The document provides definitions for various terms and concepts used at CEDU School. It defines terms related to the school's academic program, daily schedule, community agreements and values, consequences for being out of agreement, emotional growth experiences, and the rap process which is seen as central to the school's model. The dictionary was compiled by former students to help families, friends and professionals understand the unique language and culture that has evolved at CEDU School over time.

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2. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Admissions staff of CEDU School gratefully acknowledges
the generous efforts of the fine students who made this
dictionary a reality. Through CEDU's long history a rich
vocabulary has evolved. At the request of families, friends,
and professionals, we proudly present a handy guide to CEDU
terms.
Our than~s go to: Amanda Turchan
Tracy Gershwin
Beau Riddle
Jonathan Cocco
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3. CEDU HERITAGE DICTIONARY
ACADEMIC DISHES/MANDATORY STUDY HALL: Assigned to students .
who may be behind in academics. Instead of ·spending time on
the floor in the evening after dinner, a student may do work
in the library. Dishes agreements apply: No smiling, bans
from other people, school w~rk is to be done.
A.c.w.: Alternate curriculum week. can be one or two week
breaks between academic classes. Occurs about every 6-8
weeks. During this time activities may include campus clean-
up, local ski trips, Dodgers baseball games to CEDU Summer
Olympics. These breaks compensate for the year-round school
calendar.
APPOINTMENT: Scheduled time students set with each
talk, tell their story, eat a meal together, etc.
may schedule appointments with faculty or staff.
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other to
Students
AUTOMATICS: An automatic reaction a student reverts to, often
an old behavior.
AGREEMENT: Rules that apply to CEDU. Called agreements
because students make the choice to agree or accept
consequences for not "being in agreement". Agreements range
from the "big three" (no drugs, sex or violence) to shirts
tucked in and belts worn in the house. Agreements are
designed to maintain a healthy, supportive and safe
environment.
BANS: No association whatsoever with a particular •person,
place or thing. A student is placed on such bans when their
relationship with a person, place or thing is negative or
detrimental. Example: When a new student arrives and is in a
"negative space" the only people he/she can associate J1ith
are those who are positive and supportive. i.e. They are "on
bans" from "Challenge and below".
BACXDOOR: A set escape in a persons mind. Knowing you can
run ~way, quit, etc. An alternative to confronting painful
reality or taking responsibility. '
BACKSIDE: The ~ack hillside of the school.
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4. BIG BROTHER/SISTER: An older student who has proposed to be
on and has been accepted on the Friends Committee. When.a
new student is scheduled to arrive on campus, he or she is
met at the door by the big brother/sister .. ·This is~ student
who becomes a close friend and support during the adJustment
period. The big brother/sister maintains this role until
after their "little brother/sister" has completed the
Brother's Propheet. ·
BROTHER'S KEEPER FRIEND: A really good honest friend. The
concept of a true friendship. A brother's keeper friend is
able to confront, give feedback, and support their friends.
BUST BUNS: Bust buns clean up day. A thorough cleaning in
the buildings and/or campus grounds.
BUTTONS: A certain sensitivity a person has. "Pushing
·'someone' s buttons" elicits feelings of• guilt, shame, anger,
sadness, etc.
CALL OFF RAPS: Prior to raps students gather for "house
aro1;1nd the pit" during which role is called and student's are
assigned to raps.
CEDU: "See yourself for who you truly are and do something to
become that person." You are what you do, not what you say
you do.
CONSEQUENCES: Results of one's behavior. Also refers to
assignments such as "dishes". These serve as a method of
earning a way back into agreement - directed by staff to
assist a student to get a clear understanding of self and
learn "cause and effect" ..
CONTRACT: A verbal agreement between two people. Can be
positive or negative. Often refers to a negative contract
that is detrimental to the students' growth, participation,
and overall development. Example: Student "A" sees student
"B" out of agreement in the school but chooses to not talk
with that student in a rap. Negative contracts reinforce
blocks to open communication and honesty.
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5. COOKIE: A way of saying good job, or you're a good
person.
COP-OUT: To tell a faculty your dirt, or ways you broke an
agreement.
CORE: The elective a student selects once in upper high
school. Example: Performing Arts core, Visual Arts Core.
CRACK: Finding an excuse or reason to justify something.
Finding a crack in an agreement, finding a way to "slide by"
it.
CUT UP: To make derogatory remarks about someone's looks or
actions; to talk about pre-CEDU people or places with someone
from the students' area.
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CUTTING CORNERS: To discre'tely talk al:lol.it an "unacceptableII
music group with.
out actually saying its name.
DINING ROOM CLEAN UP: Cleaning dining room after meals;
wiping tables, sweeping, mopping and running trash. Done as
a family group assignment or as a consequence.
DIRT/DIRT LIST/DIRTY: Being out of agreement means to have
dirt or to be dirty. A student's dirt list is a written list_
of all agreements broken.
DISCLOSURES: Uncovering negative or hidden things ana
bringing them out so they may be resolved. Events or
behavior that has elicited shame or guilt.
DISHES: Consequence for being out of agreement. Clean dining
room, kitchen and wash dishes. No smiling or unnecessary
talking.
D.M.T.: Deep meaningful talk.
DOR...
! JOBS: Chores done every morning in the do:':"m.
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6. "".
DORM HEAD/DORM HEAD IN TRAINING: Older student who runs dorm
and makes sure dorm jobs are done correctly.
DOWN THE ROAD: A term used when a student chooses to run away
from CEDU "she's down the road".
ESCORT: An older student who accompanies another student to
and from dorm, bathroom, etc. A type of temporary
restriction.
ETHIC: Your style or way of doing things.
