What Every Murrow Student Needs to Know...
OPTA
OPtional Time Activities - You have the right to make decisions as to how you will wisely use your optional time (OPTA). You have the responsibility to use this time judiciously. No one is allowed to leave the building during their school day, including seniors. Students are only allowed to leave the building once their school day has ended.
If you are a senior with senior privileges, you can spend your OPTAS in the hallways, or any of the designated areas.
If you are not a senior or do not have senior privileges, you can spend your OPTAs in one of the designated areas: the library in Room 224, the student suite in 285, the lunchroom, or you can work in an office, participate in a club activity, attend a resource center, take courses in Independent Study, or obtain tutoring.
You have the responsibility to behave appropriately in hallways/café during OPTA. You are required to remain in the school building during your Optional Time. If you are outside of the school building during the school day, you place yourself at risk of harm since you can no longer be safely supervised by school authorities. You also risk an encounter with police assigned to truancy patrols. Kolbert Park is off limits during school hours as per the NYPD - 70th Precinct. Students must carry their program card and ID to prove they have been dismissed from school. Students who leave and re-enter the building during the school day will be disciplined, ranging from an official warning to detention to suspension for repeated infractions.
Identification Cards
Identification Cards - You have the responsibility of carrying your program card and wearing your photo identification card with you at all times, and must pass the ID card through a scanner to be admitted to school each day. In addition you must show it to any school official when asked. Your program card and photo ID card must be shown to obtain entrance to the library, cafeteria or 285 suite during an OPTA band.. If you lose your ID card, you must get a replacement in Room 103.A temporary ID or program card will be issued pending the issuance of a permanent replacement. Your parent/guardian will be advised that there will be a charge for future replacements (currently $1 for underclassmen and $2 for senior ID cards). Duplicate program cards are available in room 143 at a cost of 50 cents. But you must present your ID card to get a new copy of your program card. If you don't bring your ID card to school, you will given a temporary ID card when you enter at E.17th Street. Keep that with you all day.
Illness In School
Illness in School - If you become ill in school, you must report to the infirmary, Room 121, with a note from a classroom teacher. It is important for the school to have up-to-date information about where the school can contact your parent/guardian when necessary. Make sure you know the telephone number of your parent's or guardian's job. An official dismissal pass will be given to you if your parent approves and comes to pick you up unless you are over 17. Upon your return to school you are to show the official pass to your subject class teachers. This will notify them that you were not cutting their classes. Then return the signed pass to the attendance office, room 127. If you leave without a pass, the classes you miss are considered cut.
Arrival in School
Entrance to School - In order to enhance school security, only one entrance is opened from 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM (East 17th Street). Only students with "0" band Physical Education will be admitted beginning at 6:50 AM from E. 17th Street only. At 7:30 AM, three entrances are open: East 17th Street, and two entrances on Chestnut Avenue. You must swipe your ID card at the scanning computer when you enter. If you forget your photo ID card, you may only enter through East 17 Street (left door)or the far entrance on Chestnut Avenue (near school parking lot) to get a 1-day temporary ID slip. Keep this ID slip because it is your ID card the day to get into the library and to present to staff when asked. Any person found in the building without proper ID as a Murrow community member is subject to disciplinary action, as are students who persistently fail to bring their ID cards to school.
NOTE: NYPD conducts daily truancy sweeps. Students may be brought to track centers where parental contact is made for pick-up or returned to the school, where guidance counselors will contact parents. (Youth referrals are issued by the NYPD).
Lateness to School - If you are less than 25 minutes late (at or before 8:20 AM) just go promptly to your classroom where the subject teacher will mark you late. After 8:30 AM you may only enter the building through the East 17th Street entrance.
Lateness to Class - You are allowed approximately three minutes to travel from one subject class to another. Lateness to class disrupts instruction and will have an adverse affect on your classwork and overall achievement in the subject.
Lockers
Lockers - All students are permitted to have a hall locker based on availability. The school does not have enough lockers for all students. Registration for student lockers is done each June for the following year, so freshmen do not get lockers, except in very unusual or special circumstances. Lockers in the Music Wing are also registered by the Assistant Principal in room A19. You may only use a combination lock issued by the school. You may not use a classroom locker. You have the responsibility of using your gym locker ONLY during your gym band. Locker rooms are open 10 minutes at the beginning and end of each band. Only students enrolled in physical education classes may use a gym locker. Valuables must not be kept in lockers. In order to safeguard your possessions, you have the responsibility not to give your locker combination to another student. Lockers are provided for storage of textbooks, notebooks, and school supplies when they are not in use. They are not to be used to safeguard valuable items. Lockers are the property of the school and can be searched without permission if there is reasonable suspicion that forbidden materials are concealed. When you use your locker, be aware of others who are around who can see your combination. You must double check the security of the lock before you leave the locker. If you have a broken locker, report this to Room 103 to have it repaired by the custodial staff. Report theft or locker break-ins in Room 103.
Lost and Found
Lost and Found - If you find a lost item, please return it to the Lost and Found in Room 106 immediately. Your assistance is greatly appreciated in returning lost items to their rightful owner. Students who lose items of clothing or other materials should check in this room to see if the items were returned to school authorities. Report lost items in room 103.
back to Dean's Office
OPTA
OPtional Time Activities - You have the right to make decisions as to how you will wisely use your optional time (OPTA). You have the responsibility to use this time judiciously. No one is allowed to leave the building during their school day, including seniors. Students are only allowed to leave the building once their school day has ended.
