Since the building of Calhoun's Green Roof, which opened in May 2005, the school community has taken its leadership role in sustainability to heart: the 2006-07 school year was dedicated to the theme, GO GREEN, and new initiatives were introduced to educate the community and reduce the school's carbon footprint. 

To ensure the ongoing success of these initiatives, Sylvia Kopec, Director of Administrative Services, was also named Calhoun's first Sustainability Coordinator. Under her direction, the school hopes to institutionalize many of the projects that are started by enthusiastic students, faculty and parents.

Ecology studies are central to science studies at every grade level. But in addition, each year the Calhoun community selects a theme that becomes a focal point for curricular and co-curricular study--many of which revolve around issues of sustainability. The purpose is to bring added attention to these issues and to generate action on the part of students as well as the school and parents. Some of our most successful themes have revolved around sustainability issues, including: Go Green (2006-07), Got Food? (2008-09), Go Blue (2010-11), and Too Much Stuff? (2011-2012). 

During the course of these year-long studies, our community amassed numerous resources, created public service announcements, and implemented school-based initiatives, including:

In addition to the initiatives that have been implemented, the most lasting impact of our yearly themes has been to encourage students, faculty, administration and staff to focus on what Calhoun can do to reduce our school's carbon footprint, and to understand that this needs to be an ongoing process. As a school community, we have come a long way. But we hope to continually revisit how we can do things better.