Terms Frequently Used at St. Albans

Activities Building
Located on Garfield Street, this building houses the older of St. Albans School’s two gyms. It is sometimes used for dances, practices, and events. The Trophy Room, Kellogg Room, and new weight room are located here.

Back-to-School Nights
Shortly after the beginning of each school year, the School invites parents to a reception (formerly a tea). These are the School's back-to-school meetings, held late in the afternoon. Parents follow an abbreviated version of their son's daily schedule to gain an overview of his course work and to meet his teachers. Note: There are no formal parent-teacher conferences in the Upper School. Parents who wish to discuss their Upper School student's progress should contact the student's form master or individual teachers by e-mail or telephone.

Cathedral Close
The area bounded by Wisconsin Avenue, 34th Street, Garfield Street, and Woodley Road. It includes the Washington National Cathedral, National Cathedral School, St. Albans, and Beauvoir School. Together, these institutions form the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation (PECF). St. Alban’s Parish Church is also located on the Close, but it is an independent institution.

Cathedral Flower Mart
A spring festival hosted by the Washington National Cathedral’s All Hallows Guild to benefit the Cathedral grounds and gardens. It is generally held on Friday and Saturday in the first weekend in May. This event highlights a different country each year with entertainment and displays. Plants, flowers, crafts, an antique merry-go-round, rides, games, and food make this a beloved spring event for the students of the Cathedral Schools. Traditionally, each of the Cathedral Schools hosts a booth.

Cathedral Pilgrim’s Gallery
The seventh-floor Observation Gallery of the Washington National Cathedral.

Christmas House Tour
This festive event is held on the first Friday and Saturday of December and combines a house tour, holiday tea, and sale of interesting holiday boutique gifts and crafts. This event is open to the public and is always a great gathering place for generations of Cathedral community members. Sponsored by the St. Albans Parents’ Club, it is a tribute to faculty and staff. Proceeds are directed to faculty and staff endowment, stipends, and grants.

Field Day
In mid-May, the Lower School hosts a Field Day; all boys belong to either the Blue Team or the White Team. Families who are able to attend this event will enjoy it. For further information, see this Handbook, Section IV-B.

Form
St. Albans follows the English public school tradition of calling its grades forms. St. Albans offers classes for grades 4 through 12 and divides the program into Lower School (grades 4-8 = Forms C-II) and Upper School (grades 9-12 = Forms III-VI). (National Cathedral School offers classes for grades 4 through 12; their program is divided into Lower School [grades 4-6], Middle School [grades 7-8], and Upper School [grades 9-12].) Newcomers may find the list below helpful:

Lower School
Form C = Grade 4
Form B = Grade 5
Form A = Grade 6
Form I = Grade 7
Form II = Grade 8

Upper School
Form III = Grade 9
Form IV = Grade 10
Form V = Grade 11
Form VI = Grade 12

Form Chair
A parent volunteer who serves as the primary liaison between the School, the Parents’ Club, and fellow form parents. A complete description of the form chair’s duties and responsibilities appears as an appendix to the online version of this handbook, available at www.stalbansschool.org, under “Parents.”

Form Master
A faculty member who serves as a student’s advisor in the Upper School. Each form has its own form master.

Grant Meadow
The grassy area on Garfield Street between the Activities Building and the Tennis Courts.

Half-Sheet
At the mid-point in a marking period, a Lower School teacher may send home a short report updating a boy’s parents on that student’s progress during the marking period. A half-sheet is sent when a teacher has concerns about a student’s work or conduct in the class or when a teacher wishes to note particularly strong performance by the student.

Homecoming
A homecoming for alumni and a general celebration of the School’s families, this weekend features fall sport competitions, including a Saturday afternoon football game. Upper School students plan a formal, invitation-only dance.

Junior/Senior Prom and After-Prom
A formal dance for students in Forms V and VI, normally held in late May or early June. Students invite dates. Form V and VI students, working with input from parents, plan the prom and, through fundraisers, finance the prom and after-prom event.

Lane-Johnston Building
Built in 1909, this is the original building of St. Albans School, and is where the School's administration, classrooms, meetings, dining, and Upper School are based.

Lessons and Carols
The National Cathedral School-St. Albans Service of Lessons and Carols is a beautiful Christmas service for the students and families of both Schools. The service consists of nine readings interspersed with traditional carols and liturgical music performed by all of the National Cathedral School-St. Albans School performing arts groups. It is traditionally held on the Thursday evening just before Winter Break and is a not-to-miss occasion that celebrates the School community.

Little Field
A small outdoor practice field that is also used for events. It is bounded by Garfield Street, the Activities Building, and the south side of the True-Lucas Building.

Marriott Hall
Completed in 2009, this Upper School building holds faculty offices, classrooms, Sam's Bar, the College Counseling and Upper School Head's offices, and a Teaching and Learning Center.

Martin Gym
Named in honor of Canon Charles Martin, Headmaster from 1949 to 1977, this is the newer and larger of St. Albans School’s two gyms. The facility hosts games for basketball, wrestling, and indoor soccer.

