Burke Dictionary - 2nd Edition 2025 by Julia HC

(The) Atrium

harj0 — 2023-02-01 14:49:26 UTC

Our main indoor gathering space for the High School, adjacent to the original Upton Street building

Moving Up

harj0 — 2023-02-01 14:49:57 UTC

The year-end ceremony for 8th graders when they "move up" to the High School

Calvin and Hobbes

harj0 — 2023-02-01 14:51:37 UTC

Nicknames for the High School building on Upton Street (Calvin) and the new Middle School building on Connecticut (Hobbes)

(The) Cageliner

harj0 — 2023-02-01 14:53:18 UTC

Our student-run newspaper with a self-deprecating name

Founders' Day

harj0 — 2023-02-01 14:55:03 UTC

A celebratory day of comical competitions among inter-grade teams in late May

Color Day

harj0 — 2023-02-01 14:57:20 UTC

Our 8-day, color-coded rotating schedule ("It's a Blue Day, so I have History 1st period")

Little Ned

harj0 — 2023-02-01 14:59:06 UTC

A 6th grader, elected via dance-off, who wears a wig and frock coat in the style of Edmund Burke during pep rallies; our unofficial mascot

(The) Bengal

harj0 — 2023-02-01 14:59:45 UTC

Our actual official mascot (don't tell Little Ned)

Alabama Trip

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:01:10 UTC

A week-long civil rights trip, traditional to the spring of 8th grade

Senior Lounge

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:02:18 UTC

The northeast corner of the Atrium, notable for its navy couches and elaborate bulletin boards

Burke's Plaza

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:03:43 UTC

The 1st floor classroom in Calvin closest to the Atrium, does not even remotely resemble a plaza

ASSH

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:04:41 UTC

"After School Study Hall" in the Library

SIS

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:06:21 UTC

"Student Information System," where class information, schedules, etc. all reside

SGA

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:07:03 UTC

"Student Government Association," traditionally led by two co-presidents elected the prior spring

(A) Lifer

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:08:06 UTC

A student who attended Burke from 6th to 12th grade

MPR

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:10:13 UTC

"Multipurpose Room," or the large gathering and lunch space adjacent to the Gym, often serving as a 9th grade home base

Core

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:11:28 UTC

The 6th grade's year-long humanities, history, and literature course

Late Starts

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:12:43 UTC

Mondays, when classes start at 9:30 AM for students

(The) Commons

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:13:37 UTC

Generally means the 2nd floor of Hobbes if you're in 9th or 10th grade, but it could mean the 3rd floor if you're in 8th

HVE

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:14:36 UTC

Health, Values & Ethics classes

Soapbox

harj0 — 2023-02-01 15:15:10 UTC

The 10th grade's speaking and civic engagement project, generally taking place during the fall

First Names

harj0 — 2023-03-01 18:09:22 UTC

In line with our egalitarian approach, everyone at Burke is on a first-name basis.

FLHR

harj0 — 2023-03-01 18:15:36 UTC

Acronym for "Fannie Lou Hamer Room," a 2nd floor History classroom in the High School (and the lunchtime study hall location)

PVAC

harj0 — 2023-03-01 18:20:40 UTC

Potomac Valley Athletic Conference, with 14 member schools, including Burke

1st Floor

harj0 — 2023-03-01 18:21:58 UTC

Only refers to the first floor of Hobbes, the four-story building on Connecticut

Deans' Suite

harj0 — 2023-03-01 18:24:47 UTC

The glass-walled offices adjacent to the Atrium where you can find the 9th-12th Grade Deans and Dean of Students

Howard Field

harj0 — 2023-03-01 18:26:04 UTC

The soccer field at Upton & 29th Street

Bonding Trips

harj0 — 2023-03-01 18:27:03 UTC

Grade-wide overnights and day trips in the fall, designed for maximum community-building

Grade Competitions

harj0 — 2023-03-01 18:27:40 UTC

A casual, year-long competition for "grade points," generally earned by accomplishing strange and silly feats during Assembly

1968

harj0 — 2023-03-27 16:28:13 UTC

Burke's founding year

EBPA ("Ebb-Pah")

harj0 — 2023-10-28 16:02:02 UTC

Acronym for the Edmund Burke Parents Association

Pi Day

harj0 — 2024-02-08 20:05:37 UTC

March 14 (3.14), an anticipated holiday and opportunity to eat 🥧

Blackout

harj0 — 2024-02-08 20:06:49 UTC

An annual Friday evening showdown between Burke and our rival school's varsity basketball teams

Rooms 1-4

harj0 — 2024-02-08 20:08:22 UTC

The four classrooms lining the Atrium balcony in the High School - for reasons unknown, only these rooms have #s

Send-Off

harj0 — 2024-02-08 20:11:27 UTC

The Friday before Graduation, when seniors and teachers gather in the Atrium to share memories and stories

Fishbowl

harj0 — 2025-02-05 19:39:16 UTC

The high school English Department office, whose large window overlooks the Atrium