EXPERIENTIAL: A hands-on learning experience.
FACILITATOR: A staff person who orchestrates raps and is
-specialized in assisting students with_
. their emotional work
during raps. t
FAMILY/TEAM: A group of students who share first lights,
family dinners and group activities. A family is composed of
students who range from those new to CEDU to those about to
graduate. All students get love and support from their
"family members". The staff in the family are responsible
for mail, phone slips, clothing, visits, and parent
communications.
FAMILY CHORES: Chores done around campus every morning with
CEDU family members.
FAMILY HEAD: Staff who runs the family and has primary
responsibility for student.
FEEDBACK: Input about the student given by peers during
raps.
FIR~T LIGHT: Half-hour family or peer group morning meetings
designed to teach or discuss agreements, feelings, visits,
the school, propheets, etc.
FLAGS: A warning sign that a student is out of agreement.
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7. FLOOR: Area in the main house where activities center.
FLOOR TIME: Post-dinner time at CEDU. When students and
staff get together and have appointments.
FULL TIME: A student is placed on a full time for breaking a
major agreement. During this time a student does work
assignments, writing assignments and sits at a dining room
table alone. All bans apply. This time gives students an
opportunity and space to work through negative behavior or
patterns and get back into agreement/become part of the
school again.
GAMES: Manipulative behavior. Dishonest behavior to evoke a
certain response. Example: attention game - crying loudly
in a location where they can be seen by• everyone .
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GENERAL MEETING: Meeting every Monday morning involving all
students and staff. Different topics;· experiences or themes
for the week are discussed.
GOING FAST/SLOW: This may refer to physical behavior such as
being loud, disruptive, silly, etc. Going fast in your head
refers to numerous thoughts quickly going through your mind
that can't be sorted out or really comprehended. To go slow
is to be focused and calm.
GUT: Intuition or feeling.
HIDING OUT: Withdrawal from interaction with others.
HOT SPOT: A student dealing with issues that has the
potential to affect or spill over onto others in the student
body.
IMAGE:. The mask (clothing, attitude, style) a person wears
to proJect ~ he is as opposed to who he is. Example:
skater, punk, etc.
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8. --:
INAPPROPRIATE: Any behavior, communication, action or dress
that is not acceptable at CEDU.
INDICTMENT: When a person is confronted on their negative
behavior, or negative patterns.
INTENTION: Possible hidden agenda or unspoken plan.
IN TOUCH: To be aware, to see clearly, to understand.
ISSUE: A source of struggle or conflict.
JOURNAL: A means of expressing thoughts and feelings in
writing. A tool to reflect back on your own growth and
.,patterns. A mirror. Several type~ of~ j.onrnals exist at
CEDU - Level journals (example: Discovery journal), full time
journals, table journals, wilderness j_ournals.
,
LAST LIGHT: Final meeting of student body at the close of the
day. Each with its own theme.
LOOK GOOD: A person who is off, or dishonest, and is
struggling but doesn't allow that struggle to show. "He
looks good on the outside but not so good on the inside."
LUG: A statement designed to heighten anxiety or evoke a
response, especially useful as a rap warm-up. U~ually
"thrown out" by faculty during rap call-off. · ·
MAKE O.K.: Finding a way to justify something that is out of
agreement.
MEDICAL: A trip off campus to visit a health care
professional. "She's going on a medical."
MUIR HUT: Named after the Western Frontier Naturalist John
Muir. Storage area for all CEDU wilderness equipment.
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9. OFF/ON: Off - to not be centered or in-touch. On - the
opposite of off, to be focused and on track. "He really is
off today!"
OLDER STUDENT: A student who is in the upper school,
generally a student who is in Challenge, New Horizons, or
Source.
OWNING IT: Refers to a statement made from the heart with
assumption of full responsibility.
PATTERNS: The behaviors that one falls into, typically when
one is having a difficult time.
PEER GROUP: This is a group of approximately 12-15 students
,-who enroll at CEDU within a few months- of· each other. They
progress through the CEDU program together as a group. This
includes participation in propheets a~d wilderness trips.
. .
PIT: A semi-circular couch and sunken area in front of the
· fireplace at the center of the main lodge. "House around the
pit" is a gathering of all students around the pit. "Sharing
from the heart" refers to standing on a heart-shaped stone in
the pit while addressing the student body.
POP-A-SQUAT: Find a place to sit.
POP-OFF: Mentioning any CEDU unacceptable music ~ ..e. music
that endorses a negative message. The act of poppfng off, is
w~en a student either discusses an unacceptable group or
sings a song from one of those groups. Pop-offs tend to
spa~k a negative chain of thoughts in other students.
PROJECTION: When one makes a statement to another that
applies just as much to the speaker as it does to the person
they are speaking to.
PROPHEET: A twenty-four hour emotional growth experience
which is centered around one theme. Propheets are based upon
the teachings and writings of Kahlil Gibra~.
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10. -:
RAP: A group of students meet for approximately three and a
half hours, three times per week. During this time students
get a chance to talk about their feelings, thoughts, and
concerns. They also have the opportunity to talk to other
students about disagreements, ·problems and dishonesty. A rap
is a forum for open discussion and emotional work. Often
viewed by faculty as "the glue that holds the school together
and keeps the emotional climate safe". On occasion faculty
will call for an "all-day rap" if the school feels "too fast"
or "unsafe".
RAP PASS: When one is given a "pass" to not have to talk or
share in a rap.
RAP REQUEST: A request made for certain people to appear in a
rap so that you can talk with them, have their support, or
clean up dirt with them.
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RESTRICTION: A consequence for being out of agreement. An
area where a student must remain unless escorted. Example: A
couch restriction or house restriction.
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