Today second graders from Calera & Wilsonville Elementary Schools cheered and counted down to the grand entrance of Libby Liberty™. Wearing green paper crowns and waving tiny American flags, they showed their enthusiasm for the Super Citizen Program they’ll begin after today’s theatrical performance.
Liberty Learning Foundation (with generous sponsorship by the Shelby County Community Allianceals) is kicking off the program in a big way. Not only are students watching as the vivacious Statue of Liberty character brings history to life, they are also being introduced to the man who will give them a “hand” with lessons back in their classrooms. As Libby winds down, she hands the screen over to Mr. Palmer, a brash and brilliant hand-character who leads students in DVD-based lessons in civics, character, financial literacy and our Great American Story.
After class photos with Libby, students and teachers return to classrooms energized to learn crucial, all-American lessons. They’ll also begin the process of nominating and honoring “Helping Hands Heroes” who they will honor at their graduation celebration when the program is complete for this year.
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 >
- Braleigh and Knox lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Libby Liberty™ makes her entrance to reveal her true name: “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
- Libby’s mouth is 3 feet long, about the length of an electric guitar!
- Libby’s nose is about the height of the average 5th grader, or Harry Potter?!
- From the ground to the top of her torch she is about the length of a football field!
- There are 25 windows in her crown, from which you can see the beautiful view of the New York Harbor.
- When Libby was originally built, she was a shiny copper color just like a brand-new penny!
- In the workshop, the artists worked on all the different parts of Libby!
- They put her together piece by piece, like the most gigantic Lego structure EVER!
- Libby shares exciting news: We are celebrating our country’s 250 Birthday!
- Ellis Island is right next to Liberty Island, which is where Libby lives.
- Libby invites the students to imagine what it would be like to be an immigrant traveling to Ellis Island.
- We all have different American stories
- Libby shares the iconic poem “The New Colossus.”
- Libby shares all about the exciting Super Citizen Program the students are about to begin!
- Libby tells the students about their powerful title: CITIZEN!
- Libby tells the students about an important word they will learn more about during their program: Appreciation!
- You ARE The Next Great Americans!
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- Libby’s helpers do a great job showing everyone the moves to “YOU in the USA!”
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- Libby loves seeing the students excited to sing her tour anthem!
- Students and teachers alike singing along to our tour anthem!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- Libby loves posing with Captain Nathan Kendrick and Representative Major Russell Bedsole from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office!
- We can’t thank these amazing teachers enough for their role in shaping the Next Great Americans!
- These Shelby County 2nd grade students are destined for greatness as they start their Hands on Liberty Journey!
- These great citizens are about to start their Hands on Liberty journey.
- Libby had a blast today with these students from Shelby County!
- Shelby County 2nd grade students are excited to pose with Libby Liberty™!
- Libby gets a picture with these amazing students after the kickoff.
- These students are excited to meet Libby Liberty!
- We had a blast today with these Shelby County 2nd grade students!
- Shelby County 2nd grade students are excited to pose with Libby Liberty™!
- Libby gets a picture with these amazing students after the kickoff.
- These Shelby County 2nd grade students are destined for greatness as they start their Hands on Liberty Journey!
- We had a blast today with these Shelby County 2nd grade students!
- These students are excited to meet Libby Liberty!
- Libby had a blast today with these students from Shelby County!








































