LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚, 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙇𝙖𝙬 𝙀𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ — In observance of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Jan. 9, Linden Public Schools united in a district-wide show of gratitude for the men and women of the Linden Police Department, with celebrations across school buildings reflecting a shared spirit of pride, unity, and appreciation.

At School No. 8 and School No. 4, the spotlight shone brightly on Linden’s finest, led by Chief of Police David Hart, alongside members of the Superior Officers Association, the Linden Police Department Police Benevolent Association (PBA), and Derek Armstead Mayor of Linden. What unfolded was a colorful, upbeat celebration filled with loud hallway “clap outs,” sustained cheers, and beaming smiles, underscoring the significance of National Law Enforcement

Appreciation Day as board members, district administrators, and school staff joined students in a carnival-like expression of thanks.

The centerpiece of the high-energy celebrations at both schools was a school-wide “clap out,” during which students lined hallways that wrapped around entire elementary buildings. They waved colorful, handmade cards bearing messages such as “You keep our community safe” and “You’re a Superhero.” Officers and school officials returned the love with wide smiles, cheerful waves, and playful fist bumps as applause echoed from wall to wall.

Helping to pay homage to the city’s finest, Board of Education President Malaysia Thomas, along with board members Brianna Armstead, Antoinette Pino, and Kimberly Ullisse, and Human Resources Director Dr. Kayla Lott, stood shoulder to shoulder with school leaders, families, and students to honor the Linden Police Department’s dedication and service.

𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝘽𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝: 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨.

𝐀 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐍𝐨. 𝟖
The celebration began at School No. 8, where officers were welcomed into a building buzzing with excitement. Board of Education President Thomas joined Principal Michelle Rodrigues, her staff, and Mayor Derek Armstead in greeting officers with food, thoughtful decorations, and sustained applause the moment they arrived.

Led by Safety Patrol students, officers were escorted through the first-floor hallways as students lined both sides, cheering, clapping, and proudly displaying handwritten cards and artwork created especially for the occasion. K-Kids leaders, board members, and school staff joined in the applause, creating a unified moment of gratitude that filled the building with energy and pride.

𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐍𝐨. 𝟒
That same spirit carried into the afternoon at School No. 4, where Principal Dr. Sue Olivero welcomed officers with the same enthusiasm. Joined by board members Armstead, Pino, and Ullisse, the school community once again lined the hallways for a high-energy “clap out.”

Students and staff filled the corridors with applause as officers walked through the building, smiling, waving, and returning fist bumps. The moment reflected a deep sense of trust and connection between students and the officers who work every day to keep Linden’s schools and neighborhoods safe.

𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞
Each school added its own memorable touch to the celebration.
At School No. 4, a student-created appreciation video featuring messages of thanks from across the school community drew smiles throughout the room. One class dressed for the occasion in coordinated uniforms and hats, adding a playful and heartwarming visual moment.

At School No. 8, students lifted their voices in song, presenting a school-created musical tribute that echoed through the hallways and brought the celebration to a joyful close.