LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Superintendent's Spotlight Message - 03/23/2025. Dear Linden Families, As we recognize the conclusion of Ramadan this Saturday, I wish our families peace as we continue to support our diverse students in their important cultural and religious observances. Additionally, our End of the Year Calendar was approved during last Thursday's Board of Education meeting. Please review the important dates below to be prepared for all upcoming events and activities as we approach the conclusion of the academic year. Online safety remains a top priority for our district. If you are concerned about your teen’s social media use, I was featured on SmartSocial.com to help our community understand the emotional and behavioral impact of social media, recognize harmful patterns, and get practical steps to help your child use social media safely and responsibly. Register to watch the replay at https://streamyard.com/watch/eyAnTAaZWAYP through April 1. Take care, Atiya Y. Perkins Superintendent of Schools

Dear Linden Families, Yesterday was International Women's Day during Women's History Month. The educational women in our district are achieving their milestones but are also innovation-driven and future-focused on reshaping the next generation's global landscape. The day is more than a celebration—it is a call to action. A call to uplift, inspire, and empower every woman and girl in our schools and beyond. As educators and leaders, we have the privilege and responsibility to shape a future where every girl sees no limits to her potential, and every student understands the power of equality. Let us spark conversations, encourage leadership, and recognize the strength, resilience, and brilliance of the women and girls in our schools and community. Through our words, actions, and daily commitment to inclusivity, we ensure that Linden Public Schools remains a place where all students can thrive, dream big, and break barriers. Continuing the theme of leadership, I am proud to announce that the Linden High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) unit has earned the recognition of being the largest unit in the nation, with an impressive number of close to 600 cadets enrolled in the program. The Linden High School NJROTC unit was established in 1986 and originally had approximately 90 cadets in the first years of its establishment. Our current NJROTC cadet population makes it the largest NJROTC unit in the country. Interesting facts about NJROTC: total NJROTC units nationwide: 641; total cadets nationwide: 70,455 Area 2 NJROTC units (Tri-state): 26, NJ NJROTC units: 19. Our NJROTC Unit has received many awards, especially during our annual military inspection. The cadets of Linden Public Schools perform countless hours of community service throughout our city, county, and state. Students, Cadet Captain Josue Carpio, Regimental Commanding Officer, Cadet Commander Denae Griffin, Regimental Executive Officer, Cadet Master Chief Alonzo Smith, Regimental Command Master Chief, and Cadet Commander Alivia Young-Bey, Regimental Operations Officer under Commander Boye Decker, are recognized for inspiring, educating, and empowering others. Happy Day Light Savings Time. Enjoy the sunlight and rest well this evening. Take care, Atiya Y. Perkins Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent’s Spotlight Message – 02/09/2025. Dear Linden Families, Superbowl Sunday Safety: The big game is here today! We are all on the same team, Team Linden. No matter whom you are pulling for this Super Bowl, we are all asking those gathering with friends and family to make the proper choice afterward. Your safety is our number one priority. Those new Senior drivers, be aware of your surroundings as you leave a festive gathering. Mission Possible Monday February 10: We are all cheering for our favorite team, Team Linden. Those who remember the cheer, “Big L Rocks the House,” let us all ROAR together! I celebrate with a focus on food. Food brings out the best conversations with family and friends. Let us “Relish Today,” and we can “Ketchup on Monday” together. Yes, we have school on Monday, where all faculty and staff wear “Tiger Pride Mission Possible Monday,” shirts to empower our R.O.A.R. Inclement Weather Preparation: I have read that the Groundhog predicted six more weeks of Winter this year. Most of the Winter weather will arrive Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week. Please monitor the weather forecasts for this week and prepare for potential disruptions during the school day. I continue to meet with our inclement weather committee, including City Officials. I will update you on adjustments necessary for the school day or after-school activities due to the weather. As you watch the weather forecasts, talk to new drivers to review driving hazards in snow, sleet, and ice. Take care, Atiya Y. Perkins Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent's Spotlight Message 02/04/2025 - Dear Linden Families, The June 2025 primary election day has been changed statewide from Tuesday, June 3, 2025, to Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The Board of Education approved this revision to the 2024-2025 school calendar at the January 30 board meeting. The revised calendar has been shared through email and can also be found on our district's website at https://lindenps.org/calendar/ Take care, and thank you for your flexibility, Atiya Y. Perkins Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent's Spotlight Message 02/02/2025 - Dear Linden Families, As we step into February, our district is buzzing with excitement! From celebrating Black History Month to reaching the 100th day of school, we are reminded of our students and staff’s daily achievements by empowering their R.O.A.R. Honoring Black History Month. Throughout February, our schools will host vibrant celebrations that honor African Americans’ rich history and contributions. We invite our entire school community to participate in these meaningful events, including: • Poetry Readings & Essay Competitions – Showcasing student creativity and voices. • Live Performances & Arts Showcases – Bringing history to life through music, dance, and drama. • Distinguished African American Recognition – Honoring trailblazers who paved the way for future generations. Progress Reports, Report Cards, and ½ of day of School. • Elementary Progress Reports were sent home on January 29. Please take a moment to review them and reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions. • Middle & High School Report Cards will be distributed on February 6. • Wednesday, February 5, is a ½ day with lunch served for Staff In-Service Day. 100 Days of Excellence! On February 13, we celebrate 100 days of learning, growth, and success! This milestone is a testament to our students and staff’s hard work. Throughout the day, we’ll shine a spotlight on: Academics | Arts | Athletics | Leadership | Community Partnerships Inclusive Events | Staff Excellence | Infrastructure | Service Projects We’re also excited to partner with the City of Linden as it marks its charter anniversary, strengthening the bond between our schools and the community we serve. February is a month of inspiration, reflection, and celebration. Thank you for participating in this incredible journey—let’s make the next 100 days even more remarkable! Take care, Atiya Y. Perkins. Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent's Spotlight Message - 01/26/2025. Dear Linden Families, At Linden Public Schools, our commitment is to provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where everyone feels valued and protected. In challenging times, this commitment becomes even more vital. Recent discussions about potential federal policies targeting immigrant families have raised significant concerns nationwide. On behalf of the Linden Board of Education, we want to reaffirm our stance: Linden Public Schools will always be a haven for every student, regardless of their background or immigration status. Linden's strength lies in the diversity and contributions of every community member. By law, every child has the right to a public education, and we uphold this fundamental principle. Immigration status will never determine a student's access within our district. If the national dialogue around immigration enforcement brings uncertainty or fear, we are here to help. Our school counselors, teachers, administrators, and Welcome Center staff are ready to provide support. To ensure we are fully prepared to meet the needs of our students and families, I have established a proactive committee with the Director of our Multi-Language Learners Department dedicated to addressing the potential impacts of federal immigration policies. Our goal is to protect the stability and well-being of our students while creating a comprehensive plan to address these challenges with care and compassion. We assess our community's challenges and concerns and develop protocols to provide students and families with social, emotional, academic, and logistical support. We also coordinate with City Officials, the New Jersey Department of Education, and education experts to offer resources and guidance. We encourage you to contact your child's school office or our Welcome Center's Department if you need assistance. We also invite our community partners, local organizations, and all who share our values to join us in standing united for the dignity and rights of every family. Together, we can ensure Linden Public Schools remains a district that promotes equity, compassion, and inclusion. Take care, Atiya Y. Perkins Superintendent of Schools Linden Public Schools

Superintendent's Spotlight Message - 01/18/2025. Dear Linden Families, As we continue into the new year, I want to share a few important updates and reminders: • Schools Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day All Linden Public Schools will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This national holiday is a time to honor Dr. King's legacy of service, equality, and justice. • Winter Weather Advisory As we prepare to return on Tuesday, January 21, we anticipate frigid temperatures after snowfall today. Please dress warmly, and ensure your children are dressed appropriately for the winter. • Health and Wellness Reminder As always, if you or your child are feeling unwell, we encourage you to stay home until you are fever-free for at least 24 hours. Your health and well-being are our priority, and we appreciate your cooperation in helping prevent the spread of illness. • Looking Back at the New Year’s Start o As we reflect on the first two weeks of January, I am especially thankful for the positive energy across our schools. On January 