RTÉ
Thousands of pupils join Operation Transformation for 10@10 workout
RTÉ’s Operation Transformation is celebrating its 10th birthday by hosting the show’s biggest ever exercise party – 10@10.
Primary school children all over Ireland will do 10 minutes of exercise at 10am on Friday 10 February for the ‘10@10’. Pupils can dance, kick a ball, hula-hoop or simply walk on the spot for their activity – just as long as they are moving.
Channel controller for RTÉ One and RTÉ2, Adrian Lynch said: “It’s been fantastic to watch communities around the country engage with Operation Transformation again this year. Every week thousands of people take part in walks, runs and weigh-ins all around the country as part of OT. I’m delighted that the 10@10 is a chance for kids to get involved too. I can’t wait to see the inventive ways they get moving this Friday!”
Over 500,000 primary school children have been invited to take part in the ‘10@10’ and to help teachers get their classes moving Operation Transformation has created a special classroom workout video. The classroom workout is developed by Operation Transformation’s fitness expert Karl Henry and is presented by Gráinne Bleasdale and Micheál Ó Ciaraidh. It is available to stream on RTÉ Player http://bit.ly/10_at_10 or to download from the RTÉ website www.rte.ie/ot in both Irish and English.
Operation Transformation has teamed up with Active School Flag and Healthy Ireland for the initiative and exercise for the ‘10@10’ can count as a step towards their school’s Active School Flag.
National Coordinator Active School Flag, Karen Cotter commented: “There is a real need to energise the school day so that more children can be helped to reach their 60 minutes per day physical activity target and the OT classroom workout video is a valuable resource in this regard. It will be great to see Irish schools join forces this Friday to get their school communities up, moving and having fun. We hope participating in the 10@10 initiative this Friday will encourage lots more schools to take the next step and work achieving the Active School Flag.”
RTÉ 2fm’s Breakfast Republic will be capturing all the fun of the ‘10@10’ live on their show this Friday. Hosts Keith Walsh, Bernard O’Shea and Jennifer Zamparelli will be phoning schools taking part every hour between 7am and 10am and hearing about what activities they have planned for the initiative. Breakfast Republic will continue their show until 10.10am so they are on air for the full duration of the ‘10@10’.
Operation Transformation cameras will be in schools all over the country recording the action (full list in Notes to the Editor) and pupils can tune in to Operation Transformation on Wednesday and Thursday at 8.30pm on RTÉ One to see the footage.
Operation Transformation is sponsored by Safefood.
ENDS
Date: Wednesday 8 February 2017
Notes to Editor:
Why should a school get involved?
- Regular activity breaks during the school day do not only help increase children’s physical activity, but can also improve concentration and focus and improve classroom behaviour among pupils.
- Participation in the 10@10 can be used as a step towards a school’s Active School Flag.
- Every child that partakes in the 10@10 will get a sticker to show that they’ve participated with over half a million other pupils nationwide.
The ‘Classroom Workout’, presented by Gráinne Bleasdale and Micheál Ó Ciaraidh, has been developed by Operation Transformation’s fitness expert Karl Henry and is available to stream or to download from the RTÉ website www.rte.ie/ot in both Irish and English.
The following primary schools will be filmed for the 10@10 and will feature on Operation Transformation:
Dublin: Georges Hill Primary School, Halston St Dublin 7
Meath: St Ultan’s School, Flower Hill, Navan
Meath: St Michaels Primary School, Patrick Street, Trim
Kerry: Scoil Iosagain, Church Road, Ballybunion
Waterford: St Ursula Primary School, Ballytruckle
Donegal: Welchtown NS, Welchtown, Ballybofey
Wexford: Mercy School, St Johns Road, Townparks
Cork: Gaelscoil Chionn tSáile Cappagh, Kinsale, Co. Cork
Galway: Scoil Naisiunta Cholmcille an Tulach, Baile na hAbhann, Co. na Gaillimhe
Watch the classroom workout on the RTÉ Player:
English: http://bit.ly/10_at_10
Irish: http://bit.ly/10ag10
The video is available to download on the Operation Transformation website: www.rte.ie/ot