Music Room
Students in the Performing Arts will frequently need access to this room located in the lower levels of the True-Lucas Building.

NCS (National Cathedral School) Athletic Facility
The Agnes Underwood Center contains state-of-the-art athletic facilities. It is located along Woodley Road down the hill from Beauvoir.

NCS Davis Conference Room
The conference room adjacent to the dining room.

NCS Fall Festival/Homecoming
Homecoming events include athletic contests for purple/gold, Junior Varsity, and Varsity fall teams. Food, crafts, and games are available at the Fall Festival. NCS Juniors working along with parents run the Fall Festival component of the day. All proceeds from food, craft, and game sales are traditionally used to finance the NCS Junior-Senior prom. An informal Upper School Homecoming dance is planned by students. St. Albans Upper School students are all invited.

NCS Hearst Auditorium
The larger meeting space in the middle of the first floor of Hearst Hall.

NCS Hearst Hall
The gray Beaux Arts building located at the northwest corner of the Close, near the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Woodley Road. Most NCS Upper School classes are held in this building. Many dances, performances, and meetings take place in this building. The Davis Room (located within the cafeteria on the lower level) and Hearst Parlor are located here.

NCS Hearst Parlor
The meeting space on the first floor of Hearst Hall. It is located just to the right as you enter from the Cathedral side of the building

NCS Junior/Senior Prom
A formal dance for NCS Junior and Senior students that is normally held in late May or early June. In the past, NCS Junior students have planned and financed the prom as a gift for NCS Seniors. Parents, with Parent Association support, separately plan and finance the after-prom activity.

NCS Proctor Gym
Old NCS gym, this one in the Middle School building. To enter, use the plaza in front of the NCS Middle and Lower Schools. The entrance to the Middle School is directly across from Woodley Road. Once inside the building, turn right and go up the stairs at the end of the hallway

NCS Winter Formal
A formal, invitation-only dance planned by, and for, all NCS Upper School students.

NCS Whitby Hall
The old gym located in the Lower School (whose formal name is “Whitby Hall” NCS and STA Middle School drama rehearsals and some NCS/STA Lower School musical performances are held in Whitby Gym. To enter, use the plaza in front of the NCS lower and middle school buildings on Woodley Road between Wisconsin Avenue and 36th Street. The Lower School is on the right-hand side of the plaza – go through the doors and take an immediate left

NCS Woodley North
The red brick building located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Woodley Road. The Upper School Library and classrooms for language and science are in this building.

Parent Dinners
The School hosts an Upper School dinner and a Lower School dinner for parents in late January or early February of each year. Parents have the chance to enjoy dinner with their sons' teachers, and the Headmaster and the President of the St. Albans Parents’ Club speak to parents. The dinners begin in the library and continue in the Refectory.

PECF
The Protestant Episcopal Cathedral is the legal entity of which all institutions on the Close—including St. Albans School, National Cathedral School, Beauvoir School, and the Washington National Cathedral—are a part.

Prison Yard
The name given to the tennis courts directly across Pilgrim Lane from the Lower School entrance.

Prize Day
Prize Day occurs on the day before Commencement. It recognizes outstanding students for academic leadership as well as achievements in citizenship and other areas of School life. The Lower School holds its Prize Day in the morning; the Upper School holds its in the afternoon. All parents are invited to attend.

Refectory
The School’s dining room, located in the Lane-Johnston Building. Many dances, meetings, and events take place here.

Rob’s Rip-off
Located in the heart of Marriott Hall and named after head basketball coach Bob Brown, Rob’s Rip-off sells snacks and beverages in the afternoon during Lower School athletics and during games. Proceeds go to the Skip Grant Program and STA financial aid.

Sam’s Bar
A gathering place for National Cathedral School and St. Albans students. Located in Marriott Hall and run by St. Albans Food Services, food and beverages are available for purchase at stated times during and after the school day, Monday through Friday. Sam’s Bar operates on a cash basis only. Proceeds from Sam’s Bar benefit the Skip Grant Program and financial aid. This snack bar was founded by and eventually named after Sam Hoffman, who taught chemistry and coached the track and cross-country teams for twenty-three years.

Satterlee-Henderson Field
The name of the St. Albans football field and track bounded by 34th and Garfield Streets.

Senior Circle
The name of the circular drive by the Little Sanctuary, the Lane-Johnston Building, and Mariott Hall. The patio here is a frequent gathering place for students.

STA
St. Albans School.

Saint Albans News
The student newspaper issued six times per year.

Trapier Theater
Renovated and reopened in fall 2009, Trapier Theater serves as the stage for the combined National Cathedral School-St. Albans Performing Arts Program. Trapier is located beneath the St. Albans Ellison Library. It can be reached from Senior Circle by entering Marriott Hall and taking the elevator or stairs halfway down the hall to the first floor.

Trophy Room
Many parent events are held in this room, located on the second floor of the Activities Building.