School spirit was ringing high once again at this year’s Corn Roast, Doane Stuart’s version of Homecoming. Once the picking and sorting of new students and faculty on to the blue or green team was accomplished, students and faculty joined together to cheer on the girls varsity soccer team as they defeated Heatly. After feasting on corn, s’mores and pizza it was time for our traditional game of Loup. Corn Roast brings together some longstanding traditions from founding schools St. Agnes and Kenwood that Doane Stuart holds dear, and it is a favorite event among students past and present. View Corn Roast 2016 Photo Gallery
Mrs. Clarke reflected on this unique celebration and her as a new member of the Community:
“Whenever a person comes new to any school there are a host of traditions and vocabulary to learn, in addition to the many names; at Doane Stuart one learns the difference between a meeting, an assembly and a chapel; one learns that the Commons is really the cafeteria; that each pod is designated by a color and that the side entrance is called St Agnes. Traditions include some straightforward events: Christmas Chapel, Holly Ball and Convocation. But what of Congé? Kris Kringle week? And an all time first for me: CORN ROAST?
Last fall I asked several students and teachers about this event. “It is actually homecoming without a dance.” “There is no corn.” “It’s probably a hoax.” “I have no idea.” Not fruitful, so I waited and did some more effective research this fall. I discovered that Corn Roast is truly a mix of a tradition from Kenwood Academy and a tradition from St. Agnes, with a Doane Stuart addition.
It starts with a varsity soccer game−boys one year, girls the next. During and after the game, corn is actually roasted over an open fire and devoured by hungry adolescents and faculty. S’mores have been added to this phase of a Kenwood tradition. Then students go into the Commons (remember cafeteria) and eat pizza. Following corn and pizza, chocolate and marshmallows, all repair to the gym where new students and new faculty race in pairs towards a person holding a bowl containing green and blue strips. (The bowl might move as the pair approaches.) The winner chooses a green or blue ribbon and the other person gets the other color—they have now officially joined the Blue or Green Team. This was an important tradition at St Agnes. Then we play LOUP; one whole team hides someplace in the school, and the other team tries to find them. This was a Kenwood tradition on Corn Roast. So two traditions have been melded—joining our two predecessors together! Who knew?”