Today 125 elementary students from Flowers Elementary School came together to kick off the Super Citizen Program for 2016. 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 walks 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 >
- The students show their excitement about becoming Super Citizens.
- These Flowers students wait with excitement to meet Libby Liberty™.
- The students pose with the Torch Pin and Authentic Statue of Liberty Replica.
- The students show their excitement about becoming Super Citizens.
- These Flowers students wait with excitement to meet Libby Liberty™.
- The students pose with the Torch Pin and Authentic Statue of Liberty Replica.
- The students show their excitement about becoming Super Citizens.
- These Flowers students wait with excitement to meet Libby Liberty™.
- PLEDGE VOLUNTEERS: Kennedi Patterson Aaron Burrows Joshua Caffey Kirsten Counts
- The students are seen here saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Libby makes her grand entrance and shares her official name: “Liberty Enlightening the World”.
- Libby shows her true measurements with the help of Israel and Jadyn.
- Israel and Jadyn help Libby show how her nose is the size of the average fifth grader.
- The Flowers students pose for a selfie with Libby Liberty™.
- Libby shows off her selfie stick to the students.
- The chains around her feet are broken to symbolize our freedom from oppression.
- Libby asks the students to close their eyes to imagine being on a long, hard journey.
- The students close their eyes to imagine seeing America for the first time.
- The students picture seeing the Statue of Liberty of the first time.
- This student bows her head as she imagines coming to America on a ship and being greeted by the Lady in Green.
- “We may have come on different ships but we are in the same boat now”-MLK Jr.
- Becky Saunders of the Liberty Learning Foundation speaks to the students about being a good citizen.
- LIBBY SONG HELPERS: Austin, Isabella, Ashleigh, Jessica, Haden and Tinsleigh
- LIBBY SONG HELPERS: Austin, Isabella, Ashleigh, Jessica, Haden and Tinsleigh
- The students raise their voices to sing ‘YOU in the USA”.
- In this picture, Libby leads the students in “YOU in the USA”.
- The view from the stage as Libby and the students sing together.
- The next great Americans of Flowers
- The future Super Citizens of Flowers
- The next great Americans of Flowers
- The future Super Citizens of Flowers
- The next great Americans of Flowers
- Libby and Prinicpal Barnes
- Libby poses for a picture with these Super Citizens.
- The official Libby Liberty™ selfie