Academic calendar
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 10, 2026 – Dec 9, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
- January Term 2027
- Spring Semester 2027
- Summer Term 2027
- May Session 2027
- June Session 2027
- Summer Online Session 2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 18 of 18 terms
B
- Breakfast in the Classroom
- A district-wide program where breakfast is served directly to students in their morning classrooms.
C
- Car Rider
- A student who is dropped off or picked up via the designated car line rather than taking the bus.
G
- Gator Bites
- A term sometimes used for cafeteria snacks or small rewards given to students.
- Gator Cafe
- The common name for the school cafeteria where students eat lunch.
- Gators
- The official mascot and collective name for the student body.
- GNN
- Gator News Network; the student-led morning announcement and news program.
H
- Hot Lunch
- A school-provided meal purchased through the cafeteria account.
L
- LPAC
- Language Proficiency Assessment Committee, which manages the placement and progress of English Language Learners.
P
- PBIS
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports; the school-wide system for encouraging good behavior.
- PTA
- Parent Teacher Association; the primary volunteer and fundraising organization for the school.
S
- Sack Lunch
- A meal brought from home by the student.
- SBDM
- Site-Based Decision Making committee, a group of teachers, parents, and community members that consults on school operations.
- Specials
- The daily rotating elective classes, including Art, Music, PE, and Library.
- StuCo
- Student Council, the primary student representative body on campus.
T
- The Blacktop
- The paved outdoor play area used for recess.
- The Caf
- Common student shorthand for the school cafeteria.
- The Gator Way
- The school's core behavioral and academic pledge (Great Attitude That Overcomes Resistance Which Advances Youth).
V
- VIPS
- Volunteers in Public Schools, the district-wide program for parent and community volunteers.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- Canvas
- The learning management system used for digital assignments and classroom communication.
- Carpool
- The specific procedure and line for parents dropping off or picking up students by car.
- ClassDojo
- The primary mobile app used for real-time communication between teachers and parents regarding student behavior and news.
- garrett_elementary_cafeteria
- Garrett Elementary Cafeteria
- Late Start
- A delay in the school opening time, usually due to inclement weather, typically by two hours.
- PowerSchool
- The online portal used by parents and students to track grades and attendance.
- Skyward
- The online portal used by parents and students to track grades, attendance, and schedules.
- STAAR
- State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, the mandatory standardized testing for students in grades 3-5.
- The Cafeteria
- The central dining hall where students eat lunch and breakfast.
- The Gym
- The indoor area used for Physical Education (PE) and school assemblies.
- The Library
- The campus media center used for reading, research, and computer lab access.
- The Loop
- The designated area for bus arrivals and departures.
- The Swamp
- A common nickname for the school gymnasium or multipurpose room, reflecting the Gator mascot.
- The Think Tank
- A specialized room adjacent to main classrooms used for intensive discussions and motivational projects.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 10, 2026 – Dec 9, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 18 approved campus terms and 14 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.