Academic calendar
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 19, 2026 – Dec 17, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
- Spring Semester 2027
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 16 of 16 terms
A
- A/B/C Lunch
- The three staggered lunch shifts determined by a student's 3rd or 4th period teacher.
B
- Blue/White Days
- The block schedule system where 'Blue' days are odd-numbered periods and 'White' days are even-numbered periods.
D
- DECA
- The marketing and entrepreneurship club that competes in business simulations.
H
- HOSA
- Future Health Professionals, a club for students interested in medical careers.
M
- Mav Break
- A specific period or event during the day intended for student relaxation or school spirit activities.
- Mav-Time
- The designated advisory or tutorial period during the school day for students to get extra help.
- Mavs
- Short for Mavericks, the school's mascot and the collective name for the student body.
N
- NHS
- National Honor Society, the academic and service-based honors organization.
P
- PALs
- Peer Assistance Leadership and Service, a program where upperclassmen mentor younger students.
S
- STUCO
- Student Council, the student government body responsible for school events like Homecoming.
T
- The Caf
- The central cafeteria area where students eat and gather during their assigned lunch blocks.
- The Commons
- The main cafeteria and central social hub of the school.
- The Pit
- The central cafeteria and commons area where students eat and congregate.
- The Stable
- The designated student spirit section at athletic events.
- The Trail
- A nickname for the school community and its culture, derived from the school's location on McNeil Trail.
- The Trailblazer
- The name of the student-run newspaper, often used to refer to the journalism program.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- A-Day / B-Day
- The alternating block schedule system where students attend odd-numbered classes one day and even-numbered the next.
- A/B Day
- The block scheduling system where students attend periods 1-4 on 'A' days and 5-8 on 'B' days.
- A/B Days
- The block scheduling system where students attend odd-numbered periods one day and even-numbered periods the next.
- Flex
- A designated time block in the schedule for students to attend tutorials, club meetings, or study hall.
- HAC
- Home Access Center, the online portal where students check their official grades and attendance.
- ID Badges
- Required identification that must be worn on a lanyard around the neck at all times for campus security.
- Late Start
- Designated days (usually Wednesdays) when the school day begins later than the standard 9:05 AM start time.
- mcneil_high_school_cafeteria
- McNeil High School Cafeteria
- Off-campus
- A privilege reserved for seniors allowing them to leave the school grounds during their lunch period.
- Off-campus lunch
- A privilege reserved for juniors and seniors with a valid permit to leave campus during their lunch period.
- Portables
- The temporary classroom buildings located outside the main school structure.
- Schoology
- The primary Learning Management System used by teachers to distribute assignments and course materials.
- The Annex
- The secondary building area used for additional classroom space and specific electives.
- The Big Gym
- The primary gymnasium used for varsity basketball and volleyball games.
- The Commons
- The central atrium area that serves as the cafeteria and main gathering space.
- The Fieldhouse
- The separate building housing athletic locker rooms and coaches' offices.
- The Library
- Often referred to as the Learning Commons, the central hub for research and student study sessions.
- The LRC
- The Learning Resource Center, which serves as the school library and media hub.
- The Mav
- Short for the Maverick, typically referring to the main competition gym or the school's spirit shop.
- The PAC
- The Performing Arts Center, the venue for theater, choir, and band performances.
- The Pit
- The main cafeteria and central atrium of the school building.
- The Portables
- The temporary outdoor classroom trailers located behind the main school building.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 19, 2026 – Dec 17, 2026.
- How much campus context is included?
- 16 approved campus terms and 22 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.