By Emma de Witt

Since the 1980’s and 90’s, Collegiate has changed in many ways, including people, teachers, buildings, and in many other aspects. There have been numerous renovations on campus, new buildings, and new spaces. Although all of these different elements of Collegiate are constantly changing and updating, the core values of Collegiate have stayed the same. With these same main values, many traditional events that take place at this school have also stayed the same. It is a sense of comfort for alumni, and for the classes graduating year after year, to know that even when the inevitable comes, when we have to leave Collegiate, that these traditions will keep happening for the next generations. They will too experience this same community love and hopefully value this sense of our special gratitude for our school. Traditions are really what make Collegiate so special, such as Brunch, writing for The Match, and Pageant come after year. Even when talking to alumni that have now gone on to the next chapter in their lives, you can hear the excitement in their voices when talking about Collegiate experiences, and how it transports them back to their days as a Cougar. 

One Collegiate tradition that has been consistent since March 1946 is The Match, our student-led school newspaper that covers news, profiles, and stories from around campus and all over the world.

On the left is the first ever Match, from 1946. On the right is a 1989 issue. Image credit: Jake Schiff.

From when The Match started to now, some aspects have changed, but the main concept has stayed the same. In the 1980’s and 90’s, The Match was an actual paper newspaper that could be passed around and was printed out. My uncle Jake Schiff (‘89), an alumnus, explained how he, like some others, had a column where they could talk freely about past experiences, ideas, and stories. Schiff, a humor columnist, had a column called “Late Night with Jake,” where he would list the “Top 10” of a number of different categories of topics and interview others. Today, we still cover stories both locally and globally. Although now The Match is online, so it is more accessible than ever, and anyone can read our stories. 

Schiff’s old columns. Image credit: Jake Schiff.

Another Collegiate tradition that has evolved over the years is Brunch. Brunch is a play that the junior girls put on for the senior girls near the end of the fall and currently takes place before Thanksgiving Break. The theme is always a secret; the juniors are sworn to secrecy and cannot tell anyone what the play is about. 40 years ago, there was breakfast served to the students participating. Now, although there is no actual food at Brunch, there is still screaming, laughing, crying, and joy for everyone there. Brunch has been a tradition since 1941, and is one of the most looked-forward-to events of the year. 

Brunch originally started as the juniors and seniors just going to have an actual brunch with food, with the “Health Service Club” promoting the importance of breakfast. But it has turned into so much more than that over the years. The Brunch performance tradition that we know and love today started in 1960, one filled with jokes, laughing, and streamers. Oates Theater opened in 1991, which put an end to food being served at Brunch. 

Brunches from the past. Photos courtesy of the Julia A. Williams Study & Archive Center, Collegiate School.

My aunt Ann de Witt (‘93) shared her experience with Brunch back in the 1990s: “The theme for our brunch was The Flintstones—I served as a dancer and was also on the art committee, so I helped make the sets for the play. I remember a lot of work and planning going into the big event.” Although the topic of conversation, inside jokes, songs, dances, and overall theme changes every year, the main idea has remained the same. Brunch will hopefully continue on for many years and continues to be a crucial bonding tradition for Middle and Upper School girls. 

Pageant through the years. Left photo courtesy of the Julia A. Williams Study & Archive Center, Collegiate School. Right photo credit: Taylor Dabney.

Another tradition that is loved by many alumni is Pageant. Christmas plays have been a tradition at Collegiate since 1920, but the actual Pageant that is put on by the Middle and Upper School girls has been going on since 1940, where everyone dresses up as characters from the Christmas story, putting on the same show every year. There are no words; only the same songs that have been played for so many years. The performances always bring comfort to everyone in All Saints Church. With the senior angels standing on the ladder, Mary and Joseph walking down the aisle, and the three kings going up the stairway, it always brings back memories of tradition. My mother, alumna Erika de Witt (‘93), says, “Pageant was always a highlight of the year, and I so clearly remember each year’s participation, from my battery-operated candle not working as I processed as a 5th grade angel.” It is the tradition that puts everyone in the seasonal spirit, and alumni come back to enjoy watching it over and over.