For New Parents

Gilman Glossary

Administrative Council: Includes the Headmaster, Assistant Headmaster, Heads of the LS, MS and US, Director of Development, Admissions Director, Academic Dean, Athletic Director, Business Manager, Director of Diversity, Director of College Counseling, Director of Libraries, and the Director of Building and Grounds.
A.I.M.S.: Association of Independent Maryland Schools. Gilman is a member of this organization, which also gives us our accreditation.
Alumni Association: Volunteer organization of Gilman alumni that sponsors and promotes events throughout the School.
AM Detention: A 20-minute detention for MS students held during the morning recess period for minor infractions of the behavior code; assigned by individual teachers.
Arena: The large gymnasium at the southeast corner of the campus, sometimes referred to as the Finney Center or the Athletic Center. The formal name is the Redmond C.S. Finney Athletic Center. This is where events are held, both athletic and social.
ASP (After School Program): Gilman’s extended day program, held in the Lower School.
Assembly/Chapel: Terms used interchangeably referring to the period in the middle of the day (10:55-11:15) when the entire Upper School meets.
Bailliere Room: Conference room directly across from the Headmaster’s office in the Upper School (closed during renovation).
Ludlow H. Baldwin Society: Recognizes annual contributors of $1,000–$1,499. Named for beloved Headmaster Ludlow Baldwin, who initiated the School’s annual giving program.
Bull Roast: Annual event sponsored by the Alumni and Parents Associations. Held in late February or early March, the Bull Roast is an evening of silent and live auctions, games of chance, and great food.
Bulletin: The Gilman Alumni Bulletin, the School’s annual alumni magazine. The publication includes the Report on Giving.
Bump Day: The day that a particular Upper School course has a class in 4^th period. Those classes are often called Bump classes.
The Cage: Located on the main corridor of the gym near the locker rooms, the Cage is where students go for athletic equipment, towels, uniforms, or laundry.
Carey Hall: Formal name for the Upper School Building is Carey Hall, named in honor of the School’s founder, Anne Galbraith Carey. The building is closed for renovation during the 2006-2007 school year.
Centennial Hall: The large room in Carey Hall at the end of the south corridor (corridor where Headmaster’s office is located.) It is used as a study hall for the 10 th grade during 5 th period, and for various community events (closed during renovation).
Chambers: The daily gathering of MS and US teachers in their respective faculty rooms during the morning recess period.
Chariot Race: An annual event sponsored by the MS Latin teachers. MS boys build their own chariots and stage a race on the athletic fields.
The Class of ’61 Room: Small conference room located on the second floor of the Arena lobby.
Coach: Quite often students will refer to their teachers using the name “Coach” such as Coach Harris or Coach Broadus. It is used interchangeably for Mr. or Mrs.
College Counseling Office: Temporarily located in the Hound Pound, where boys and parents go for advice relative to the college application process.
Convocation (All School Convocation): Assemblies that include the entire School, faculty and staff. There are several throughout the year: the opening of school, Memorial Day, Martin Luther King’s Birthday, Thanksgiving, and on other occasions if the need arises.

The Country Store: Located in Old Gym, second floor, the Country Store sells textbooks, school supplies and Gilman related items.
Dais: The raised portion of the Daly Lobby surrounding the central staircase, used for meetings and drama productions.
Daly Lobby: The front entrance lobby and staircase of the Middle School building.
Demerit: If an US student commits a violation of some kind, he could be given a demerit by the Dean of Students. If so, he may be required to come in on a Saturday and serve a detention. Letters go home to parents of all boys who receive demerits.
Detention: A special study hall held at 7 a.m. in Centennial Hall, two mornings per week, for minor infractions against US boys.
Drop Down Day: Another term for the US 4^th period class (Bump Day).
Enriched math: In the Middle School math curriculum students are ability grouped into either the enriched or regular math program. The enriched program is not a accelerated one, but it parallels the regular curriculum with some detours and greater depth.
ERB: The Educational Record Bureau’s Comprehensive Testing Program IV, a battery of standardized tests given in the fall to students in grades six and seven as well as in the Lower School.
Expedition: During the year, each Middle School grade goes on Expedition. Eighth graders go in October for a week’s excursion and adventure with the Mountain Institute in Spruce Knob, WV. Sixth and seventh graders have three one-day excursions at the end of the school year while eighth graders are taking final exams.
e-News: Monthly electronic newsletter sent to alumni and parents who have provided the School with a valid e-mail address.
Family Day/Festival of the Arts: This annual event is held in May and features carnival booths, musical performances by the students, art exhibitions, and an alumni baseball game.
Fenimore Library: Upper School library.
Finney Hall: Official name of the Middle School building, named in honor of Dr. John M.T. Finney, illustrious Board President of the School (at the same time he was president of the McDonogh School Board).
FLIK: The company that runs all the food service for Gilman.
Form: This is another term for grade and is based on the English school system where First Form meant grade 7, Second Form, grade 8 and so on. It is common to hear the grades in the US referred to as Third Form (grade 9), Fourth Form (grade 10), Fifth Form (grade 11), and Sixth Form (grade 12).
Form Chairs: Teachers who are in charge of one of the four grades in the Upper School (grades 9-12).
The Founders’ Society: The School’s annual giving leadership giving society recognizing contributors of $1,500 or more to The Gilman Fund.
The Gilman Fund: The School’s annual giving program.
Gilman Room: The Upper School faculty room. It is located just beyond the student mailboxes on the main floor of Carey Hall. It used to be the library. (Closed during renovation)
Gilmanville: Faculty housing, which sits on the northeast end of the campus, behind the Northern Parkway Bridge.
Grandparents’ Day: Pre-first, second, and fourth grade students invite their grandparents to come to school with them. It is held in late April or May of each year.
Greyhound Pup: The Lower School’s parent newsletter, sent home five times each academic year.
Homecoming: Held in the fall and centers around class reunions. The big day is a Saturday when there are lots of athletic and reunion events.
Harris Terrace: Patio area filled with benches directly behind the football stadium (closed during renovation).
Homeroom Clean-Up: At the conclusion of each day, MS students are responsible for straightening and cleaning their homeroom and adjacent areas.
Initiatives: A newsletter promoting the advancement of the Gilman community.
ITMOT: In the Middle if Things, the Middle School’s monthly newsletter.

