Academic calendar
Semester 1 2026 runs Sep 8, 2026 – Feb 5, 2027. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Secondary Regular School Year 2025-2026
- Semester 2 2026
- Semester 1 2026Relevant now
- Secondary Regular School Year 2026-2027
- Semester 2 2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 24 of 24 terms
A
- AC
- Athletic Council; the student group responsible for managing sports teams and intramural activities.
- AMP
- The Arts Media Production program or related student groups focused on the arts.
C
- Chargers
- The official mascot and name for all school sports teams and the student community.
- Civvies
- Non-uniform clothing worn on designated 'Civvies Days' in exchange for a small donation or as a reward.
- CSAC
- Catholic School Advisory Council, the group involving parents and community members in school decisions.
D
- D'O'C
- The primary nickname used by students to refer to the school itself.
- DCDSB
- Durham Catholic District School Board, the governing school board for Archbishop Dennis O'Connor.
- DO'C
- The universal shorthand and spoken name for Archbishop Dennis O'Connor Catholic High School.
- DO'C
- The standard abbreviation for Archbishop Dennis O'Connor Catholic High School.
- DOC
- The standard shorthand and nickname for Archbishop Dennis O'Connor Catholic High School.
E
- ECO
- The school's environmental club focused on sustainability initiatives.
- ESP
- Empowered Student Partnership; a student-led group focused on school safety and community well-being.
G
- GSA
- Gender and Sexuality Alliance; a student-led club providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ students and allies.
H
- Harwood
- Refers to Harwood Avenue, the main street adjacent to the school where students go for off-campus food options like Tim Hortons or McDonald's.
O
- O'C
- A secondary, shorter nickname for the school often used in casual conversation.
- O'Connor
- The standard shortened name used by students and the local community to refer to the school.
- OSC
- O'Connor Student Council, the primary student leadership organization.
- OSSLT
- Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, a mandatory provincial exam for Grade 10 students required for graduation.
S
- SAC
- Student Advisory Council, the student government body that organizes school events and spirit days.
- Spirit Wear
- Official O'Connor-branded clothing that students are permitted to wear on specific designated days.
- Spirit Week
- A week of themed days and activities organized by the OSC to build school pride.
T
- The Caf
- The school cafeteria where students eat lunch and gather for social events.
- The Jax
- Local slang for Ajax, the town where the school is situated.
- The Plaza
- The commercial area near Harwood Ave and Bayly St where students frequently go for off-campus lunch.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Brightspace
- The digital learning platform (D2L) where teachers post course materials, assignments, and virtual lessons.
- Civvies Day
- Specific days throughout the year when students are allowed to wear non-uniform clothing, often for a small donation.
- D'O'C
- The common shorthand name for the Archbishop Dennis O'Connor Catholic High School building.
- do_c_school_cafeteria
- DO'C School Cafeteria
- DO'C
- The standard shorthand and spoken name for Archbishop Dennis O'Connor Catholic High School.
- DOC
- Common shorthand for Archbishop Dennis O'Connor Catholic High School.
- Double Gym
- The main athletic facility used for sports games and large assemblies.
- DRT
- Durham Region Transit; the public bus system used by many students to commute to the school's Ajax location.
- Edsby
- The online learning management system used for checking grades, attendance, and school announcements.
- Late Start
- Designated Wednesday mornings when classes begin later than usual to accommodate staff meetings.
- Learning Commons
- The modern name for the school library, used for research, study, and computer access.
- McCarthy's
- The official uniform supplier; students often refer to their uniform pieces by this brand name.
- MSIP
- Multi-Subject Instructional Period; a 60-minute credit-bearing period used for homework, extra help, or school assemblies.
- Period 1 Attendance
- The critical time when attendance is taken; being late requires a slip from the main office.
- Period 1-4
- The standard daily schedule structure used to denote class blocks.
- Spirit Wear
- School-branded apparel (hoodies, t-shirts) that students are permitted to wear on specific spirit days.
- The 224
- The specific Durham Region Transit bus route (Harwood) frequently used by students to reach the school.
- The Atrium
- The main entrance area of the school, often used for displays and student check-ins.
- The Cafetorium
- A hybrid space serving as both the cafeteria and the auditorium for school assemblies and performances.
- The Chapel
- The dedicated religious space within the school used for mass and quiet reflection.
- The Gym
- The main athletic facility where physical education classes and Charger home games are held.
- The Learning Commons
- The modern designation for the school library and digital resource center.
- The Main Office
- The administrative hub for attendance, late slips, and principal inquiries.
- The Pit
- The central, sunken area of the cafeteria used for assemblies, lunch, and hanging out.
- The Weight Room
- The fitness facility used by athletes and physical education classes.
- Uniform
- The mandatory dress code consisting of specific McCarthy Uniforms items (e.g., kilt, pants, embroidered shirt).
- Uniform Policy
- The strict dress code requiring specific McCarthy Uniform items, enforced during all regular school hours.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Semester 1 2026 runs Sep 8, 2026 – Feb 5, 2027.
- How much campus context is included?
- 24 approved campus terms and 27 local details are included in full.
- Are all approved campus terms included?
- Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
- Where does this guide come from?
- Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.