Sustainability

Our solar array’s 2,158 panels produce 1.0 megawatt of power on nearly five acres of land, a huge benefit to the campus. Having green energy on the hilltop is not only better for our planet; it saves a significant amount of money each year. It also leads by example, showing our students—the future leaders of this world—the importance of environmentally friendly initiatives.

A Sixth Form orchard was started on campus. Every year, the senior class plants six trees producing a different fruit—apples one year, peaches the next, and so on. Future Sixth Form students will carry on the annual tradition with different varieties of trees.

The Department of Environmental Protection in Connecticut has a program called Project Search where they train teachers and send students out to local rivers for water quality testing and then compile all that data. Our students have been going to the East Aspetuck River for 20 years as part of a class. They get right in the water and investigate the chemistry. They also put on hip waders and explore artificial wetlands around campus.

During field trips to the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, students observe all the different organisms, watch a documentary in the IMAX theater, and go out on a research vessel for two-plus hours. They see so many of the things they talk and learn about all year.

Students continue to keep recycling efforts top of mind, selling reusable water bottles and helping to get and maintain all the water bottle fillers on campus.

The chicken coop on the north end of campus gives students experience in running a self-sustaining project with a fold-up roost and easy-to-clean nesting boxes. It also sports solar panels to provide light and enough heat to keep the water from freezing. Students not only learn about the responsibility of caring for the chickens, but also the planning and marketing aspects of operating a small business.

Each year, club members present a Social Justice Series event such as the recent Food Justice and Sustainability session. The club’s efforts to increase awareness of sustainability issues include presentations and videos at night; a favorite is The Biggest Little Farm, which talks about creating a biodiverse farm and many different fruit trees.

Mission: To provide our community with the opportunity to learn, question, and discuss topics that pertain to sustainability; to provide activities to "green our campus"; and to help students become caretakers and stewards of Earth.

We continue to work with the local gas and electric company, Eversource, to find ways to save energy and further minimize the School’s everyday carbon footprint. These have included installing energy-efficient lighting and motors in our buildings to significantly lower energy usage.