PCD Glossary

Activity Day: A day designed for Upper School students to get to know one another at the outset of the school year. 

Arts Night: A culminating celebration of performing and visual arts in the spring. There will usually be a separate night for Middle School and Upper School. 

Bazar Basketball Court: In honor of more than 40 years of service to PCD, the Bazar Court was dedicated in 2012 and is located in the Moran Annex. It is often referred to as the "wood" gym. 

Bookstore: Located in the Field House, the store is run by parent volunteers and sells school supplies and PCD gear.  

Boss Field: In recognition of three generations of the Boss family and their service to PCD, this field is located beyond the northeast corner of Lund Hall.

Cerce Quad: This outdoor sitting and picnic area, located between Lund Hall and Murray House, was the gift of Linda, Gerald and Gennaro ’94 Cerce.

Chace Hall: This building houses the dining hall, bookstore, the 5th grade classroom, and a Middle School Science classroom. 400,000-pound Chace Hall was moved to the east side of Pawtucket Avenue during the summer of 1996, thanks to a gift from Elizabeth and Malcolm Chace, Jr. The dining hall was the second of the original school buildings, from the mid-1920s, and was named for Malcolm Chace, father of Arnold, ’32.

Chowder Day: Each October, PCD’s homecoming features athletic competitions, family fun and a chowder buffet. The fall tradition was started in 1943 by Carl Hesse and Robert Chapin, fathers of two PCD students. Click for more info.

Community Time: a block of open time in the Upper School schedule every day  when everyone is free from classes and is able to engage with each other in assemblies, advisory meetings, club meetings, tutorial time, or other events.

Cum Laude: A national honor society recognizing academic excellence.

Dickerman Diamond: Named after Bob Dickerman '51, one of PCD's longest serving faculty members. Dickerman was PCD's head baseball coach from 1957 to 2001 and is now a volunteer and groundskeeper.

Family Association BBQ: Organized by the PCD Family Association, this BBQ affords families one of the first opportunities of the school year to get acquainted. 

Field Day: An annual day of sporting contests between the Red and Black teams. Each student is assigned to the Red or Black team upon enrollment at PCD.

Kilcullen Student Commons: This addition to Lund Hall was completed in 2000, and gives Upper School students a space to relax, read, and socialize between classes. It was the gift of Trustee Sally, Joseph ’99, Casey ’01 and Caitlin Kilcullen in memory of Paul Kilcullen.

Knights at Night: Social events open to all PCD community members (current and former parents, faculty, and alumni, age 21+).

Haberlandt Hall: Amphitheater-style multi-media classroom, located in Lund Hall, named in honor of Susan Haberlandt, PCD’s 7th head of school.

Henry Barnard School: Founded in 1898 as The Observation School of Rhode Island Normal School, Henry Barnard is PCD's lower school. HBS merged with PCD in 2021. 

Holiday Tea: PCD's annual Holiday Tea is a winter concert that features a beautiful winter wonderland and a huge selection of treats afterwards. This event is planned and operated by PCD's Family Association. 

Knights: The PCD mascot and name used for our athletic teams in interscholastic competition.

Learning Hub / Leeds Library: Named in honor of David R. Leeds ’68 and located in Lund Hall, Leeds Library has been renovated and renamed the Learning Hub in 2024. It houses classrooms, study spaces, group work spaces, and books. 

Living Classroom: Ten acres of campus wetlands and woodlands that include an outdoor covered pavilion, supporting the interdisciplinary study of the environment. Also referred to as the “Nature Trail & Pavilion.”

Lund Hall: Home to the Upper School, completed in 1971 and named in honor of Edward G. Lund, Headmaster from 1934-1965.

Metcalf Hall: The original Metcalf Gymnasium, gift of Stephen O. Metcalf, grandfather of Michael ’51, was completed in 1928. Erected on PCD’s West Campus, across Pawtucket Avenue, Metcalf once housed the Bookstore, Middle School Athletic Office, locker rooms, a basketball court, and Health Services. Relocated to the East Campus, courtesy of a gift from the Providence Journal Company in memory of the late publisher Michael P. Metcalf ’51, Metcalf Hall is now home to the HBS Lower School, the Middle School, and the Dickinson Fine Arts Wing. Corkery Auditorium was the area on the second floor prior to the 2023 renovation.

Mid-Morning: A snack break for Middle Schoolers held in Chace Hall.

Moran Annex: Built in 1997, as an addition to West Field House, the Moran Annex replaced Metcalf Gymnasium, and was named in honor of the Paul and Timothy Moran families.

Murray House: The administration building, built in 1997, was named in honor of Joseph W. Murray, father of J. Terrence Murray ’58. It houses the Read Head of School’s Office, Helen Woodruff Conference Room, Boss Admissions Office, Porcaro Business Office, and Institutional Advancement Offices.

Nature Trail & Pavilion: Ten acres of campus wetlands and woodlands that include an outdoor covered pavilion, supporting the interdisciplinary study of the environment. Also referred to as the “Living Classroom.”

Ossman Practice Field: The field between the baseball diamond and the lacrosse field, named in memory of Mae and Fred Ossman, parents of teacher/coach Tom Ossman. Mae and Fred never missed a single football game at PCD during their lifetimes when Mr. Ossman was coaching.

Play for PCD: Annual fundraising golf outing

Red & Black: The Providence Country Day School yearbook. Also the school colors and the ongoing in-house team competition. Upon entering the school, each student is designated as a member of the Red or Black team.

Snack Shack: The Snack Shack is a favorite place for our students to hang out and get some food after school. Parents help donate the food and drinks, and PCD students work the Snack Shack. All proceeds get reinvested into the school.

Stepping-Up Day: A ceremony honoring Middle School student achievements and recognizing 8th graders who are “Stepping-Up” to the Upper School. Middle School families are invited to attend. 4th Graders in HBS have a similar ceremony.

Summerhouse: The informal outdoor meeting place for students. Originally located on the West Campus, this landmark was relocated between Chace and Metcalf during the campus consolidation in 1997.

Evan R. West Field House: Indoor athletic facility completed in 1983 and named in honor of Evan R. West, Headmaster from 1965 to 1985.

Woodruff Football Field: Named in honor of Gerald B. Woodruff by an anonymous donor.