Some children do have a natural aptitude for chess, especially related to visual-spatial ability. However almost any child can learn the game and benefit from it. At primary level, progress at chess is related to practice, study, determination, self-control, and competitiveness. It’s fantastic for development of a growth mindset, as it’s (1) a genuinely challenging activity for every single child and (2) it does repay work and practice – natural aptitude will only take you so far!

2nd Class children learn the game in a structured way in their first term. They have a 40-minute chess session every week during the year during which they play both friendly and competitive games, and are also introduced to the basics of chess tactics and strategy.

The school chess club takes place on Friday afternoon for 70 minutes after school. All children from 3rd to 6th Classes (and including 2nd Class in the summer term) are welcome to play in the Friday club. Sign-up is at the start of term and there is a small fee to cover the cost of equipment, prizes for competitions and expenses related to taking part in inter-school competitions.

Some teachers also use chess as a Golden Time activity, and children often choose to play chess on a ‘wet playtime’ when they cannot go outside. It’s also a popular activity during the after-school Kids’ Club.

From time to time different groups are offered the opportunity to take part in coaching sessions on a Thursday afternoon after school. This is only open to members of the Friday club.

The highest-performing children in the chess club are chosen to represent the school in inter-school team competitions. Children are also encouraged to play in individual competitions which are usually held at weekends. There are also chess camps during the holidays for the really keen!

Above all, be guided by your child’s level of interest. Don’t push them to do chess coaching, take part in tournaments, or study chess unless they genuinely want to. For many children, chess will always just be a fun game to play and no more than that. If your child shows real interest, by all means encourage him / her to join the coaching session on Thursday, play in tournaments at weekends and take part in chess camps. Children will be given information during our Friday club about tournaments and other events children might enjoy, and details are also circulated to parents on email. The Irish Chess Union website, www.icu.ie has details of upcoming more serious tournaments. Lichess.com is a free online chess facility with opportunities to play games and solve chess puzzles online.

You may wind up giving a lot of lifts… But it’s worth it if your child develops a real interest for life and (trust me on this one!) chess looks good on the cv!

Many thousands of people at any one time are playing casual games on the Internet. There are also regular tournaments organised, and every game is ‘rated’ so players can get an idea of their strength and see themselves improve as they win more games (hopefully). This is a good way for children to practise their chess, but it’s obviously up to parents whether they want their children to become immersed in a screen-based activity.

Here’s a quick guide to joining Lichess, which is the platform I recommend if you want to go down this avenue.

1. Go to https://lichess.org/signup
2. Select a username, password, email address and agree to all terms. Click Register.
3. Lichess.org will create an account but it must be confirmed by clicking on a link sent to the email address listed first
4. Very Important: Kid Mode: Lichess.org allows players to chat openly by text/typing when playing each other. To disable this feature for children simply go to https://lichess.org/account/kid and enter the password you created for your lichess.org account. Then click Enable Kid Mode (blue button underneath password entry)

• St Catherine’s has strong links with Templeogue Synge Street GAA Club and Kevins Hurling and Camogie Club.
• We are visited by members of the Donore Boxing Club who facilitate boxing sessions here in the school.
• St Catherine’s has a hurling team, who take part in matches and blitzes.

• Cycle Right come to the school to do cycling sessions with 5th and 6th class.

• Mark Holland from Sport in Schools holds an 8-week gymnastics programme in the school every September/October.

• Swimming lessons take place in Crumlin Swimming Pool for our students in 1st and 2nd class.

• We have a girls’ soccer team this year who have played in the FAI schools league.  The girls have made it to the finals of the schools league and will play in the final on 17th June 2024.

All pupils are provided with 60 minutes timetabled P.E. per week as a minimum.

All teachers teach the 6 P.E. strands – Aquatics, Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics, Games, Outdoor and Adventure each year.

Pupils in 1st and 2nd class attend swimming lessons in the local pool. Our school teaches the Land PAWS water safety programme each year.

We use the Move Well, Move Often resource to support the teaching of Physical Literacy in St. Catherine’s NS. Physical literacy is the underlying goal of all physical activity. The physically literate child can be described as having the motivation, confidence, movement competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take part in physical activity throughout their personal lifelong journey. To become physically literate, pupils need to master fundamental movement skills (FMS) through a series of developmental stages. These FMS are outlined below.

We organise regular buddy walks in our community. This is where a class from the senior end of the school is paired with a class from the junior end of the school and we take a walk together to a different part of the locality. We also have other buddy activities like Céilí dancing during Seachtaine na Gaeilge.

At the end of the school year, we organise a sports day for both the junior and senior ends of the school. This is a fun filled day for all. There is a spud and spoon race, a three-legged race, a house team relay and a long race.  

Once a week we also take time during morning activities to accommodate an active morning. We have different areas on the school yard to encourage as many pupils as possible to get up and be active. The areas include dancing, skipping, running and foursquare.

We have movement/active breaks throughout the school day whereby we encourage children to take a break from their work, or to transition between lessons, to do a short burst of exercise of some form. These movement breaks help to create a level of alertness which enables a child to focus and concentrate to the best of their ability. 

Lessons are taught outside whenever possible in our school.  

The children of St Catherine’s are encouraged to walk, cycle, and scoot to school as much as possible.

Active achievements are announced in Friday assemblies by the senior members of the Active Committee.

A week in the school calendar is given over to Active School Week each year. This proves a successful and enjoyable week where fun through physical activity is the main focus for all.

We strive to get parents involved and have had them facilitate some activities over the past few years such as Zumba, rounders, and running.

Everyone is encouraged to wear active wear every day of Active Week, and no written homework is assigned for that week.

We offer everyone a chance to learn an orchestral instrument and some stage of their primary education.

There is lots of research now to show that learning to read and play music is a big benefit for children in terms of brain development. We also feel that music is an integral part of most people’s lives and that learning an instrument at a young age gives children the opportunity to take part in music actively and to express themselves through music. Finally, there’s a big social dimension; they have to listen to each other and work as a team.

Covid devastated our Orchestra Programme so we have reimagined it with some learnings along the way and it is a work in progress.

All children start their instrumental journey in 1st class playing the violin with out tutor Natasha.  They continue this into 2nd class after which the students may choose to continue into the senior classes playing with the Senior Orchestra.  In 3rd class all students will learn the recorder after which they will ‘try out’ to play the clarinet and flute.  It is our hope that these students will continue with the flute and clarinet to join the violinists and recorders in our Senior Orchestra.

As parents can understand, the orchestra is a significant cost to the school. We pay the music teachers and we also buy all the equipment – instruments, stands, music scores etc.  Monies donated from parents through the Voluntary Donations allow the school to continue with our music programme for all students.

What can you do to help? There’s no way out of this: the children must practise if they are to make progress. We suggest 10 minutes per day, Monday to Thursday (and don’t stop them doing more!!). We know that many parents don’t know exactly how to help, but even listening to the children having a go at their tunes is hugely encouraging for them.  If your child is totally confused as to what they have to do, please contact the class teacher and we’ll see what we can do to help.

Also, do come to the orchestra concerts and let your children know you are proud of them! And if your child shows a particular interest and aptitude, do consider getting them lessons; the College of Music and the RIAM are reasonably priced, and there is also the Leinster School of Music (based in Griffith College, very handy!) and the Leeson Park School of Music. There are also lots of private music teachers.