Academic calendar
Academic Year 2025-2026 runs Sep 2, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Academic Year 2025-2026School Year 2025-2026Relevant now
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 63 of 63 terms
A
- ASAP
- After School Athletic Program for younger students.
B
- Blue and White
- Refers to the two intramural teams that students are assigned to for school-wide competitions and spirit events.
C
- Class [Number]
- The standard way to refer to grade levels (e.g., 'Class 12' instead of '12th Grade').
- Clay
- The Clay Center, which houses the main dining hall and academic wing.
- Clay Cafe
- The snack and refreshment area located within the Clay Center for Science and Technology.
- Clay Center
- The main dining hall located within the Clay Center for Science and Technology building.
- Coat and Tie
- The formal daily dress code required for all students in Class 5 through Class 12.
D
- DECA
- The business and entrepreneurship club (Distributive Education Clubs of America).
- Dexter
- Refers to the boys' division or the school's historical identity as a boys' school.
- DS
- The standard abbreviation for Dexter Southfield.
- DX
- A common shorthand for Dexter, often used to refer to the school as a whole or the boys' programs.
- DX
- Historical shorthand for the Dexter (boys) division of the school.
- DXSF
- The standard text and social media abbreviation for the school name.
- DXSF
- A common four-letter abbreviation for the school used in sports and social media.
F
- Family Style
- The traditional seated lunch service where students and faculty eat together at assigned tables.
G
- GAS
- Girls Advancing in STEM, a student organization focused on science and technology.
- GSA
- Gender and Sexuality Alliance.
H
- HUB
- Huddle, Understanding, and Belong; the Middle School's academic and social center.
I
- Ignite
- The specific style of fast-paced speeches delivered by Class 10 students.
- ISL
- Independent School League, the competitive athletic conference the school belongs to.
L
- LS
- Lower School (Pre-K to grade 5).
M
- Maroon and Silver
- The official school colors, often used as a shorthand for school spirit and varsity athletics.
- Medal
- Short for the Medal Competition, a mandatory public speaking tradition.
- Medals
- The specific merit awards given to students during assemblies to recognize character and achievement.
- MEDI
- The Medical Interest program/club for students interested in healthcare careers.
- Meditation
- The daily morning assembly where the community gathers for reflection, speakers, and announcements.
- MS
- Middle School (grades 6-8).
N
- NEPSAC
- New England Preparatory School Athletic Council, the governing body for prep school sports.
O
- Our Best Today
- A common reference to the school's motto, 'Our Best Today, Better Tomorrow,' often used in a motivational context.
P
- PA
- The Parents' Association, which organizes school-wide community events.
- PAC
- The Parent Association Council, which organizes many campus-wide events.
- Prize Day
- The end-of-year graduation and awards ceremony.
- Public
- Shorthand for the school's signature Public Speaking program and mandatory student presentations.
- Public Speaking
- A core school tradition and requirement where every student delivers a formal speech to their peers.
- Publics
- The mandatory public speaking program where students must prepare and deliver speeches to their peers.
S
- SAGE
- The school's dining service provider, often used to refer to the food or the dining hall experience.
- Sears
- The main dining hall and cafeteria located within the Sears Building.
- Senior Address
- The capstone public speaking requirement for all graduating Class 12 students.
- SF
- Historical shorthand for the Southfield (girls) division of the school.
- SGA
- Student Government Association, the primary student leadership and representative body.
- Southfield
- Refers to the girls' division or the school's historical identity as a girls' school.
T
- The Burke
- The Burke Family Dining Hall, the primary eating facility on campus.
- The Caf
- General shorthand for the main dining hall area.
- The Cafe
- The snack and coffee area located within the Clay Center for Science and Technology.
- The Dexter Way
- The school's guiding philosophy and code of conduct centered on character and 'Our Best Today, Better Tomorrow.'
- The Dining Hall
- The primary cafeteria located in the Main Building where students eat lunch by division.
- The Drumlin
- The school's annual literary and arts magazine featuring student work.
- The Drumlin
- The school's arts and literary magazine.
- The Garden
- The on-campus garden that provides fresh vegetables used by SAGE Dining for student lunches.
- The Great Court
- The central outdoor courtyard area used for gatherings, transitions, and school events.
- The Great Hall
- The main dining hall where students and faculty eat lunch together in a family-style setting.
- The Hill
- The common nickname for the entire campus, referencing its elevated location in Brookline.
- The Medallion
- Refers to the Medallion program, the school's highest honor for character and achievement.
- The Ref
- Shorthand for The Refectory, the school's formal dining hall where students eat family-style.
- The Refectory
- The formal name for the dining hall, used for daily communal lunches.
- The Shield
- The school's official magazine and a common reference to the school's emblem.
- The Shield
- The primary student center and dining facility on campus.
- The Snack Bar
- The food service area located within the Thorndike Rink/Arena.
- The View
- The name of the student-run newspaper and the school's community blog.
- The View
- The official student newspaper of Dexter Southfield.
- This I Believe
- The title of the personal philosophy speeches delivered by Class 11 students.
U
- US
- Upper School (grades 9-12).
W
- Wearing the shield
- A phrase used to describe representing the school in varsity athletics.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Arena Deck
- The multi-level parking structure located centrally between the Kraft Fieldhouse and the Training Center.
- Arena Parking Deck
- The primary parking area located between the Kraft Fieldhouse and the Training Center.
- Assembly
- Regularly scheduled mandatory gatherings for the student body for announcements and medal presentations.
- Bus 51
- The MBTA bus route that stops directly at the Newton Street campus entrance.