8, we celebrated Tiger Pride Day by pressing the pause button for our first-ever Wellness Day. Students and staff came together to focus on mindfulness, self-care, and the importance of mental and physical wellness. o On January 9, we proudly celebrated National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day at School No. 4. We were honored to welcome Chief of Police David Hart, alongside members of the Superior Officers Association and the Linden Police Benevolent Association (PBA). Their presence not only brought excitement to the students but also symbolized the department’s commitment to promoting strong community ties. Thank you for your continued partnership in making Linden Public Schools a place where students R.O.A.R. Let’s embrace the rest of the winter season with Tiger Pride! Take care, and stay warm, Atiya Y. Perkins Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent's Spotlight Message - 01/05/2025. Dear Linden Families, With Winter weather on the horizon, the possibility of snow days is upon us. As a district, we understand that deciding to open or close schools significantly affects our Linden families. Please save this letter for future reference. Take some time with your family to plan if there is a need for childcare if our District should have a delayed opening, early dismissal, or full-day school closure. When weather is a concern, we aim to ensure our families are updated with timely and accurate information. We utilize several tools to communicate information regarding weather-related delays, dismissals, or closings. If you utilize the Linden Public Schools before/after care, or 21st Century, please remember that if school is closed, these services will also be closed; if school opening is delayed, they will also be delayed. Keep in mind Union County Vocational-Technical Schools operate on a different schedule. Students attending UCTVS will be contacted about delayed early dismissal or full-day school closure. PreK 3/4 students attending external providers are to follow the Linden Public School’s delays, dismissals, or closings. I receive updated forecasts from the City of Linden Office of Emergency Management and the National Weather forecasting system. I am in touch with our district security, maintenance supervisors, and the City of Linden, as information is fluid in terms of road conditions, to discuss the weather and any safety concerns associated with it that might impact the school day in terms of getting students and staff to school and home safely. The Linden DPW and district crews will work to create safe access to all buses and buildings; however, as mentioned, I get regularly updated forecasts from our Emergency Services partners. If we must change our daily schedule, we will do our best to communicate a decision to families via phone, email, and text before 6:00 AM. It will also be posted on the website. If you do not hear anything via phone/email/text or see anything on the website, then school is open, and staff and students should report at their regular time. We have many LHS Seniors who are new drivers (I also have one) - PLEASE review winter driving with them: accelerating and decelerating slowly and make sure they clear ALL the snow from their vehicles before using them, including the car's roof. The district believes that our students are better served academically and socially by being in school. When deciding about weather-related schedule changes, our top priority is ensuring that our students and staff are safe. Although safety is important to us, we respect your decision to keep your child/yourself at home if you feel conditions are unsafe. Take care, and stay warm, Atiya Y. Perkins Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent's Message - 12/22/2024. Dear Linden Families, I wish everyone a joyful and peaceful break as we approach the Winter break. We have important updates and reminders for the upcoming break: • Tomorrow, December 23rd, will be a half-day with no lunch service. • School will be closed on December 24th–26th, 31st, and January 1st. Students will return on Thursday, January 2nd. During the break, our Buildings and Grounds Department will be active. Offices will be open on December 27th and 30th. High School Athletics will continue, and we wish them success in their competitions. With the onset of winter weather, my thoughts are filled with warm wishes for everyone, hoping that all are surrounded by love and cheer. We are grateful for the generosity shown through our district-wide food drives, coat drives, and toy drives. This season prompts us to pause and give straight from the heart. I appreciate how our administrators, support staff, and teachers do this daily. Their efforts are appreciated, and we are progressing with gratitude and ROAR pride. Let us celebrate our mission of providing a nurturing learning environment for all our students. On behalf of the Linden Board of Education, have a safe and enjoyable Winter break filled with love, reflection, and thankfulness: Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and Happy Kwanzaa to those who celebrate. Take care, and may the New Year bring prosperity, Atiya Y. Perkins Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent's Spotlight Message - 11/26/2024 Dear Linden Families, As we approach the Thanksgiving break, I would like to extend warm wishes to all of you for