Green School

At The Sterling Hall School, our vision is to prepare future generations to both confront the challenges ahead and make the world a better place. We believe that caring for our planet is an urgent requirement for every citizen of the earth in the 21st Century.

We set the stage for our boys to become engaged guardians of the earth who actively seek ways both large and small to make our school, our homes, and our communities more environmentally harmonious.

As a committed green school, we have made environmental involvement an integral part of three key areas: the curriculum; the students’ activism; and the school facilities. In each of these areas, we constantly strive to improve and expand our efforts.

The curriculum

Environmental responsibility is a core part of learning at every level and across a range of subjects.

As an integral part of our curriculum, the earth becomes a context for lessons and activities, providing an opportunity for our teachers to frame discussions and incorporate environmental themes in every classroom and subject area.

This engages the boys to become environmental thinkers and doers, and prepares them to look for opportunities to take the initiative in environmental activism.

Student activism

SHS provides a structure in which boys take ownership of environmental causes by organizing and participating in eco-events, green clubs, and other initiatives.

The Environmental Prefect and his Captains are actively involved in eco-projects that are both fun and meaningful. These have included raising funds for ChariTree, SharkSavers, and other causes of their choosing, and leading recycling, composting, and power-saving initiatives at the school.

Students also lead our Earth Week activities each April. Boys hold daily meetings where they teach and lead discussions, exposing one another to fresh ideas and activities. Previous Earth Week investigations have included explorations of themes such as “drops in a bucket” or “you can never do just one thing”.

Our facilities

We are continually working on ways to reduce the environmental impact of our building and operations by decreasing water and energy usage and minimizing landfill waste.

Our “no disposable water bottle” policy is one example of how we are all — boys, Staff, and parents — taking small steps to reduce environmental impact by using reusable bottles to enjoy the clean drinking water from our taps.

Other accomplishments include compost and recycling programs, renewable electricity from Bullfrog Power, water-reduction initiatives, battery collection, a no-idling policy, and use of FSC-certified paper.