Williams Elementary Veterans Day Celebration with Lady Liberty Live!
J.E. Williams Elementary School in Huntsville, AL celebrated Veterans Day with Lady Liberty Live and Guest Speaker Colonel Robert Sullivan. Watch the video below!
The Super Citizen Experience: Georgia-Pacific, SCLC and M.Agnes Jones Elementary
The Liberty Learning Foundation began with a question: How can schools, community leaders and businesses work together to ensure our next generation understands their important role in America’s future?
They found the answer in the dynamic Super Citizen school program that teaches character-building, financial literacy and career development –across the curriculum – and through the lens of great American ideals and civic responsibility. But getting those resources into the hands of cash-strapped educators posed a challenge. So the foundation found donors – and quickly realized that donations alone wouldn’t guarantee success. Students had to be excited. … They had to be immersed in an experience that rallied the whole community - and would beg to be repeated year after year.
So the Next Great Americans Bus Tour was born – and the foundation began kicking off the Super Citizen Program with stirring theatrical performances. They worked with sponsors to place volunteers in classrooms – and orchestrated emotional Graduation Celebrations that saw student “Torch Teams” honoring local heroes from the stage.
This all-hands-on deck movement has created an overwhelmingly successful model for teaching, inspiring and empowering Our Next Great Americans. In 2012, Georgia Pacific teamed up with Liberty Learning Foundation and the Southern Christian Leadership Council to bring the Super Citizen Program to M. Agnes Jones Elementary. The results transformed the school and set a benchmark for implementation statewide:
The Super Citizen EXPERIENCE from start to finish (Alabama Power and Eufaula Elementary)
Have you seen how Liberty Learning Foundation and our passionate donors implement the Super Citizen Program from start to finish? Watch the video now!
The Liberty Learning Foundation began with a question: How can schools, community leaders and businesses work together to ensure our next generation understands their important role in America’s future?
They found the answer in the dynamic Super Citizen school program that teaches character-building, financial literacy and career development –across the curriculum – and through the lens of great American ideals and civic responsibility.
But getting those resources into the hands of cash-strapped educators posed a challenge. So the foundation found donors – and quickly realized that donations alone wouldn’t guarantee success.
Students had to be excited. … They had to be immersed in an experience that rallied the whole community - and would beg to be repeated year after year.
So the Next Great Americans Bus Tour was born – and the foundation began kicking off the Super Citizen Program with stirring theatrical performances. They worked with sponsors to place volunteers in classrooms – and orchestrated emotional Graduation Celebrations that saw student “Torch Teams” honoring local heroes from the stage.
This all-hands-on deck movement has created an overwhelmingly successful model for teaching, inspiring and empowering Our Next Great Americans.
In 2012, Liberty Learning and Alabama Power teamed up to bring the Super Citizen Program to Eufaula Elementary School. The results transformed the school and set a benchmark for implementation statewide:
Inspiring student-made video shows impact of Super Citizen Program in Atlanta
Wow! We were thrilled to see this student-narrated video from M. Agnes Jones Elementary in Atlanta. Take a moment to see how the school was impacted and how the program has them continuing to thank community heroes for the work they do. We could not be more impressed with the performance, passion and professionalism these young Super Citizens showed during the program. Take a look!
Hands on Liberty Pilot program at M. Agnes Jones Elementary in Atlanta
A dozen kindergarteners sit cross-legged in their classroom floor wearing Statue of Liberty crowns and hanging on every word of their teacher, Ms. Elaine Nevers-Williams.
They just watched the first episode of Hands on Liberty, and can't resist mimicking the show's clever, cowboy-ish host, Mr. Palmer.
And though students making "talking hands" might seem like a silly side affect of an educational episode about elections, it's the kind of energetic interaction the shows producers intended.
"We use witty dialogue, art, poetry, songs, amazing miniature sets and well … hilarious talking hands to get kids really excited about the all-American subjects we're teaching. And each hand-character reiterates concepts in their own unique ways," says Liberty's Legacy creative director Steven Jackson.
And Nevers-Williams, along with 16 other classes piloting the program at M. Agnes Jones Elementary School in Atlanta, says the method is working.
She says the program is simplistic, but genius. "I think kids learn better hands on, because if you see it, touch it, you can remember it."
Nevers-Williams says you can loose the students' interest "when your'e teaching just the basic history and social studies, but with your video we were able to use it as an anchor for learning. It catapulted us to dig deeper to learn more."
After watching the Elections episode students took a cue from the video's easy-to-understand voting analogy: they held their own "election" and chose between a chocolate chip cookie and a strawberry shortbread cookie.
The students learned they must get to know their candidates before voting. They had to learn the facts. And they used that information to inform their voting decision. For Nevers-Williams class, the strawberry shortbread cookie won!
