An APPLE a day helps students learn nutrition

Written by Megan McKenny
Wednesday, 25 January 2012 15:43

Kalen Pocsai and Reanne Davis from St Anne School doing Jumping Jacks for the school’s 12 Days of Fitness from December. (Supplied)When you think of an apple, you usually think of keeping the doctor away or gifting to the teacher, but now apples are in Fort McMurray schools, too.

The APPLE Schools program is now in 10 schools in Fort McMurray, five in each school district.

APPLE Schools is affiliated with the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health, and stands for Alberta Project Promoting active Living and healthy Eating in Schools.

Diane Zielke is the APPLE Schools health facilitator at St. Anne School and has been working with the program for just over a year.

“It’s a very exciting program. We are affiliated with the U of A School of Public Health, and we follow the Ever Active Schools Model which works with home, school, and community,” says Zielke.

“At school we strive to provide education in a social and physical environment while promoting healthy eating and active living.”

Many of the schools have family nights to spread the message to the whole family. Zielke says it was an opportunity to show off the work they’ve been doing.

“Teachers created healthy living activities, and it gives parents ideas that they can take home,” she says. “One of the most exciting things is the kids get excited, and they take it home too. Education on healthy living is provided for the whole family, but the kids are the ones that really promote it at home.”

Good Shepherd School, St. Anne’s, Timberlea and Westview School were the original Fort McMurray APPLE Schools that joined the program in January 2011.

Good Shepherd principal Lou Ann Demers-Noble says the students have truly embraced the APPLE way of life.

“When you walk into our school you know you are entering an APPLE school,” says Demers-Noble. “We have amazing displays, apple bowls around the school, a DPA (Daily Physical Activity) centre, students coming and going to the gym, classes doing DPA throughout the day, a free morning breakfast program and so much more. Most of our activities are completely student led. We have a Rainbow Lunch Program that encourages students to have all four food groups present in their lunch. The students have completely bought into our healthy philosophy. This healthy way of life is rubbing off onto their families, and us staff.”

Father Beauregard School became an APPLE School in September 2011.

“Physical activities have been incorporated into the four core subjects, through active learning and review activities,” says school principal Dolores Abraham.

Every month a new health theme is introduced and supported through daily announcements, curricularly aligned lessons and visuals around the school.

Themes such as Bone Healthy, Get off the Tube and Get on the Move, Rainbow Lunches and Address Your Stress have been popular with Father Beau students.

Abraham adds the learning curve for the students has been very quick.

“Students are becoming very knowledgeable about what constitutes a healthy snack.

“They also came to realize how active they really were through a pedometer challenge that they enjoyed in fall. The students are quick take part in our after school fitness activities and clubs. We’re excited about encouraging our students to develop healthy living habits that will last a lifetime.”

Zielke is very busy in her school making sure the message of APPLE Schools is part of everyday life in the school.

“As a facilitator I’m promoting healthy living and eating in the school, working with other facilitators, and reaching out in the community.

“We’ve had Keyano and their Fit for Life program come and talk to our schools, we’ve shown zumba, and baseball, and we have a great relationship with Alberta Health Services. AHS has come in and talked to our students and been there on family nights as well to promote a healthy lifestyle.”

Of course a healthier and longer life are one of the results of healthy eating and a more active lifestyle, but Zielke says it’s not just that.

“There are many studies that prove it—healthy children learn better. Academic performance improves.”

Healthy habits that are learned now can continue for a lifetime.

APPLE Schools creates healthy schools by using evidence from the internationally recognized principles of comprehensive school health.

APPLE Schools began in 10 schools in the Edmonton region in 2008. In January 2011, four Fort McMurray schools came onboard, and it was the start of this school year in September that six more Fort McMurray schools joined. There are now 40 APPLE Schools from Edmonton north.