With gloves on, bags in hand, and a mission in their hearts, 19 Linden High School students hit the streets and parks of Linden on May 1 to celebrate Earth Day in true Tiger fashion — by rolling up their sleeves and getting to work.
Although the official Earth Day fell during Spring Break on April 22, the students weren’t going to let the calendar stop them. Carrying forward the 2025 theme, “𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫, 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭,” the Student Council, led by advisor Ralph J. Caputo, organized the school’s 10th Annual Earth Day Cleanup — a grassroots tradition that has made a visible difference across the city.
Over the course of the day, students picked up litter and 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤, 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤, 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤,, showing that small acts of service can lead to big environmental impact. Their dedication didn’t go unnoticed. Superintendent Dr. Atiya Y. Perkins stopped by 4th Ward Park to personally thank the Student Council for their commitment to environmental stewardship.
“This is more than a cleanup — this is leadership in action,” said Dr. Perkins. “These students are setting an example for the entire community and showing us what it means to take ownership of the planet’s future.”
The Earth Day initiative is entirely student-driven. In the weeks leading up to the event, the council planned logistics, sold Earth Day shirts to raise awareness (with sales open district-wide this year), and distributed educational materials to promote sustainable living.
“Our goal is to raise awareness and inspire others to care about the world we live in,” said one student council member. “Even if it’s one park at a time, we’re making a difference.”
With a decade of impact behind them and a growing number of students joining each year, Linden High’s Earth Day Cleanup isn’t just a tradition — it’s a movement, reminding us that protecting the planet starts right at home.