Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions. Most of this information can be found in the Students and Parents section of the school website.

If you can't find the information that you need, please email us.

Communication & Contact Information

Q: How do I contact the school?
A: The number for the Main Office is 718-987-2900.

Q: How does Monsignor Farrell provide information to parents and students?
A: Monsignor Farrell sends a weekly email to all parents and students, usually on Sunday, with important information and instructions about upcoming school events. Information is also posted to the Students and Parents section of the school website.

Q: Is there a calendar of events?
A: Yes. The school website has a calendar for all academic information and events/activities, as well as an athletics calendar. Click here to visit the calendar section.

Q: How do I contact faculty members?
A: You can call the Main Office and leave a message. You can also email faculty members. All email addresses are listed on the faculty pages of the website.

Transportation

Q: If I drive my son to school and pick him up after school, where do I go?
A: Cars are not allowed to enter campus before school to drop off or at dismissal to pick up. School security will not allow cars into the parking lot (except for faculty/staff and seniors who have a parking permit). Please be aware that traffic on Amboy Road between Tysens Lane and Guyon Ave. during those times is very heavy. A better option may be to drop off and pick up on a side block near the school. Please do not double park on the street. If a student has a special circumstance (injury, crutches, etc.) and needs to be dropped off on-campus, parents should call the main office and speak with the Deans Office to make arrangements. A doctor's note may be required.

Q: Are students issued Metro Cards?
A: Yes. All students will be issued a Metro Card during orientation.

Q: What train station is closest to Farrell?
A: Oakwood Heights

Uniforms

Q: What do the different school uniforms consist of?
A: Detailed uniform information is available on the school website in the Students and Parents section. Click here to view that information.

Q: Do students wear their gym uniforms to school?
A: Students bring their gym uniform and change into it when they have gym class. They change back into the school uniform after gym class.

School Schedules

Q: What is a "regular" school day?
A: A regular school day at Monsignor Farrell follows an "R" or regular schedule with eight 42-minute classes. Homeroom begins at 8:15 am and dismissal is at 2:30 pm. At times, we will announce that we will follow a modified schedule, which may have a delayed homeroom, early dismissal, or just a change in the length and time of classes to allow for a morning or afternoon assembly during school. Click here for the different schedules.

Q: What is Period "0"?
A: Some senior elective classes meet before the start of homeroom, known as "Period 0."

Q: Do students follow a Monday - Friday class schedule?
A: Each student's class schedule is based on a 6-day cycle, lettered "A" Day through "F" Day.

Attendance

Q: What do I do if my son is absent from school?
A: An absence must be reported to the Attendance Office by phone each day before 9:00 am unless specified differently. The attendance office phone number is (718) 979-2050.
Click here for the full attendance policy.

Q: What if my son needs to arrive at school late and/or leave early?
A: Early dismissal requests will only be honored for serious circumstances. If a student feels ill during the day, he must report to the school nurse who will then contact the student's parents if he will be dismissed from school. Students are not permitted to call their parents before seeing the nurse. Seniors who drive to school are not permitted to sign themselves out. A parent/guardian will need to do so. Click here for more details about early dismissals. If a student will be arriving to school late, parents should call the attendance office before 9:00 am on that morning.

Academics

Q: What is study hall?
A: Study hall is mandatory for any students who have an after-school activity that does not start immediately after dismissal and would like to stay on campus until their activity begins. It is usually held in a classroom or the cafeteria and is supervised by faculty/staff. For example, a student who has practice at Farrell at 4:00 pm but does not want to go home and come back. If he elects to stay on campus until practice, he must do so in study hall. No tutoring or instruction is provided in study hall. It is just a supervised location on campus for students to study and do homework. Students are not permitted to wait anywhere else on campus before their activity begins.

Q: What is CLAW?
A: Center for Learning and Academic Wellness (CLAW) - is free peer tutoring offered in the morning before homeroom (during period 0) and/or after school. It is usually held in the Learning Commons. The schedule for CLAW will be announced in school. Students who are members of our National Honor Society provide tutoring and are supervised by faculty members. Appointments are not needed and students can stop in as they feel necessary. They should first check with the CLAW students/faculty to make sure the subject they are looking for help with will be available on the day/time they want.

Q: How can I check my son's grades?
A: Parents can check their sons' grades by logging into PowerSchool. New Farrell parents will receive their login credentials during the first week of school.

Extracurricular

Q: How do students join extracurricular activities?
A: Sign-ups for clubs and activities, as well as tryouts for sports teams, are announced in school, on the school website, and in our weekly email in advance. They all differ. We also have video bulletin boards located throughout the school that will post that information.

Q: How do students and parents purchase tickets to sporting events at Farrell?
A: Tickets to home football and basketball games must be purchased through our online ticket service and are available beginning one week prior to the event. We advise that you purchase tickets as early as possible as most home football games and rivalry basketball games sell out quickly.

Farrell Family Association

Q: Is there a parents' club at Farrell?
A: Yes! We encourage every Monsignor Farrell parent to be a part of the Monsignor Farrell Family Association (FFA). The FFA is an integral part of the school community that supports many functions at Monsignor Farrell, from helping with school events and ceremonies to assisting with fundraising efforts. Visit the FFA section of the school website for details.