Tabari Z.

Bomani, Principal
1700 Fulton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213 • Main Office (718)804-6805∙
Fax (718) 804-6808

HABARI NZURI #2:

Swahili for Good News

Harambee….
We hope that this brief newsletter finds you safe, healthy and inspired.
November 20, 2020-November 28, 2020

1. I am sure you are aware that the NYC DOE has gone 100% remote. This
means that until further notice there will be no Hybrid/In Person instructions.

2. NMSSJ is happy to announce the re-launch of its school’s website at

https://www.mandelaschoolnyc.org/. While the website is still under
construction, parents and guardians can use the site for information updates and
to connect to important information from the Department of Education:

o https://www.mandelaschoolnyc.org/parents will help parents and guardians

Apply for Technology (Ipads) and register for a NYC School Account which
will be necessary if parents/guardians wish to view their scholars report card,
schedule and current attendance.

3. NMSSJ first Report Card for the 2020-2021 school Year:

o November 24, 2020: first Report Card will be available through the NYC
School Account.

NMSSJ Teacher’s Responsibilities:

o NMSSJ Teachers MUST have their report card grades completed by close of
business Monday November 22, 2020.

o ROP Advisors and Mandela support team (including Admin team, School
Counselors, etc.) “load” Report Cards onto the ROP Google Classrooms.
Parents /Guardians will only be able to view the Report Car of their scholar.

4. Parent/Guardian Survey: Progress Report and Parent-Teacher

Conference:

o Nelson Mandela School for Social Justice (NMSSJ) is dedicated to keeping you
informed and connected. The following survey will help us improve how we
share Progress Reports and how we conduct Parent Teacher Conferences. We
 Tabari Z. Bomani, Principal
1700 Fulton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213 • Main Office (718)804-6805∙
Fax (718) 804-6808

are asking that you please complete the following survey as soon as possible.
https://forms.gle/d9aPzQKK8m8h1fD99

5. “NX” Resolution:

▪ Students who received an “NX” during the Spring 2020 term (from
March 20200June 2020) must resolve that NX grade by completing
assigned work and receive a passing grade no later than Janurary
29th 2021.
▪ Teachers are responsible for the following (following the plan
shared with the community by Mr. Lectrecther and Mr. Rose)
● Teachers must create a Google classroom and invite students who
received an NX in one of their classes last Spring (2020).
● Teachers will assign Project Based Learning assignments to
students based on the skill or set of skills students did not
show mastery on during the Spring term.
● There will be individual deadlines for each student. Some
students might have to complete a project that takes a couple of
weeks while other students might need a little longer; what they
must show mastery on will dictate the project, length of time and
the number of times they need to be assessed on a particular
skill/set of skills.
● Teachers will use comments from the June 2020 Report Card to
identify the skills.
● Scholars are responsible for completing the work and for
maintaining their work in their current classes. All NX
grades not resolved by January 29, 2021 will turn into failing/No
Credit grades; this is a DOE Policy.
● We are asking guardians to:
o Accept all invites into Google Classrooms: This will
allow you the access you need to monitor what your
scholar is doing.
o Share a correct email and phone number: If you are
not receiving communications. If you have not received a
Progress Report or Report Card please send your current
email and phone number to
[email protected]
6. NMSSJ: Attendance improvement: NMSSj is struggle to keep scholars engaged. It
is crucial that students sign into their google classrooms and participate, complete work
and strengthen the academic and social emotional skills they are going to need to be
successful. NMSSJ is launch an attendance improvement initiative. We have hyperlinked
an explanation of the initiative in this document. Shortly after Thanksgiving, we will be
 Tabari Z. Bomani, Principal
1700 Fulton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213 • Main Office (718)804-6805∙
Fax (718) 804-6808

sending a companion document outlining how you can help and support this important
initiative. “In order to win the game you first have to show up”.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17_tX7yUhw5Pq_hB8frtbkD0i08PGiI9E/vie
w?usp=sharing
Recent events and changes at NMSSJ:

1. November 10th the Town Hall: NMSSJ Naming Ceremony: Every June, at the end
of the school year, NMSSJ community names it’s 9th grade class. This year, on
November 10th, 2020, because of the shutdown last Spring, NMSSJ held our
traditional naming ceremony for our 10th Grade cohort: Students were reminded
of the importance of “naming” in traditional African and Indigenous societies.
Lastly, scholars were reminded that their shared name identifies key
characteristics they share as a cohort, and their name stands a path and
reminder of the direction they should follow; individually and as a group:

a. Umoja na Jasiri Wasomi-United and brave intellectuals- 10th graders

joined

b. Akili imani na nia: Scholars of Faith and Intentions-11th graders 

and

c. Msomi Wa Nia : Caring Powerful Scholars-12 graders

We ask you to join us and Say Their Names: Help them travel the path

2. November 12th, 20220: School Counselor Andrew Martir honored the NMSSJ
with 100% Attendance. Mr. Martir established the Kuhudhuria Mashujaa:
Attendance Warriors. Students received a certificate to honor their achievement.

