LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, N.J. — Students, educators, city leaders, and community partners gathered Friday afternoon, May 8, outside School No. 1 for an Arbor Day tree dedication ceremony celebrating environmental stewardship, civic pride, and the lasting impact one tree can have on future generations.

Held beneath sunny spring skies, the event brought together members of the School No. 1 family alongside Derek Armstead Mayor of Linden, Chief of Staff Tira Chapman, Rolfis Baez from the mayor’s office, district representatives, and community supporters for the symbolic planting of a Linden tree on the sprawling lawn fronting the district’s oldest school building on Wood Avenue.

The Arbor Day observance blended environmental education with civic pride as students learned about sustainability, renewable energy, and the historic connection between the City of Linden and the Linden tree itself.

At the center of the ceremony was the donation of the tree by Columbia Bank, a gesture Principal Dave Walker described as an investment in both students and the broader Linden community.

“This gift is more than just a tree,” Walker told the crowd assembled outside the school. “It is a symbol of growth, hope, and investment in the future of both our school and the community.”

Walker thanked the City of Linden for its continued partnership with the district and praised Mayor Armstead for supporting initiatives that strengthen neighborhoods and schools throughout the city.

A Living Lesson in Sustainability

During his remarks, Mayor Armstead transformed the ceremony into an outdoor lesson on environmental responsibility, encouraging students to remember three key phrases: “green initiatives,” “reducing the carbon footprint,” and “sustainability.”

“These are very important things that we’re going to have to remember if we’re going to save our planet and keep it nice,” Armstead said. “When we hand it off to you, you have to do the same thing.”

Armstead also explained the historic connection between the City of Linden and the Linden tree itself, noting that many Linden trees continue to grow throughout the city today.

“So when you see a Linden tree,” he told students, “you’re seeing a tree connected to the identity of your city.”

The mayor later highlighted Linden’s environmental redevelopment efforts, including renewable energy initiatives and an anaerobic digester project designed to convert food waste into natural gas and compost material.

Music, Memories, and Meaning

Adding a playful touch to the afternoon, a group of School No. 1 music students performed a lighthearted adaptation of What a Wonderful World, singing the refrain, “And I think to myself, what a wonderful tree.”

Walker reminded students that the newly planted tree would continue to grow long after the ceremony ended, becoming part of the school’s history for generations of children to come.

“Years from now, students will walk past this tree without realizing that the people gathered here today helped plant something meaningful for future generations,” Walker said. “Long after today’s ceremony is over, this tree will continue to grow, provide beauty, and remind everyone of the importance of caring for our environment and our Linden community.”

Before the ceremony concluded, Mayor Armstead, Chapman, and Baez and the Columbia Bank representative joined students in painting colorful wooden garden stakes that were later placed around the newly planted tree, creating the look of a miniature garden fence around the planting site.

Rooted in Community

The ceremony reflected Linden Public Schools’ continued emphasis on connecting students to authentic learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom while reinforcing environmental awareness and civic engagement.

“Together,” Walker said, “we are planting more than just a tree. We are planting a legacy.”