Glossary of school calendar terms
Plain-English definitions of the vocabulary you'll see across Miami school calendars. Each term explains what to expect on that day for your kid.
Early Dismissal / Half-Day
A school day where students go home early — typically 11am-1pm dismissal instead of 2pm-3pm. After-care is usually still available; check with your school's office. May be planned (teacher PD afternoon) or unplanned (weather).
#early-dismissalFull Day / Regular Day
Standard school day with normal start and end times. Listed on calendars only when there's potential confusion (e.g. when a holiday falls on a Monday but the school chose to hold classes anyway).
#full-dayTeacher Planning Day
A non-instructional day where teachers prepare lessons, grade assessments, or hold conferences. Students are off, but most camps and many after-care programs run on these days.
#teacher-planning-dayProfessional Development Day
A day reserved for teacher training. Students are off school. Often abbreviated PD Day. Functionally identical to a Teacher Planning Day from a parent-planning perspective.
#professional-development-dayIn-Service Day
A non-instructional day for staff training and admin work. Students are off. Older terminology now usually replaced by Professional Development Day or Teacher Planning Day on most calendars.
#in-service-dayFaculty Workday
Independent-school version of an in-service day — faculty are at school working, students are off. Common at private schools.
#faculty-workdayCampus Closed
The physical school building is closed. Used when the school distinguishes a closed-campus day from a remote-instruction day. On School's Out!, treated as a full closure.
#campus-closedSchool Closed
Generic term for any day the school doesn't hold classes. Encompasses holidays, breaks, planning days, and unplanned closures (weather).
#school-closedFederal Holiday
A day designated by the U.S. federal government (Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, etc.) Most schools — public and private — close on the major federal holidays.
#federal-holidayDistrict Holiday
A non-federal day off chosen by the school district. M-DCPS, for example, takes both Yom Kippur and Good Friday as district holidays even though neither is federal.
#district-holidayReligious Observance
A day off tied to a religious holiday — Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Good Friday, Eid, Diwali, etc. Schools serving particular communities (Jewish day schools, Catholic schools) have more of these on the calendar.
#religious-observanceSpring Break
A multi-day school break in March or April, typically 5-10 days long. Miami-Dade public schools usually align spring break with the third week of March; private schools vary.
#spring-breakWinter Break
The 1-2 week break around Christmas and New Year's. Most Miami schools close from a few days before Christmas through the first weekday of January.
#winter-breakFall Break
A short break in October, common at private schools. Public schools more often skip fall break in favor of teacher planning days.
#fall-breakSummer Break
The long break between school years, June through August. The first day of summer break (last day of school) and last day (first day of next school year) are tracked individually.
#summer-breakLast Day of School
The final day of an academic year. Often a half-day. Marks the start of summer break.
#last-day-of-schoolFirst Day of School
The opening day of a new academic year. Most Miami schools start in mid-to-late August.
#first-day-of-schoolLong Weekend
A 3 or 4 day weekend created by a Monday or Friday holiday. MLK Day and Presidents' Day produce long weekends on most Miami school calendars.
#long-weekendCommencement / Graduation Day
The graduation ceremony, often the last instructional day for graduating seniors and a half-day or full closure for the rest of the school. Most Miami high schools hold commencement in late May or early June.
#commencement
Less common
Erev (Pre-Holiday Early Dismissal)
Hebrew for "eve" — the day before a Jewish holiday begins at sundown. Jewish day schools hold an early dismissal on Erev Yom Kippur, Erev Rosh Hashanah, etc., so families can prepare before the holiday starts.