Symbols of Deerfield

Deerfield has no mascot, and Deerfield’s teams and buildings rarely have names attached to them; the dining hall is the Dining Hall, the main school building is the Main School Building, and the athletic center is the Athletic Center. Deerfield does have its symbols, however, and the three most important are the Door, the Seal, and the Deerfield colors.

Located on the front of the John Williams Dormitory, the Deerfield Door is the primary symbol of the Academy. Its architectural design represents part of the Pocumtuck Valley’s heritage as well as the Academy’s historical tradition, and the image of the door appears in many forms on objects and publications throughout the Academy.

The Academy Seal is a more formal symbol. It includes a detailed image of the Deerfield Door, the phrase “Founded 1797,” and the school’s motto: “Be Worthy of Your Heritage.” A bronze version of the seal can be found on the floor of the main entrance to the Athletic Center; a long-standing Deerfield tradition holds that it is bad luck to step on the seal, and students often take turns “guarding” the seal from the foot traffic of visitors during weekends of busy athletic competition.

Perhaps the most prevalent symbols of Deerfield are the school colors—green and white. These colors are everywhere throughout campus, and they remain a constant reference to Deerfield’s school spirit. At games, the cheer “Go Big Green!” is constantly heard, and loyal Deerfield students and alumni are said to “bleed green” in their efforts to give back to the community.