a peaceful and restful holiday. We have some important updates and reminders as we head into the break. Tomorrow, November 27th, there will be a half-day with no lunch served across all schools in our district. Additionally, please be reminded that school will be closed on November 28th and 29th to allow our students and staff to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. As we move through our academic calendar, I am pleased to share some district highlights with you. At the secondary level, we are currently in the second marking period, while our elementary students are entering their third trimester, which will end in a few weeks. In the elementary classes, we focus on enhancing collaboration and ownership of our technology resources, particularly iPads, to support our one-to-one technology program. We are truly thankful for the ongoing partnerships impacting our school community. Our collaboration with the city for food drives has been a source of pride, and the partnership with Chick-fil-A and our Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy of Linden High School 11th and 12th graders has allowed for inspiring mentorship opportunities with younger students. Our students are making phenomenal strides in academics, club affiliations, sports teams, cheerleading, NJROTC, Band and Orchestra, and Fine Arts. In the realm of fine arts, the Linden High School theater production of "Puffs" has showcased our student cast members' incredible talent. We are immensely proud of our students' outstanding performances. Last week, we celebrated American Education Week by highlighting our education support staff's dedication and hard work, community partnerships, and student leaders. Our faculty and staff continue to work hard demonstrating resilience. Furthermore, a special thank you goes out to the parents who participated in our bilingual parent advisory committee discussions, addressing the strengths and challenges our multilingual learners and their families encounter. We recently achieved a significant milestone with the grand opening of our Multilingual Learners Welcome Center, which serves as a valuable resource for our diverse student population and their families. Looking ahead, we encourage parents to remain actively engaged in our school community. This time of the year reminds us to pause and express gratitude. I am grateful for the work of our administrators, support staff, and teachers. Please join me in celebrating our mission to provide an enriching learning environment for all our students. Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving break filled with love, reflection, and thankfulness. With gratitude and ROAR pride, Atiya Y. Perkins Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent's Message - 10/06/2024 Dear Linden Families, We are in the second month of the school year and are off to a great start. Our Fall sports are in full swing, and we are proud of our students’ athletic performances. Our students are taking grade-level benchmark assessments in reading, language arts, and math to demonstrate their readiness for college and career success in grades 1 – 12. To support their learning, students will use an online program called Exact Path by Edmentum, which customizes lessons and assessments based on each student’s strengths and weaknesses. Students can access Exact Path both at school and at home. Later this month, we will host our first district-wide community engagement session on Tuesday, October 29, at McManus Middle School cafeteria, starting at 6:00 p.m. This session will focus on creating our 2025 – 2030 district Strategic Plan, and we encourage parents, guardians, students, and education stakeholders to attend and contribute to shaping the future of education in our district. Refreshments will be provided, and we look forward to collaborating with all participants to develop a plan that reflects our collective goals and values. There will be three evening meetings: October 29, November 12, and January 14. Our district’s priorities revolve around student achievement, safety and security, and addressing chronic absenteeism. See the table below of district wide events. We do believe the MISSON POSSIBLE and we are committed to strengthening the home-school connection through upcoming events and partnerships with local police and fire departments to promote positive behavior and ensure a safe learning environment. We expect our students to make responsible choices, be good citizens, and represent our school community with excellence. I continue to share we need you to help our students learn, grow, and believe in their Linden R.O.A.R. in and out of school. October 10: Secondary Interim Report Cards visible in Genesis Parent Portal October 7 – October 10 / October 7 – October 11: Week of Respect and Fire Prevention Week October 12: District Breast Cancer Awareness Walk at Tiger Stadium October 14: District In-Service (School Closed) October 15: District-wide Pink Out Day, wear pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month October 21 – October 25: School Violence Awareness Week October 22 – October 24: Elementary Parent Teacher Conferences (Early Dismissal / Lunch Served) October 28 – November 2: Red Ribbon Week October 29: Strategic Plan Community Meeting (6:00PM @ McManus Middle School) Take care and be well, Atiya Y. Perkins Superintendent of Schools