LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ - School No. 5 marked the districtwide celebration of the first 100 days of school in spectacular fashion on February 13, blending the milestone with a vibrant Black History Month performance by Ronnette Smith-Powell and her 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙚, 𝙉𝙖𝙣𝙖, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 multicultural program.

𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

The school’s auditorium transformed into a dynamic cultural showcase featuring African-American storytelling, puppetry, dance, and even a lively introduction to Swahili! Students eagerly clapped, sang, and moved to the rhythm of history, immersing themselves in the stories of influential African American figures as told through the eyes of Cory, the young protagonist in Smith-Powell’s book Cory Cares for Nana.

𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧

Adding to the excitement, many students—and even their teachers—got into the spirit of the day by dressing up as elderly characters, complete with glasses, canes, and shawls, in a playful nod to the 100-day milestone. School Principal Rachelle Crawley joined in the fun, encouraging students to embrace both the joy of learning and the richness of cultural storytelling.

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐅𝐮𝐧: 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢, 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞

With teachers leading by example, the event was a perfect fusion of history, culture, and creativity, leaving students with a deeper appreciation for African heritage and the power of storytelling.