- Caswell
- The Caswell Athletic Center, the main hub for indoor sports, gym classes, and fitness.
- Clay Center
- The Clay Center for Science and Technology, housing the observatory and science labs.
- dexter_southfield_dining_hall
- Dexter Southfield Dining Hall
- Dress Code
- The formal uniform requirements, including blazers and ties, that students must wear daily.
- Family Style
- The mandatory lunch format where students and faculty sit together at assigned tables to serve one another.
- Fiske
- Fiske Hall, a central building used for academic classes and school gatherings.
- Fiske Hall
- A primary academic building for the Upper School.
- Formal Dress
- The specific uniform requirement (often including a blazer and tie) for public speaking days and special events.
- Fusco Arena
- The campus ice rink and athletic facility.
- Gui Building
- The facility for Lower School students in Classes 3-5.
- Hewitt Building
- The facility for Lower School students in Pre-K through Class 2.
- Kraft
- The Kraft Family Building, used for administrative offices, admissions, and school events.
- Kraft Building
- The Kraft Family Building, housing administrative offices and the main gymnasium.
- Kraft Field
- The Kraft Family Field, the main turf facility for football, soccer, and lacrosse.
- Kraft Fieldhouse
- The main indoor athletic facility and gymnasium.
- Late Start
- Scheduled mornings where classes begin later than usual, often for faculty meetings.
- LeagueApps Play
- The mobile app used by students and parents to track athletic schedules and team chats.
- Lincoln Center
- The Lincoln Center and Arena, used for ice hockey and various athletic events.
- Lower
- Refers to the Lower School, encompassing Pre-K through grade 5.
- Magnus
- The health portal used by students and parents to manage medical forms and health records.
- Main Building
- The central administrative and classroom hub of the campus.
- Med
- Refers to the Middle School, encompassing grades 6 through 8.
- Midrise
- A multi-purpose academic building on campus.
- Midwood
- The Midwood Building, which primarily houses the Lower and Middle School classrooms.
- Number 1s
- The formal dress uniform required for special occasions, chapel, and specific school events.
- Number 2s
- The standard daily school uniform worn by students during regular class days.
- Nut-aware
- The campus-wide policy regarding food allergies, strictly enforced in the dining hall.
- Prize Day
- The traditional end-of-year ceremony for graduation and the presentation of school awards.
- Public Speaking
- A core graduation requirement involving regular formal speeches delivered to the school.
- Sears
- The Sears Building, used for academic classes and various administrative functions.
- Sears Building
- The building housing the Lower School and various administrative offices.
- Sears House
- The historic building housing the Admissions Office.
- Senior Bench
- A specific seating area traditionally reserved for members of the graduating class.
- Sohier Lot
- The parking area designated for visitors and those heading to Fiske Hall or College Counseling.
- The Arena
- Common shorthand for the Thorndike Rink.
- The Arena
- The Thorndike Rink/Arena, the primary location for the school's prominent hockey programs.
- The Bus
- The school's extensive private bus system that transports students from across the Greater Boston area.
- The Clay
- The Clay Center for Science and Technology, which includes the school's observatory and science labs.
- The Clay Center
- The Clay Center for Science and Technology, which includes the school's observatory and science labs.
- The Dress Code
- The formal uniform requirement, including blazers and ties for Upper School students.
- The Fieldhouse
- The Kraft Family Fieldhouse, used for indoor sports, physical education, and assemblies.
- The Garage
- The 8,000-square-foot innovation and STEM center for Middle School students.
- The Great Hall
- The formal dining and event space used for school gatherings.
- The Hub
- The Blackbaud-based online portal used for checking grades, schedules, and assignments.
- The Kraft
- The Kraft Family Fieldhouse and Athletic Center, used for indoor sports and physical education.
- The Kraft Family Field
- The main outdoor turf field used for football, soccer, and lacrosse.
- The Link
- The Veracross-based student and parent portal used for checking grades, schedules, and daily assignments.
- The Main
- The Main Building, containing Upper School classrooms and the school's administrative offices.
- The Main Building
- The central hub for Middle and Upper School classrooms and the dining hall.
- The Medallion
- The school's highest honor and the name of the traditional year-end graduation ceremony.
- The Mid
- Common shorthand for the Middle School building.
- The Midwood Building
- The academic building for the Lower School.
- The Observatory
- The professional-grade telescope facility within the Clay Center, often used for evening community viewings.
- The PAC
- The Public Speaking and Arts Center.
- The Portal
- The online learning management system used by students to check assignments, grades, and schedules.
- The Rink
- Thorndike Rink, the central hub for the school's prominent ice hockey program.
- The Rink
- Common shorthand for the Thorndike Arena, reflecting the school's strong hockey culture.
- The Sears Building
- The main academic building for the Lower School.
- The Shield
- The school's emblem, often used to refer to school spirit or official branding.
- The Shop
- The woodworking and industrial arts program, a long-standing requirement and tradition.
- The Upper
- The Upper School building where high school classes and administration are located.
- Thorndike
- The Thorndike Rink, the school's on-campus ice hockey arena.
- Thorndike Arena
- The school's ice hockey arena and skating facility.
- Thorndike Rink
- The on-campus ice arena used for hockey and skating.
- Upper
- Refers to the Upper School, encompassing grades 9 through 12.
- Veracross
- The online portal used by students and parents to access schedules, grades, and school announcements.
- Weekly Assembly
- The mandatory formal gathering where students practice public speaking and community building.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Academic Year 2025-2026 runs Sep 2, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 63 approved campus terms and 71 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.