The energy inside the Linden High School gymnasium was upbeat and focused on Monday afternoon (April 28) as freshmen gathered for a spirited pep rally designed to 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 (𝗡𝗝𝗦𝗟𝗔), which kick off the very next day, April 29.
The NJSLA — statewide standardized tests in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, and science — are designed to evaluate student progress toward the New Jersey Student Learning Standards, measure student achievement and growth, and assess college and career readiness. Testing will continue at schools throughout the district through May 23.
𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗞𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 opened the 2 p.m. rally with an energizing message, reminding students that their hard work all year long has prepared them for this important moment.
"We are Linden Tigers — and we represent excellence," Koonce declared. "Get a good night's sleep, eat a good breakfast, and take your time on every part of the exam. You are ready."
𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝘁𝗶𝘆𝗮 𝗬. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀followed with powerful words of encouragement, striking a motivating chord as she urged students to approach the NJSLA with determination, confidence, and pride.
"𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 — 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺," 𝗗𝗿. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱. "𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀, 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹. 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 — 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝘅, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁. 𝗦𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲, 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁. 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁."
𝗔 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆
Throughout the rally, the freshmen crowd was attentive, respectful, and receptive — not wildly exuberant, but clearly engaged with the inspiring words, performances, and messages of support.
𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘀
The program featured a dynamic lineup of performances to inspire and uplift:
-- The Linden High Cheerleaders energized the gym with sharp routines and spirited cheers.
-- The Linden High Dance Company delivered a powerful, high-energy performance celebrating teamwork and perseverance.
-- The Linden High School Choir stirred emotions with a moving rendition of "Rise Up," perfectly capturing the rally’s theme of resilience and ambition.
-- A live DJ kept the gymnasium rocking between performances, pumping energy into every corner of the room.
-- The Linden High Marching Band kept the momentum alive with booming rhythms and bold brass.
𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁
𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼:
-- Carefully read all directions,
-- Show all their work, especially in math portions,
-- Use available resources like calculators and reference sheets,
And most importantly, believe in their ability to succeed.
-- One teacher reinforced the power of mindset by quoting Henry Ford: "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right."
"Freshman Best!": A Unified Chant
As the rally drew to a close, a teacher gathered the students into a symbolic huddle. With arms outstretched like a team about to take the field, the entire freshman class shouted in unison, "Freshman Best!" — a fitting and powerful end to an afternoon dedicated to empowering the Class of 2028 for the challenge ahead.
It was a day filled with motivation, school pride, and an unwavering belief that Linden’s freshmen are ready to rise, excel, and ROAR into testing season.