St Brigid’s pupils complete their marathon challenge

As part of the Wellbeing and Mental Health Plan at St Brigid’s School, the staff and pupils decided to complete a marathon. The motivation was to encourage students to move more and stress less, as the last year has been particularly hard for everyone in the community, especially all young people.

The benefits of moving the curriculum, teaching and learning outdoors are immeasurable, and the photos accompanying this article show how much the children enjoyed themselves and their pride in completing their first marathon.

The students got outside for their 1km a day challenge – 12 laps of the school yard – and there were recording sheets in every classroom for them to keep track of their progress, which was a visual reminder that every day they were one km closer to the finish line.

It didn’t take long for the activity to become popular with all. It provided staff with an extra opportunity to support the students socially while having informal conversations and plenty of giggles. It also provided the students with an extra opportunity to chat to friends and switch off, as many are at the point of “Covid Fatigue”, said school principal Joanne Jordan.

All students and staff took part regardless of ability, and everyone completed at their own pace.

Ms Jordan said: “There was great enthusiasm from everyone so we decided to use it as a fundraising opportunity for our multi-sensory garden and to support Mullingar Lions Club.

“The Lions Club have been great supporters of St Brigid’s School and Frank Dillon gave both our school and me great support during the lockdowns last year. The Lions Club are always at the end of the phone to help with anyone struggling – they are wonderful ambassadors, for the community in Mullingar, and for the whole of Westmeath.

“We are eternally grateful for the financial contribution they gave to us, and this challenge was our way of paying it forward, to help the Lions Club support others in need.”

The support from the Lions Club enabled St Brigid’s to build three outdoor classrooms, and Ms Jordan stressed that they are vital facilities, especially with the early return to face to face teaching for special schools in February.

“On a basic level, the outdoor classrooms mean each bubble had somewhere to go on a wet day when they could not get out to the yard for breaks, and they are also used extensively to increase students’ access to the curriculum.

“As a school we actively listen to the voice of our pupils. We were one of 30 schools in the country last year who were part of a pilot programme for the introduction of the Wellbeing Framework, which is to roll out in all schools by 2025. Before the word Covid even entered our vocabulary last year, the students at St Brigid’s were part of our wellbeing team and voiced how much they liked doing activities outside. If it is possible to say that there is a small silver lining within the Covid context, improving the school facilities has been a major one for us.”

At any time in St Brigid’s now, there will be an empty classroom and a group of students in an outdoor room taking part in lessons from art, maths and science, to music, reading, sensory play, dance, drama, dance/aerobics, and birthday celebrations (all within Covid protocols).

The new classrooms have become a core element of teaching and learning and the students respond well to working outdoors with the sounds of nature around them.

Ms Jordan said: “We are blessed to have a wonderful range of mature trees and the canal as a backdrop – I even find myself trying to take the time for a quick coffee break outside some days, just to listen to the sounds and appreciate what a fabulous school environment we are so lucky to have.

“Ms Jennings is our school wellbeing co-ordinator and we are part of the Creative Schools Programme through the National Arts Council this year. All year, we have been running events to boost wellbeing, morale and creative skills, all linked to curriculum learning objectives.

“Last week we had a whole school bake-off and a five-sense art competition, and it was very tough to select winners, but events like those create such a happy positive vibe across the school.

“We link in with our school Creative Associate through the arts council and every class has made large dream-catchers from hoola hoops to add a visual dimension to the outdoor rooms.”

Last Wednesday, St Brigid’s had a fun day instead of going on a tour, to keep the school bubbles safer as everyone worked hard to protect the children and each other.

The students completed the final kilometre in the marathon challenge, and then the fun day began. Students and staff enjoyed inflatable activities, dancing, music, art sessions and the chipper van.

Ms Jordan concluded: “A massive thank you to all our staff team in St Brigid’s for, as always, giving it their all to ensure the students had the best fun day to round off what was an unprecedented year.”