These Hands on Liberty DVD episodes are just part of a larger Super Citizen (K-2) Program by Liberty's Legacy. Lessons focus on character development, civics and American history and will be released in early 2013.
Student teacher Alicia Walton says her kids are seeing value in these lessons already, "I think it's important for our students to know they are citizens of the United States of American. And they have to know that they are important, that they input a lot into the world today. And I think they need to know, as little people, that what they say - and what they do counts."
Nevers-Wiliams is seeing the impact as well. She explained that a parent told her "My son came home and told me 'mom you have to vote. We learned it in class. Voting is important. The hand puppet kept saying vote, vote, vote!'"
"Through the lesson, through the learning," says Nevers-Williams, "They were able to take it home and communicate it. It was a reminder that he learned something in school and he took it home."
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M. Agnes Jones Elementary also received 19 Super Citizen Kits for 475 of their 3rd-5th graders. Sponsor Georgia Pacific is working with Liberty Learning Foundation and Southern Christian Leadership Conference and has donated the funding that impacted nearly 800 students.
Alabama Power Volunteers at Eufaula Elementary
Michelle McAndrews holds a tablet and pen, controlling a "Super Citizen Interactive Map" on a projector screen in Mrs. White's fifth grade classroom at Eufaula Elementary School. When she asks the students which state they want to view next, dozens of hands shoot up in the air.
As visibly excited students take turns sharing "fun facts" about the states they are from, a smile forms on McAndrews' face. She's winning the battle to engage the iPod generation in learning.
McAndrews is one of several Alabama Power employees who are volunteering inside classrooms at Eufaula Elementary School. And she's using resources from the Liberty's Legacy Super Citizen Program Kits that her company donated earlier this year.
That contribution is teaching 250 fifth graders crucial lessons in character, financial literacy and American history & civics. And it's accomplishing its goals with interactive multimedia and hands-on help from volunteers like McAndrews.
"For Alabama Power," McAndrews explains, "a monetary donation wasn't enough - they wanted to donate their time as well."
McAndrews says volunteers sign up for weekly time slots and have help preparing before they set foot in a classroom. This communication helps volunteers feel comfortable, relaxed, and prepared.
"It's been wonderful. The kids are great, they are so excited. Every week we come in and talk about the lessons that they've done and they retain the information, they are excited about doing it, and they want to see what comes next."
McAndrews sees volunteering as an opportunity to engage with students and teachers - to learn the challenges they face, and to learn what they do really well already. She says it's teaching her as much as it is teaching the fifth graders in Mrs. White's class. She's learning the importance of community.
"Every day when I do different things like this, especially things like this, I sit and go "Oh my gosh, what must it be like to work for a company that doesn't support that?" because it's so rewarding not only for the employee, but just as a person to get out there and be involved and know that your company supports that and supports your efforts and encourages that - it's wonderful!"
"I hope they see our communities cares - I hope they see that their education goes beyond the walls of this school and it really is a community effort. And that we want to be involved- we want to see them succeed."
Eufaula Elementary has a several weeks left in the program, but has already begun plans for their Celebration in which they will honor the graduating fifth graders, as well as their elected Torch Team Heroes. The Celebration is set for December 13th at 1pm.
Lady Liberty visits Attalla Elementary students - via The Gadsden Times
By Kendra Carter - The GadsdenTimes
Published: Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 5:34 p.m.
Lady Liberty held still her tablet and torch Tuesday afternoon, and the gathered crowd burst into applause.
Lady Liberty, portrayed by Rachael Rainwater, visited Attalla Elementary School Tuesday as part of a kickoff event as third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at the school begin the Liberty Learning Foundation’s Super Citizen Program, which teaches children American history along with character education, career development and financial literacy.
“You’ve got a title more important than our president: citizen,” Patti Yancey, executive director of the Liberty Learning Foundation, told the students. “The responsibility and opportunity that comes with that title is unbelievable.”
Attalla Elementary School students will begin having Super Citizen curriculum lessons at least once a week for the next several weeks during their social studies classes.
Yancey said the civic and character education is not already taught with a full curriculum in public schools, though she said certain teachers set an example.
During the 30-minute program in the school gymnasium, Rainwater told the students the history of the Statue of Liberty and the freedoms for which it stands, before playing a video about the Super Citizen program and singing a song. The kids waved small American flags and also did some sign language while singing.
Third-grader Shaylyn Mink said after the presentation that her throat hurt from “screaming so loud.” She said she had fun during the program.
Fifth-grader J.D. Moore said he would learn more about freedom during the Super Citizen Program, and fifth-graders Zoey Whitley and Syndey Smith answered that they’d learn about citizenship.
Moore said the most interesting thing he learned was that Lady Liberty “goes to other schools and teaches other kids.”
