Apple Schools

Healthy Kids in Healthy Schools

Vision
Healthy Kids in Healthy Schools

APPLE Schools is an innovative school-focused health promotion initiative that improves the lives of more than 16, 500 students in 63 schools annually across Northern Alberta through healthy eating and active living.

Since 2008, APPLE Schools has invested $16 million in vulnerable student populations to prevent chronic diseases related to childhood overweight and obesity. It is estimated this investment will save $210 million through avoided health care costs, improved academic achievement, enhanced mental wellbeing, and better quality of life.

APPLE Schools transforms school communities from the bottom-up through an approach called Comprehensive School Health (CSH). CSH changes school environments to “make the healthy choice the easy choice”. Each APPLE school is provided a School Health Facilitator (SHF) trained in nutrition, physical activity, and community development. The SHF works with students, parents, school staff, and community members to develop a school action plan to meet the specific needs of their school.

School action plans include activities chosen by students and are designed to make healthy living fun and engaging. Examples include planting classroom gardens, after-school cooking classes and physical activity programs.

APPLE Schools equips students with the knowledge necessary to be confident, empathetic leaders and take ownership of their own health and social behaviours.

Research has shown that students in APPLE Schools eat healthier, are more physically active, and are more likely to be a healthy weight than other students across Alberta. They are better learners and score higher on academic tests. These results extend to activity outside of class, and students from all socio-economic backgrounds benefit from APPLE Schools, including many vulnerable communities with high First Nations, Métis, and Inuit populations.

APPLE Schools focuses on data to ensure accountability and drive results. Each school’s action plan is continuously improved based on metrics from the previous year. Data from student pedometers, parent surveys, focus groups and interviews all help assess the success of each school’s plan.

POSTING GUIDELINES
This is an education-oriented, friendly page. Feel free to share your stories, tips and ideas, answer questions and enjoy this online healthy community. Differences of opinion are welcome as long as they are respectful. Please be courteous and respect folks asking questions and have friendly discussions. Any post deemed to be anything else may be deleted.