6th Class completing their 'Active Break Every Day Challenge 2026'

Active Break Every Day Challenge (2026)

The Active Break Every Day Challenge is a 4 week, annual, challenge designed to support teachers to build movement breaks in to the school day.

This year’s challenge is proudly supported by the GAA who, working with the Active School Flag team, have created a set of English and Irish movement break videos to help get more schools, more active, more often.

The movement breaks videos are filmed in different locations around Croke Park giving classes a behind-the-scenes look at where the team buses arrive, inside the players’ dressing rooms and the warm up areas where legends get game ready. In addition, they will learn interesting facts about Croke Park.

Children from our Active Flag committee go around to each classroom to remind them everyday and encourage them to do the exercises if they have not had a chance that day. These activities are done in the classroom and are a great brain break for the children.

We are very proud of all our achievements.

We have erected our new Active Walkway Signage around our existing walkway and we look forward to carrying out all the orienteering trails over the coming months. This walkway is used by all classes throughout the day for active breaks, jogging on our break times and walking with our friends.

For St. Patrick's Day the whole school got active and participated in a céilí in the Parish Hall. The children had great fun and loved watching other classes dance. They all dressed up in green for the occasion.

In June 2025 1st and 2nd class visited the National Stud and Japanese Gardens for our school tour. We learned lots about horses and horse racing and we loved looking at all the mares and foals. 

The Children in Gowran N.S. love learning about horses and some children have their own ponies!

Gowran Park Race Course is located very close to our school and our Parents Association are delighted to have held a bucket collection at the Thyestes Chase meeting in January over the past number of years. 

Horse Racing Ireland and Gowran Park Racecourse invited 3rd and 4th class to visit Gowran Park in May.

This workshop gives children a behind the scenes look at horse racing. 

The children met a horse trainer with a horse in the parade ring- the trainer explained what his role is and the children got to look at and learn about a horse. 

Children went out on track to see the stalls for race starts and the foreman explained about his role on the track. 

We visited the weigh room where officials explained the weigh in process and we saw the stewards room and rooftop hospitality area. 

We met with Jockeys who explained about the equipment they used and what they do.