Holidays at Linden Public Schools
Submitted by Christine Hudak/Linden Public Schools
The holidays at Linden Public Schools are very festive. Students are involved in fun, engaging hands-on learning experiences. One such Classroom experience is an activity such as creating butter from heavy cream creating a special time for the students to form a bond over family traditions and spark an opportunity for cultural conversations with each other. Talking about traditions and the foods that represent their families’ traditions is an enjoyable and tasty avenue where teachers such as our School No. teacher Mrs. Hamilton embraced the teachable moment with her kindergarten children learning different ways families from other countries celebrate the holidays. Linden Public Schools Superintendent Atiya Perkins prides herself as a diverse school community leader. She encourages and embraces learning opportunities to enable our students to understand the many traditions celebrated worldwide. Our world in Linden Public Schools is interconnected globally through our multicultural families and truly has become a melting pot of diversity.
Superintendent Perkins embraces that classroom lessons are an opportunity to strengthen bonds with families and share wonderful memories with our youth. Our students listen to the stories of the childhoods of the older generations through our many family events throughout the year. The older generations are walking textbooks with authentic stories from different countries. Linden Public Schools prides itself on our diversity. She values the memories, life experiences, and knowledge that are passed on to the next generation.
The highlight for the Linden Public Schools students is their active participation in the City of Linden’s tree lighting ceremony. This event is the turning point for all of Linden, as the official kick-off of the holidays. Linden High School NJROTC, the Fine and Performing Arts department plays a major role in the festivities, dancing, and live music set the tone for the most magical time of the year.
Superintendent Atiya Perkins smiles as she states “The City of Linden tree lighting is something magical of an experience when now as the leader of the Linden Schools I see the families and students that I represent with smiles and joy in their hearts. This has such an emotional tie, for as a native of Linden I remember going down Wood Avenue and seeing the decorations and then the magnificent tree.”
The preparation process begins early and there are many conversations with the Superintendent and Mayor. The students at Linden Public Schools are an integral part of the evening. Even though the schools and the city are two separate entities they work in partnership with each other. Together they hear feedback on how to improve the event from the community and students and together they will integrate and implement those ideas. The finished product is always better than the previous year.
As the Superintendent of Linden Public Schools, I am looking through a different lens and I enjoy the expressions of the wide-eyed wonder of a child of Linden Schools and that makes my heart fill with joy. Trees are significant in Superintendent Perkins’s life as she is always in nature. Trees provide us with oxygen, but they also have a positive impact on our mental health and can evoke that emotional connection which can translate back to our intelligence in the classroom. The Linden tree lighting is a simple way to engage our students and having them participate in the event makes a positive contribution to the community and creates a learning opportunity for lessons about the environment.
“The final result of the tree lighting is a community experience that allows all residents, regardless of age to become fully engaged with the city and schools in an entirely new way.” According to The Mayor of Linden Derek Armstead “It was really important through our partnerships to create an experience where the residents of Linden go back to their homes feeling like they had a large family gathering.”
The Linden Superintendent, and Mayor all agree this is Linden’s season of gratitude and thankfulness for being a family of community. Both come from a family of service and as a Linden family, all of Linden remembers those who are serving in one of the military branches far far away from 07036. We remember those who are continuing to protect our freedom so we can continue to celebrate and gather together in public. All agree that it is wonderful to live in such a community as Linden where military veterans are so appreciated. This is an opportunity to gather as one community, thankful for those who are brave to serve and allow us the freedom to become part of stories of diversity of families and friends. Mayor Derek Armstead proudly states “Most importantly to fill everyone with gratitude and kindness during the holiday season while building bridges between the cultures and traditions that make Linden united.”
