Traditions

Students at Doane Academy share time-honored traditions that breathe excitement into the school year and shape memories that will live forever within their hearts and minds. While many of these traditions go back to the establishment of the school, students are continually encouraged to create new ones as well. To see any of these traditions in action, please contact the Office of Admission, we would love to have you join us!

First Day of School

Doane Academy begins the school year like no other school in the country, or perhaps the world. The entire school community, including students, faculty, family, alumni, and members of the board of trustees, gather on the bank of the Delaware River to welcome not only the start of the new school year but also the members of the senior class as they arrive for the first day of school by canoe. Accompanied by the harmonious strains of bagpipes, the seniors’ arrival is both exciting and moving, as they and their families begin to realize that this is the beginning of the end of their time as students at Doane Academy.

Spirit Week and Homecoming

School spirit is evident throughout the school year, but one week in mid-October is devoted entirely to Spartan Spirit! Class competitions, School Family Field Day, pep rallies, and a unique Mr. and Miss Doane Pageant are just a few of the activities that fill Spirit Week. The Varsity versus Alumni Soccer Game, Alumni Tailgate Cookout, and Homecoming Dance conclude the week.

Doane's Dungeon

Started by Upper School students in the 1980s, Doane’s Dungeon gives a literary twist to the traditional Halloween haunted house. Scary, spooky, and Shakespearean, the basement and corridors of our old school are turned into a haunted dungeon for an entire weekend. Drama students as well as those interested in set design and lighting, work together to create scenes from classic scary novels such as Frankenstein, The Crucible, and Macbeth. Open to the public in time to coincide with Halloween, Doane’s Dungeon is one of the year’s biggest community events.

Christmas Mystery

The Christmas season at Doane includes Upper School and Lower School concerts, decorations throughout the halls, and the annual holiday dinner. Yet, the season would not be complete without the annual performance of the Christmas Mystery. Written in the early 1930s by St. Mary’s Hall boarding students who were unable to travel home for the holidays, the Mystery is a play celebrating the birth of Jesus. Performed word for word as it was written so long ago, the Christmas Mystery is one of our most beloved traditions. Each year Upper School students vie for a part in the performance, with the parts of Mary and Joseph reserved for the senior boy and girl who have been at the school the longest. The play is followed by a reception for all and is truly a magical night that keeps the alumni and their families coming back year after year.

Founder's Day Weekend

An alumni celebration of the school’s founder, Bishop George Washington Doane takes place every May. A weekend long series of events keep the alumni busy as they wander the halls of their old school mingling with friends and classmates and sharing stories with current students. A cocktail reception on Friday evening welcomes back alumni and friends; a chapel service in honor of Bishop Doane begins Saturday morning, followed by the Society of Graduates luncheon, and a dinner party caps off the events that night. Each year’s Founder’s Day Weekend pays special tribute to classes celebrating their reunions.

Bishop Doane's Birthday Bash

Bishop Doane’s Birthday Bash, a tradition that was started more recently, stemmed from students who wanted to find their own way of honoring Bishop Doane. Held on his birthday in late May, students take a day out of their busy end-of-year schedules to celebrate the school’s founder. Complete with an all-school barbeque, canoe races, a softball game, and of course birthday cake, the day is fun for all!

Class Night and Graduation

The seniors’ graduation celebration starts long before June, as each member of the class has an All School Meeting devoted to them throughout the year. During these meetings, fellow students and teachers affirm the highlighted senior with reflections or words of inspiration. Come June, Graduation is a weekend-long event. Class Night kicks off the festivities as seniors invite friends and family to campus to thank and honor those who have helped them reach this achievement. Commencement takes place on Saturday, and is held in two parts. It begins in the chapel, where each graduate is presented with their own individually numbered Society of Graduates medal by the president of the Society. Afterwards the graduates process through the Scarborough Gates to the rest of the ceremony, where diplomas are conferred. The Scarborough Gates are kept locked throughout the year and are only opened once a year for the graduating seniors. This service is open to all, and the day is concluded with a reception for the graduates and their families.