closing Ceremony, where we celebrated the week’s efforts. A medal ceremony honoured the team champions, and we gave special mentions for best teamwork, sportsmanship, and creativity.

It was an unforgettable week that captured the true spirit of sport, fun, and togetherness. Well done to all our Olympic athletes – we can’t wait for next year already!

Members of the Active Committee went to each class to find out which clubs our pupils are involved in. They found out that WNS pupils are joined a large range of clubs in the locality.

These are the results of the clubs survey:

Coming Soon...

Walterstown N.S. is working hard to renew our Active Flag. We recognise how important partnerships within the community are in order to promote physical activity. We are very lucky to be situated in Cobh where there are so many fantastic clubs and organisations for children to learn new skills and develop their physical fitness.

Through our partnership with Cobh GAA our Second Class & Third Class students have been developing their fundamental movement skills and learning football and hurling with Mark O’Rourke. Our students from 1st to 6th did a block of rugby with Heidi from Cobh Pirates. Many students were introduced to rugby for the first time and it was a hugely worthwhile experience.

Cork Sports Partnership offer great opportunities for partnership and for offering children access to new sports. Our school has taken part in volleyball tournaments. Ms. O’Rourke and Mr. Allen attended a teacher training day in order to upskill our staff in volleyball coaching, games and activities.

Mr. Cusack was involved in entering Walterstown students in the schools tennis tournament this year. All teams were outstanding, with the boys team missing out narrowly in the Munster Final.

We are delighted to have a strong and ongoing partnership with Cobh GAA. Earlier in the year, Mark O’Rourke led two fantastic blocks of coaching sessions with 2nd & 3rd Class. The focus was on Gaelic football, where children had the chance to develop their fundamental movement skills in a fun and supportive environment. After a few weeks Mark changed to introduce the children to the exciting sport of hurling. It was a brilliant opportunity for our younger classes to learn new skills, stay active, and enjoy being part of a team.

Cobh GAA provides training opportunities for all age groups, and we’re encouraging all our students to get involved, try something new, and stay active in their community.

We were very proud to have Walterstown NS represented in this year’s Schools Tennis Tournament, thanks to the support and organisation of Mr. Cusack. Our students showed incredible commitment, skill, and sportsmanship throughout the competition.

All of our teams performed brilliantly, with some outstanding matches played along the way. The girls’ team had a fantastic run, reaching the semi-final after several hard-fought games. Their determination and teamwork were truly impressive.

Meanwhile, the boys’ team made an incredible journey all the way to the Munster Final – a remarkable achievement that showcased their dedication and talent. Although they narrowly missed out on lifting the trophy, they did themselves and the school proud with their performance and attitude.

It was a brilliant experience for all involved and a great opportunity for our students to develop their tennis skills, represent their school, and enjoy competitive sport in a supportive environment.

Well done to all our players, and a big thank you to Mr. Cusack for his time and encouragement throughout the tournament!

This year, students from 1st to 6th Class had the exciting opportunity to take part in a block of rugby coaching sessions led by Heidi from Cobh Pirates RFC. The sessions were lively, engaging, and full of energy, introducing many of our pupils to the sport of rugby for the very first time.

Throughout the coaching block, students focused on developing a range of key movement and game-based skills, with a particular emphasis on dodging, throwing, and running. These fundamental skills were woven into fun games and activities that helped children improve their agility, coordination, and confidence on the pitch.

Heidi created a fun and inclusive environment where every child could get involved, learn at their own pace, and enjoy the experience of being active through sport. For many, it was their first time playing rugby – and it turned out to be a hugely worthwhile and enjoyable experience.

A big thank you to Heidi and Cobh Pirates RFC for their continued support in bringing rugby to Walterstown NS. We’re already looking forward to the next round of sessions!

In May, our 5th and 6th Class students proudly represented the school at the Tag Rugby Blitz hosted by Cobh Pirates RFC. Schools from all around Cobh took part, and our students really shone on the pitch. With fantastic displays of throwing, dodging, running, and rugby skills that they had worked so hard on all year, the day was a huge success. Incredibly, two Walterstown teams made it all the way to the final, giving us an all-Walterstown showdown to end the tournament – what an achievement!

Coming Soon…