Etowah Middle School Principal Greg Edge said he hoped the program will “make students respect freedom and those who helped pay for that.”
He said the school was fortunate to be able to offer the program to third, fourth and fifth grades.
“Hopefully they’ll get to be better citizens of this country,” Edge said. “I feel we’re losing some of our patriotism, and we want to kindle that.”
Eufaula students excited about 'Liberty' - via Eufaula Tribune
by Tiffiny Woo - for Eufaula Trubune
Chants of “U.S.A.” boomed throughout the Eufaula City Auditorium last Friday afternoon.
But it wasn’t members of a political party or dedicated sports fans rattling the rafters of the historic building. Cheers of “freedom” and “liberty” erupted from the mouths and hearts of 200 Eufaula fifth-grade students.
EufaulaElementary Schoolkicked off the Super Citizen program byLiberty’s Legacy. EES fifth-grade students will serve as a pilot group for the program in this region.
For the next eight weeks, students will learn about patriotism and civic responsibility in what promises to be an active and engaged program for students.
The program is funded by the Alabama Power Foundation. Each class requires a program kit, which costs $250. The APF has already committed $5,000 to the program.
“It’s an open-ended investment we’re making,” said Alabama Power Southeast Division area manager Ralph Bellamy.
“We’re sponsoring the fifth-grade classes here at EES as a pilot, and if (Barbour County Superintendent Jimmie Fryer) is interested, we would also like to sponsor them as well.”
Alabama Power is contributing through more than money. Several employees have volunteered to help with activities associated with the program.
“In my opinion, your time is more valuable than money could ever be,” said Bellamy. “I’m willing to commit my time to it, and we have a long list of people who are also willing to do the same.”
EES principal Reeivice Girtman told students this could be a “moment I believe will change the course of our lives” as students learn about patriotism and character.
“I can’t tell you how truly excited we are,” he said. “It’s about kids taking pride in their community and their country.”
Liberty’s Legacy founder and president Patti Yancey said the approach is different because it’s organized like an event.
“Lady Liberty” arrived by tour bus to speak to kids and lead them in a catchy, upbeat theme song. She was portrayed by performance artist Racheal Rainwater.
Students Nominate Hometown Heroes for Veterans Day (WAFF News)
HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)
Copyright 2012 WAFF. All rights reserved.
Students at Williams Elementary School kicked off the Veterans Day weekend with a ceremony.
The Liberty Learning Foundation's Next Great Americans bus tour rolled in to the Huntsville school on Friday.
Students took a journey through history.
They not only thanked local veterans, but nominated hometown heroes.
Organizers said since children are the future of this country, it's important they understand the past.
"It's exciting to know that they're going to know what a hero is and look for those hero qualities within themselves," said Barbara Sumner with Liberty Learning Foundation.
Two Marshall County Businesses Donate Kits to 675 students
Packed tight, sitting side by side, 675 students gather in the Albertville High School Fine Arts Building. These students are third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders from Albertville Elementary School, Evans Elementary School, and the Marshall Christian Academy. And although they attend different schools, they have one thing in common today.
They're on pins and needles waiting for Lady Liberty to take the stage.
The event is part of The Next Great Americans Bus Tour that kicks off the Super Citizen Program in schools. It's a program that focuses on civic, financial literacy, character development, career readiness and more. And it's being brought to schools free of charge!
Becky Reaves, a third grade teacher who's implementing the program at Albertville Elementary School, loves the program because it brings history to life and because of her strong military upbringing. "I find these values that this program teaches extremely important and lacking in many of our kids nowadays," she says.
Reaves says today's Kick Off assembly was a great way to gets the students excited to begin the 10 week program. She explains, "When Lady Liberty asked, who would be your Super Citizen? (A student) looked over to me and said, "My granddad. He was a Marine and Policeman". So it's not an abstract thought anymore. It's somewhere right here in their community. And that's important."
The theatrical performance and 27 Super Citizen Kits were donated by two Marshall County businesses: Clay Irrigation and AlaTrade Foods, which leveraged the generosity of its nearly 1,400 employees in North Alabama.
AlaTrade Foods President John Pittard says, "As many team members as we have in this area, it was a no brainer! It was easy. Our plant manager, Kevin Parnell, championed the effort at the plant."
"Those people stepped up and provided the kits for the students here in Albertville," says Parnell. "They stepped up and did some fundraisers … money out of their own pockets to fund these kits. And we want them to realize that you don't have to be an elected official or war hero to be a Super Citizen. You can actually be working somewhere where you're not visible and can contribute to a kid's life."
To show their support, about a dozen employees of AlaTrade also attended the Next Great American's Kick Off. Pittard says, "As these children grow up and go to the next grade, I hope it's something we can continue year after year, so that every child has an opportunity to be introduced to such a great program."
