Today, 2nd graders from Shelby Elementary, Wilsonville Elementary, Vincent Elementary, & Elvin Hill Elementary filled the Shelby County Arts Council. After finishing 10 weeks in the Hands on Liberty Program, they are gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and honor local heroes from the stage.
Thanks to Mr. Palmer and his very hands-on teaching, these students have begun learning about their important roles in America’s future. The “Hands on Liberty” series and accompanying activities and lesson plans teach crucial lessons in civics, character, financial literacy and social studies to a tech-centric generation. And in the closing piece of the program, Helping Hands, students are applying those crucial lessons in the real world.
Students chose heroes who embodied the traits of amazing citizens and read essays from stage before presenting them with Liberty Pins. They learned that “when you honor a hero, you become a hero!”
See heroes honored and a glimpse of the exciting event in the gallery below!
Today’s event and the donation of Super Citizen teaching kits was made possible by the Shelby County Community Alliance. With their help, we are teaching, inspiring and empowering our Next Great Americans.
Were you at the event? See the photo gallery below to find yourself, to revisit the magic or watch it unfold for the first time >
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McKenna, Raiden, Barrett, and Bryson lead students, heroes, and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance!
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Brecklyn took the stage to tell us about her 2nd grade Helping Hands Hero, Mr. Heath Davis!
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Eli from Wilsonville honored his mom, bus driver Cherity Hardin, as his class Helping Hands Hero!
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Kaylyn told us all about how her Helping Hands Hero, coffee shop owner and community hero Naimah Elmore, inspires her class to be Super Citizens!
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2nd graders Henry and Memphis honored Ms. Codie Davis as their class Helping Hands Hero!
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Mason took the stage to tell us why his dad, firefighter Josh Brasher, is a true Helping Hands Hero!
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Amelia, from Elvin Hill Elementary, honored Ms. Tracey Dunn as her class Helping Hands hero!
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Shelby Elementary 2nd grader Easton honored his dad, Deputy Danson Thornburg as his Helping Hands hero
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Shelby Elementary 2nd grader Maddie honored firefighter Kenny Moor as her Helping Hands hero!
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Skylar told us all about why her 2nd grade class chose to honor Officer Justin Thomas as their Helping Hands Hero!
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Caroline honored Lieutenant Sasha Knighten as her Helping Hands Hero
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Ms. Crystal Curtis was honored as a Helping Hands Hero by Elvin Hill Elementary, and Aria told us all about it!
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Truette, from Elvin Hill Elementary, honored Ms. Jennifer Alexander as his class Helping Hands hero!
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Super Citizens lead everyone in our tour anthem.
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“Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
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The students and heroes filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
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We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
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These students are excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
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Students and teachers alike singing along to our tour anthem!
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Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
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“Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
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We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
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We are thankful to everyone who made our event possible, especially school board members Peg Hill and Amber Polk, and Sharon Gaydon from Cahaba Valley Elks Lodge!