3. District MBK/ MSK Kickoffs: Our scholars, staff and parents attended the
Student and Parent Kickoffs on November 3 and November 5th. Our scholars are
excited to be a part of these phenomenal programs. Parent Coordinator Ms.
Amory-Claxton will be our 2020-2021 MSK Advisor and Mr. Lester Morris will be
our MBK Advisor.

4. NMSSJ Student Empowerment: Re-launch and newly established groups:

 Tabari Z. Bomani, Principal
1700 Fulton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213 • Main Office (718)804-6805∙
Fax (718) 804-6808

a. Barazaa: Student council. The major student decision making council for the
Mandela community. The Barazaa will design, plan and initiate improvement
programs and act as advisors to the principal. At least two students per grade
(maybe more).

b. Re-launched of NMSSJ Black Lives Matter: The staff liaison will be Ms.
Preacely and Ms. Hicks.

c. NMSSJ GSA club/organization: The Staff Liaison will be Ms. Couri

5. ‘NX’ Resolution:
▪ Students who received an “NX” during the Spring 2020 term (from
March 20200June 2020) must resolve that NX grade by completing
assigned work and receive a passing grade no later than Janurary
29th 2021.
▪ Teachers are responsible for the following (following the plan
shared with the community by Mr. Lectrecther and Mr. Rose)
● Teachers must create a Google classroom and invite students who
received an NX in one of their classes last Spring (2020).
● Teachers will assign Project Based Learning assignments to
students based on the skill or set of skills students did not
show mastery on during the Spring term.
● There will be individual deadlines for each student. Some
students might have to complete a project that takes a couple of
weeks while other students might need a little longer; what they
must show mastery on will dictate the project, length of time and
the number of times they need to be assessed on a particular
skill/set of skills.
● Teachers will use comments from the June 2020 Report Card to
identify the skills.
● Scholars are responsible for completing the work and for
maintaining their work in their current classes. All NX
grades not resolved by January 29, 2021 will turn into failing/No
Credit grades; this is a DOE Policy.
● We are asking guardians to:
o Accept all invites into Google Classrooms: This will
allow you the access you need to monitor what your
scholar is doing.
o Share a correct email and phone number: If you are
not receiving communications. If you have not received a
 Tabari Z. Bomani, Principal
1700 Fulton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213 • Main Office (718)804-6805∙
Fax (718) 804-6808

Progress Report or Report Card please send your current

email and phone number to
[email protected]
▪ Students receive an ‘NX’ if there is insufficient work to calculate a final
grade. Parents/guardians make the final decision about whether the
student’s final passing grade remains on the existing scale or is updated
to ‘CR’ (Credit). See Parent/Guardian Choice of Grading Scale.
▪ Grades of ‘CR’ are not included in students’ GPAs.

Masomo ya Uhuru: Freedom Lessons

(Ma-so-mo yaa OO-hoo-roo)
1. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, is assassinated
while traveling through Dallas, Texas, in an open-top convertible….As their
vehicle passed the Texas School Book Depository Building at 12:30 p.m., Lee
Harvey Oswald allegedly fired three shots from the sixth floor, fatally wounding
President Kennedy and seriously injuring Governor Connally. Kennedy was
pronounced dead 30 minutes later at Dallas’ Parkland Hospital. He was 46. El
Hajj Malik El Shabazz (Malcolm X), when asked about his response to the
assassination, stated that it was a case of ““The chickens came home to roost,”.
The Nation of Islam, under the leadership of Elijah Muhammed, placed Malcolm
under a suspension order; Malcolm was forbidden to give sermons in the
mosque, give speeches or speak to reporters. This suspension was for 90 days;
this began Malcolm’s separation from the Nation of Islam which would end with
Malcolm’s assassation on February 21st, 1965.

Two of the most recent text written about Malcolm X:

The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X: Payne, Les …

Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention: Marable, Manning …

Collection of Malcolm X’s speeches and writings:

 Tabari Z. Bomani, Principal
1700 Fulton Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213 • Main Office (718)804-6805∙
Fax (718) 804-6808

Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements …

Malcolm X: Speeches at Harvard Paperback – July 10, 1994

By Any Means Necessary (Malcolm X Speeches and Writings ...

Important Documents from the DOE:

● How to create a NYC DOE Account “step by step” directions:
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/acpolicy-
nycsa-parent-flyer
o Spanish https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-
document-library/nyc-schools-account-parent-flyer-es
o Hatian Creole https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-
document-library/nyc-schools-account-parent-flyer-
h7bb6202707c44a1f903f74a7f2ac6ac1
o French https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-
document-library/nyc-schools-account-parent-flyer-
frba8607ba18504b84911d70bd5d92e1c6

NYC DOE 2020-2021 Grading Policy:

● https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-
library/update-for-families-october-26-2020 English
● https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-
library/31939-update-for-families---october-26-2020-spanish Spanish
● https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-
library/31939-update-for-families---october-26-2020-haitian-creole Haitian Creole
● https://www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-
library/31939-update-for-families---october-26-2020-french French