Today, over 200 elementary students from Attalla Elementary School came together to kick off the Super Citizen Program for 2017. They waved flags, wore Statue of Liberty crowns and counted down for Libby Liberty™ to take the stage. On three huge screens “live video” shows her Next Great Americans tour bus pulling up to the school, her exiting the bus and then, the real-life Libby walked out from behind the screens!
The lady in green brought history to life and introduced students to the 10-week civic, character, financial literacy and social studies program they will begin when her bus rolls away. She told them that they already have the most important title in the world: “CITIZEN.”
Students in multiple grades are participating in the Super Citizen Program. The younger grades are taught by an innovative civic education program starring Mr. Palmer (the hand-puppet host of the “Hands on Liberty” DVD series). Upper elementary grades learn from the original Super Citizen Program kit that features DVD-based lessons, class activities and the emotional, unforgettable “Torch Teams” project-based learning experience. In Torch Teams, students team up, nominate, vote for and, ultimately, honor local heroes from stage at their graduation later this year. They learn that “When you honor a hero, you become a hero.”
Today’s event and the injection of civic learning is free to schools because of generous community sponsors who understand that these crucial lessons must be taught – despite school time and budget constraints.
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 >
- Qing, Charlie, Jaylynn and Jaleall lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- We heard a beautiful rendition of The National Anthem by this special citizen.
- Instructional Coach, Kayla Karlson, welcomes everyone to the 2017 Super Citizen Kickoff.
- Elizabeth and Conner help Libby show off her true measurements.
- Her shoes size is 879!
- Her chains are broken and symbolize our freedom from oppression.
- Libby asks the students to close their eyes to imagine they were on a long, hard journey.
- The students imagine seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time.
- They imagine coming to America after a hard journey.
- Libby Liberty™ recites The New Colossus.
- Libby introduces her helping hand, Mr. Palmer.
- Joyce Bishop of the Liberty Learning Foundation introduces the students to their generous program sponsors.
- Ethan, Dayton, Jeremy, Myiricle, Ayden, Dre’Shan, Preslee, Brianna, Marley, Lanie and Bradley lead the crowd in “YOU in the USA”.
- The citizens of Attalla raise their voices together in the tour anthem “YOU in the USA”.
- The view from the stage as the students sing together.
- “Only you can keep the YOU in the USA”
- The Next Great Americans of Attalla
- The future Super Citizens of Attalla
- The Next Great Americans of Attalla
- The future Super Citizens of Attalla
- The Next Great Americans of Attalla
- The future Super Citizens of Attalla
- The Next Great Americans of Attalla
- The future Super Citizens of Attalla
- Libby gets a picture with this special citizen.
- The official Libby Liberty™ selfie