LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ โ Superintendent Atiya Y. Perkins dropped by a 6th-grade special education class at McManus Middle School Monday (Feb. 24) morning to observe their โNo Hate in the Garden Stateโ project in actionโan initiative aimed at promoting cultural understanding and preventing discrimination.
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
During the visit, teacher Alicia Ribeca and her 10-member special education class enthusiastically shared how they have immersed themselves in the project since their acceptance into the statewide initiative, with their final submission due on April 30. Ribeca explained that the project kicked off in January with a reflective assignment titled โI Am.โ
In this exercise, each student designed a personal project celebrating their unique identity and cultural heritage. โWe start by learning about ourselvesโdiscovering our unique qualitiesโand then realizing how much we are alike despite our individual differences,โ she said. โWe want to share with Lindenโour class, our district, our county, and our stateโto prevent discrimination and bias by learning about other cultures.โ
๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ข๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ญ
The class is composed of students from diverse cultural backgrounds who speak 4-5 different languages, reflecting the rich diversity of a district that serves 7,000 students and is home to more than 30 languages. Their work so far includes creative assignments, vibrant classroom displays, and engaging discussions that highlight various cultures, traditions, and holidays.
๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
As the project evolves, the students will continue to explore the cultural tapestry of their school, district, the City of Linden, Union County, and the state of New Jersey. Their journey will culminate in a multimedia slideshow filled with personal stories, research data, and insights into the many ways diverse communities celebrate life.
Superintendent Perkins, engaging warmly with the students as they showcased their projects, noted, โIf you are a McManus student, youโre part of a legacy of excellence and inclusion.โ She encouraged them to โroar for unityโ as a powerful symbol of their commitment to learning and growing together, adding, โYour smile invites people in, showing that when you open your heart, you dismantle prejudice and build bridges.โ
As the April 30 deadline fast approaches, the students of McManus Middle School are not only preparing to present their project to the division on civil rights but also to set an example of how education can dismantle prejudice and foster genuine connection.