GETTING HEALTHY: Staff, pupils, parents and children from Tiernaboul National School, pictured with some members of Barraduff Men's Shed on Tuesday afternoon, with their well-earned Health Promoting Schools flag. Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

One local school is making a substantial contribution to the health and well-being of its pupils after raising their first ever Health Promoting Schools flag on Tuesday afternoon.

Staff, pupils, parents and children from Tiernaboul National School, along with some members of Barraduff Men's Shed, gathered together to raise flag at lunchtime.

The school community has transformed over to a healthier environment, not only though education on diet, but by focusing on mindfulness also.

In February 2018, they took on the challenge of promoting a healthier environment and Tuesday’s flag raising ceremony, which was attended by Michelle Foley, Health Promotion Officer with the HSE, was the culmination of all their hard work.

It began as an initiative by Donna Griffin in Creative Kids Preschool which is attached to the school.

Fiona Cronin, who is a Special Needs Assistant at the school and Health Promotions coordinator, said that the younger children were then coming into the school and they saw the positive impact it had had on them.

“We saw the positive impact it had on the children,” she told the Killarney Advertiser.

“We felt it was the next step for us.”

With the programme, not only did they introduce a Buddy Bench made by the members of Barraduff Men’s Shed, yoga classes, mindfulness and healthy eating, but also invited guest speakers including a dentist, dietician and a road safety officer.

They are also a very active school with pupils taking part in football, swimming, soccer and golf, have set up a ‘Move It Monday’ and ‘Try It Tuesday’.

“Food Dudes is a huge part of it as well,” she said. “And yoga is something we’d like to do more of.”