If you are a senior with senior privileges, you can spend your OPTAS in the hallways, or any of the designated areas.
If you are not a senior or do not have senior privileges, you can spend your OPTAs in one of the designated areas: the library in Room 224, the student suite in 285, the lunchroom, or you can work in an office, participate in a club activity, attend a resource center, take courses in Independent Study, or obtain tutoring.
You have the responsibility to behave appropriately in hallways/café during OPTA. You are required to remain in the school building during your Optional Time. If you are outside of the school building during the school day, you place yourself at risk of harm since you can no longer be safely supervised by school authorities. You also risk an encounter with police assigned to truancy patrols. Kolbert Park is off limits during school hours as per the NYPD - 70th Precinct. Students must carry their program card and ID to prove they have been dismissed from school. Students who leave and re-enter the building during the school day will be disciplined, ranging from an official warning to detention to suspension for repeated infractions.
Identification Cards
Identification Cards - You have the responsibility of carrying your program card and wearing your photo identification card with you at all times, and must pass the ID card through a scanner to be admitted to school each day. In addition you must show it to any school official when asked. Your program card and photo ID card must be shown to obtain entrance to the library, cafeteria or 285 suite during an OPTA band.. If you lose your ID card, you must get a replacement in Room 103.A temporary ID or program card will be issued pending the issuance of a permanent replacement. Your parent/guardian will be advised that there will be a charge for future replacements (currently $1 for underclassmen and $2 for senior ID cards). Duplicate program cards are available in room 143 at a cost of 50 cents. But you must present your ID card to get a new copy of your program card. If you don't bring your ID card to school, you will given a temporary ID card when you enter at E.17th Street. Keep that with you all day.
Illness In School
Illness in School - If you become ill in school, you must report to the infirmary, Room 121, with a note from a classroom teacher. It is important for the school to have up-to-date information about where the school can contact your parent/guardian when necessary. Make sure you know the telephone number of your parent's or guardian's job. An official dismissal pass will be given to you if your parent approves and comes to pick you up unless you are over 17. Upon your return to school you are to show the official pass to your subject class teachers. This will notify them that you were not cutting their classes. Then return the signed pass to the attendance office, room 127. If you leave without a pass, the classes you miss are considered cut.
Arrival in School
Entrance to School - In order to enhance school security, only one entrance is opened from 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM (East 17th Street). Only students with "0" band Physical Education will be admitted beginning at 6:50 AM from E. 17th Street only. At 7:30 AM, three entrances are open: East 17th Street, and two entrances on Chestnut Avenue. You must swipe your ID card at the scanning computer when you enter. If you forget your photo ID card, you may only enter through East 17 Street (left door)or the far entrance on Chestnut Avenue (near school parking lot) to get a 1-day temporary ID slip. Keep this ID slip because it is your ID card the day to get into the library and to present to staff when asked. Any person found in the building without proper ID as a Murrow community member is subject to disciplinary action, as are students who persistently fail to bring their ID cards to school.
NOTE: NYPD conducts daily truancy sweeps. Students may be brought to track centers where parental contact is made for pick-up or returned to the school, where guidance counselors will contact parents. (Youth referrals are issued by the NYPD).
Lateness to School - If you are less than 25 minutes late (at or before 8:20 AM) just go promptly to your classroom where the subject teacher will mark you late. After 8:30 AM you may only enter the building through the East 17th Street entrance.
Lateness to Class - You are allowed approximately three minutes to travel from one subject class to another. Lateness to class disrupts instruction and will have an adverse affect on your classwork and overall achievement in the subject.
Lockers
Lockers - All students are permitted to have a hall locker based on availability. The school does not have enough lockers for all students. Registration for student lockers is done each June for the following year, so freshmen do not get lockers, except in very unusual or special circumstances. Lockers in the Music Wing are also registered by the Assistant Principal in room A19. You may only use a combination lock issued by the school. You may not use a classroom locker. You have the responsibility of using your gym locker ONLY during your gym band. Locker rooms are open 10 minutes at the beginning and end of each band. Only students enrolled in physical education classes may use a gym locker. Valuables must not be kept in lockers. In order to safeguard your possessions, you have the responsibility not to give your locker combination to another student. Lockers are provided for storage of textbooks, notebooks, and school supplies when they are not in use. They are not to be used to safeguard valuable items. Lockers are the property of the school and can be searched without permission if there is reasonable suspicion that forbidden materials are concealed. When you use your locker, be aware of others who are around who can see your combination. You must double check the security of the lock before you leave the locker. If you have a broken locker, report this to Room 103 to have it repaired by the custodial staff. Report theft or locker break-ins in Room 103.
Lost and Found
Lost and Found - If you find a lost item, please return it to the Lost and Found in Room 106 immediately. Your assistance is greatly appreciated in returning lost items to their rightful owner. Students who lose items of clothing or other materials should check in this room to see if the items were returned to school authorities. Report lost items in room 103.
back to Dean's Office