Literary Lunch: Twice during the year, each MS homeroom has lunch in the Lord Library to discuss recently read supplementary reading books.
Lord Library: Middle School library, named after one of Gilman’s most illustrious authors and alumni, Walter Lord.
Lower Lot: Parking lot that is directly below the tennis courts and Arena. It is where the students and some faculty park.
LS: Lower School (grades Pre 1-5).
MS: Middle School (grades 6-8).
Mardi Gras: MS celebration in May combining events like the Homeroom Book bag Rally, the Tug-o-War, the Latin Chariot Race, homeroom picnics, and the Faculty Auction.
The McCarthy Room: Classroom/conference room that is located on the second floor of the Arena lobby.
Merits: Given to students throughout the year to recognize service and helpfulness to the Middle School. Students receive merits for doing cleanup, helpful classroom behaviors, student hosts and guides, effort grades, etc. Merits are the legal tender for the quarter raffles and Faculty Auction.
Middle School Cafeteria: The dining area east of Carey Hall used by all three divisions. It holds 250 students at circular tables. It is a misnomer, because all three divisions have always used this dining hall.
010: Large grade 9 study hall located on the “terrace level” of Carey Hall. All grade 9 study halls are held in this room as well as all study halls during the first four periods (closed during renovation).
Old Gym/New Gym: The Old Gym is the smaller gymnasium which was constructed over 60 years ago. Located between the Middle School and the faculty houses, its entrance is framed by big white columns. The New Gym is a term used for the Arena.
Parent Network: The Parent Network connects parents in the independent school community by providing parent education programs and student activities. For more information visit www.myparentnetwork.org.
Parents Association: All parents and guardians of students in the school are Parents Association members. This group organizes volunteers, serves as class parents, and sponsors events such as the Bull Roast.
Passano Library: Lower School library.

Pill Ball: A game that the boys invented and play with relish. It resembles 4 square and is most often played on the Harris Terrace or on the blacktop located just east of the Middle School. The game is played with an 8" diameter plastic basketball. Elaborate rules make it a local favorite and next to impossible for adults to play.
Pledge: Signed honor code statement related to copying on a test or quiz. Students include the pledge on all papers: “As a gentleman I have acted honorably on this paper.”
PM Detention: A 45-minute after school punishment for more serious behavior infractions, assigned by the MS Dean of Students with parent notification.
Polar Bears: A MS winter athletic alternative. Students continue to play outside even in the toughest winter weather. They compete in many intrasquad activities such as street hockey, rugby, ultimate Frisbee, capture the flag, and snow sculpting.
Reports: A MS disciplinary result for poor behavior. A teacher puts a student “on report,” indicating that he/she will write a short written account of the behavior to the Dean of Students.

Senior Speeches: Members of the graduating class can elect to give a speech to the entire US. It is a very old tradition at Gilman.
Shop: The Design and Woodworking studio located in the auxiliary gymnasium during construction. The shop is used by all three divisions and has a terrific collection of machines and tools.

The Stadium: Concrete stands that face the football field are referred to as the Stadium.
The Stevens Room: Big assembly room on the second floor of the Lower School, named after Helen K. Stevens, a long time Lower School teacher.
Study Hall: A class period monitored by the teacher for a student to study, do homework, or read. It is a quiet time with no interruptions. Students have some study halls during the school day, but many have a large-group study hall before athletics.
“The Tech”: A nickname that refers to Gilman. It is often heard in cheers at athletic contests.
Ten (10) Day Cycle (or just the Cycle): Scheduling practice used in the Middle and Upper Schools. It consists of a rotation of 10 numbered days. Four such cycles constitute a quarter of the year. This replaces the days of the week as a reference for when a class meets. If Wednesday is a Day 5, then the following Thursday is a Day 6.
Thirteen Year Man: A graduate who began Gilman in Pre-1 and remained all 13 years.
Top Dog: The Upper School newsletter, which is sent home to parents.
Twelve Year Man: A graduate who began Gilman in grade 1 and remained all 12 years.
Update: Biannual newsletter mailed to the Gilman community.
US: Upper School (grades 9-12).
X-Days: In the 10-day cycle, the days that a class does not meet are referred to as X days. A class that Xs on Days 2 and 6, will meet on the other eight days of the cycle. During X-days students might have a study hall or a class.