𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠, 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩.
LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ — Testing season is here—and Linden students are ready. With elementary schools set to begin testing on April 27, the week of April 20 opened with high-energy pep rallies held across multiple schools, all built around one clear message: show up, stay ready and better your best.
The same energy and message echoed throughout the district during the week, as Linden Public Schools continued to champion a culture of showing up, staying ready, and striving to better your best, hallmarks of the #LPS_ShowUpAndROAR initiative, which reflects the district’s commitment to resilience, opportunity, achievement, and strong relationships.
At School No. 10 and School No. 8, two of several schools hosting rallies, students packed their gymnasiums for lively, engaging sessions led by Sterlen Barr, a health educator and motivational rap artist with RAP, Rapping About Prevention. Backed by a trio of high-energy dancers, Barr delivered a fast-paced, interactive program that kept students energized and fully engaged from start to finish.
The April 20 kickoff rallies coincided with the district’s Mission Possible Monday initiative, elevating the atmosphere and setting a unified tone of motivation, pride and possibility across schools. Dressed in the district’s bold Mission Possible signature shirts, teachers and staff added to the excitement. Smiles were everywhere as educators joined students on the floor for energetic dance routines, reinforcing a powerful sense of unity and school pride.
Reflecting the district’s “Tiger Up” spirit, students, teachers and principals alike were fully engaged, participating in dance routines and games that reinforced unity, along with affirmations that promoted confidence, resilience and readiness for the upcoming assessments.
From the opening chants of “teamwork makes the dream work,” Barr emphasized that success on the upcoming New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) will take more than knowledge alone. It requires teamwork, discipline and personal responsibility. Students were encouraged to see themselves as part of one unified school team, where every individual effort contributes to the success of the whole.
Barr challenged students to take ownership of their performance, reminding them that while they represent “26 percent” of the school population, they carry “100 percent” of their responsibility and potential. The message resonated as students turned to their teachers and declared, “I’ve got this,” filling the room with confidence and collective pride.
Throughout the session, Barr broke preparation down into practical, everyday actions: getting a good night’s rest, eating a healthy breakfast, arriving at school on time and supporting classmates who may need help. Using humor and relatable storytelling, he reinforced that these simple habits can make a meaningful difference when it matters most.
The rallies also highlighted the critical role of teachers and staff, with students recognizing that their performance reflects the preparation and support they receive in the classroom. In response, they showed their appreciation with enthusiastic applause, reinforcing the shared commitment between educators and learners.
As testing begins, the message across Linden Public Schools remains clear: success is a team effort. With preparation, focus and confidence leading the way, students are poised to rise to the challenge and deliver their very best.