Today more than 300 elementary students from New Brockton and Kinston Elementary 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 >
- The students get excited to meet Libby Liberty™.
- Maggie and James lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Assistant Principal Brian Peacock welcomes everyone to the 2017 Super Citizen Kickoff.
- Libby makes her grand entrance.
- Her official name is Liberty Enlightening the World.
- Laken and Evie help Libby show off her true measurements!
- Her mouth is 4.5 feet long!
- Libby shows off her selfie stick to get a picture with the students.
- She turned patina through a process called Oxidation.
- Her chains are broken and symbolize our freedom from oppression.
- She asks the students to close their eyes and imagine.
- They imagine coming to America for the first time.
- The students close their eyes to picture seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time.
- “We may have all come on different ships but we are in the same boat now” MLK Jr.
- The second graders meet Mr. Palmer who will help teach them some important lessons in the coming weeks.
- Jon, Justi, Shaylee, Andrew, Ariana, Grady, Joceline, Megan, Baylon and Kaleigh help lead the crowd in the tour anthem, “YOU in the USA”.
- “Only you can keep the YOU In the USA”.
- The students raise their voices together to sing a song about freedom.
- The view from the stage as the Coffee County students sing together.
- The Next Great Americans of Coffee County
- The future Super Citizens of Coffee County
- Becky Saunders of the Liberty Learning Foundation, Libby Liberty™ and Patty Singleton of the Covington Electric Cooperative.
- The Next Great Americans of Coffee County
- The future Super Citizens of Coffee County
- The Next Great Americans of Coffee County
- The future Super Citizens of Coffee County
- The Next Great Americans of Coffee County