Linden Public Schools Gives Students a Confident Start Before the First Bell

Districtwide orientation programs welcome incoming middle and high school students with tours, hands-on activities and practical guidance for a successful start to the school year.

LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ -- Weeks before the first bell rings on Sept. 2, hundreds of Linden Public Schools students are already taking their first steps toward a successful school year.

Superintendent Dr. Atiya Y. Perkins joined principals, administrators, teachers and support staff this week in welcoming incoming sixth- and ninth-grade students during orientation programs designed to help them begin the school year with confidence, preparation and a sense of belonging.

"Sixth grade attendance is a predictor of how students will perform in ninth grade," Dr. Perkins told students and parents, emphasizing that the habits students develop during important transition years can influence their long-term success. She encouraged families to establish consistent attendance, positive behavior and stay connected through the district's Genesis parent portal from the very beginning.

That philosophy guided the district's orientation programs, giving both incoming sixth graders and freshmen the tools, expectations and confidence needed to begin two of the most important transitions in their academic careers.

Sixth-grade orientations were held Aug. 4 and Aug. 6 at Soehl Middle School and McManus Middle School, while Linden High School hosted its freshman orientation on Aug. 5. Throughout the week, students were introduced to their new schools, learned important expectations and became familiar with their surroundings before the first day of classes. Many sixth graders were accompanied by their parents and family members, giving families an opportunity to ask questions and become familiar with their children's new schools.

Although each orientation was tailored to the unique needs of its students, every session shared the same purpose: helping students begin a new chapter with confidence, familiarity and excitement for the year ahead.

Middle School: Building Confidence Through Hands-On Learning

At Soehl Middle School and McManus Middle School, students—many accompanied by their parents or family members—were welcomed by administrators, teachers and staff before participating in activities designed to make the transition to middle school both informative and engaging.

Families learned about arrival and dismissal procedures, dress expectations, cell phone guidelines and daily routines, while parents had the opportunity to ask questions and gain a better understanding of what their children can expect throughout the school year.

Students met in small groups with teachers, who introduced classroom expectations, demonstrated how to use lockers, explained daily routines and guided them through simulated class changes so they could practice navigating the building during the three-minute passing period. School leaders explained that the first days of school are intentionally structured to help students master lockers, understand their schedules and become comfortable navigating the building before settling into regular classroom routines.

Students toured the schools, with many parents joining them, becoming familiar with classrooms, hallways, offices and other key locations before the start of the school year.

One of the day's highlights was an interactive scavenger hunt that encouraged students to explore the building while locating important destinations throughout the school. Teachers later reviewed the answers, explained how to read class schedules and answered additional questions from students and their families.

Students also learned about the many athletic teams and extracurricular clubs available in middle school, encouraging them to become involved both inside and outside the classroom as they begin building new friendships and discovering new interests.

"Our objective is for them to get to know the building in a quiet environment before the chaos in a couple of weeks," said McManus Middle School Principal William Mastriano.

High School: Preparing Freshmen for the Journey Ahead

At Linden High School, incoming freshmen received a comprehensive introduction to the expectations, opportunities and responsibilities that will shape the next four years of their educational journey.

Principal Charles Koonce and the administrative team introduced students to the school's leadership team, counselors, social workers and support staff while emphasizing that success in high school begins with responsibility, preparation and engagement from the very first day.

Students learned about graduation requirements, credit expectations and attendance policies, with administrators explaining how earning credits consistently, maintaining strong attendance and staying on track academically are essential to graduating on time and preparing for college, careers and future opportunities.

School leaders also reviewed the district's mandatory student identification policy, dress code, cell phone expectations, laptop distribution procedures and other back-to-school logistics. Students were encouraged to take advantage of the many opportunities available at Linden High School, including Advanced Placement courses, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, ROTC, athletics and a wide variety of extracurricular activities.

The orientation concluded with a guided tour of the campus, allowing students to visit classrooms, locate important offices and become familiar with the school's layout while meeting teachers and staff who will support them throughout their freshman year.

Throughout the presentation, one message remained clear: success in high school is built one day at a time through consistent attendance, responsible decision-making, academic effort and the willingness to seek help when needed.

A Strong Start Across the District

Whether students were learning how to open a locker, navigate new hallways, understand graduation requirements or meet the educators who will guide them throughout the year, the orientation programs reflected Linden Public Schools' commitment to preparing students for success before the school year even begins.

By building the habits that support strong attendance, responsible decision-making and meaningful connections before classes begin, Linden Public Schools is helping students spend less time wondering where to go—and more time learning, growing and thriving from the moment they walk through the doors on Sept. 2.