Academic calendar
2026-2027 School Year runs Aug 24, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
- 2026-2027 School YearRelevant now
- 1st Quarter 2026
Campus language
Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
Showing 14 of 14 terms
7
- 7-Eleven
- The convenience store on Sedgwick Street frequently visited by students before or after school.
A
- Advisory
- A scheduled period for social-emotional learning and school-wide announcements with a consistent peer group.
E
- Enrichment
- Specific activities or workshops held during the Seminar period.
F
- FOP
- Friends of Payton, the non-profit organization supporting school programs.
G
- Grizzlies
- The school's mascot and the collective name for the student body.
L
- LSC
- Local School Council, the governing body including parents, teachers, and students.
N
- NHS
- National Honor Society chapter at Payton.
P
- PAC
- Payton Advisory Council, the student government body.
- PMP
- Payton Mentor Program, where upperclassmen mentor incoming freshmen.
S
- Seminar
- A unique block of time for elective-style classes, guest speakers, or independent study.
- Starbucks
- The coffee shop on Division Street often used as a study spot or morning stop.
T
- Target
- The nearby Target on Division Street, a popular off-campus lunch destination for upperclassmen.
- The Caf
- The main school cafeteria where lunch is served.
- The Paw Print
- The official student-run newspaper of Payton.
Places and practicalities
Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
- cafeteria_west
- Cafeteria-West
- Off-campus lunch
- The privilege granted to juniors and seniors to leave the building during lunch periods.
- Orange and Blue
- The school colors, often used to designate spirit days or specific athletic events.
- PowerSchool
- The online portal used by students and parents to track grades and attendance.
- Student ID
- Required for entry into the building and for checking out library materials.
- The Annex
- The 2016 building addition containing the gym, black box theater, and additional classrooms.
- The Atrium
- The large, open central gathering space in the original building.
- The Black Box
- The flexible theater space located in the Annex.
- The Bridge
- The glass-walled walkway connecting the original building to the Annex.
- The Recital Hall
- The dedicated performance space for music and small events.
- Ventra
- The transit card used by students to commute via CTA buses and 'L' trains.
Quick answers
Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
- What academic term is relevant now?
- 2026-2027 School Year runs Aug 24, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027.
- How much campus context is included?
- 14 approved campus terms and 11 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.