Virtual Healthy School

The Virtual Healthy School is a new, interactive learning tool from CDC Healthy Schools. Explore the school and learn how to create healthier school environments.

Students spend about 8 hours a day in school, making the school setting an ideal place to teach and model healthy behaviors. CDC’s new Virtual Healthy School provides examples of what a healthy school environment looks like and how to implement the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model to create a healthier school.

The Virtual Health School is an online, interactive school that provides innovative learning experiences to help make schools healthier. While the Virtual Healthy School’s major themes are nutrition, physical education and physical activity, and the management of chronic health conditions (e.g., asthma, diabetes) in schools—the tool includes examples of all 10 components of the WSCC model incorporated into the entire school.

Each room shows a different way that school staff use the WSCC model and the School Health Index to chart their path toward a healthier school setting. These Virtual Healthy School professionals transform their school with large and small changes.

“Principal Paul” uses an engaging, storytelling approach as he leads a tour of the school and introduces staff. Teachers, a school health nurse, a cafeteria manager, a counselor, and others share their stories about creating a healthier school environment.

The gymnasium provides lots of opportunity for physical activity and learning about fitness

This dynamic, simulated school is easy to navigate on laptops, desktops, and tablets. Move through Virtual Healthy School’s

• Classrooms
• Playground
• Cafeteria
• Gymnasium
• Nurse’s Office
• Counselor’s Office
• Principal’s Office

You can also sit in on a meeting of the school health team. The Virtual Healthy School characters have a positive, can-do attitude that carries over from room to room.

The Virtual Healthy School provides resources, guidance, and coaching to promote evidence-based and promising practices. It uses modern learning technology and lists practical action steps to engage families and communities. Schools, parents, and communities share a common goal to support the health and well-being of young people. Studies show a strong link between students’ health and their academic achievement.

The CDC Healthy Schools homepage has more resources, tools, and information on improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents in schools.