Today more than 675 elementary students from Geraldine School, Crossville Elementary, Crossville Middle, Collinsville Elelmentary, and Ruhama Jr. High 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 >
- These are the smiling faces of DeKalb County.
- The students are excited to meet Libby Liberty™ and become Super Citizens.
- They pose with the Torch Pin and Statue of Liberty replica that they will award their heroes at the end of the program.
- All smiles as they wait to start the program.
- Libby shows off the size of her nose with the help of Georgie and Ellie.
- Her official name is “Liberty Enlightening the World”.
- The students lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- A warm welcome from Mrs. Mary Crosby.
- Through a process called oxidation, Libby turned developed a patina with a greenish hue!
- Her shoe size is 879!
- Libby shows off her selfie stick for a picture with the students.
- “We may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now”-MLK Jr.
- The students close their eyes to imagine seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time.
- Libby lives on Liberty Island right next to Ellis Island.
- The built her one piece at a time the shipped her across the Atlantic Ocean to be put back together.
- The chains on her feet are broken to symbolize our freedom from oppression.
- Meet Mr. Palmer, Libby’s helping hand, who will be teaching the younger students over the next weeks.
- Libby recites the iconic poem “The New Colossus”.
- We all share in the same bright futures that are made possible by the things she stands for: opportunity, hope and liberty.
- The students sing together after meeting Libby Liberty™.
- Libby leads the crowd in song with the help of Connor, Brooklyn, Kaden, Hiram, Brodie, Sarah and Gracie
- Joyce Bishop of the Liberty Learning Foundation speaks to the students about apprecition.
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The students of DeKalb County and Libby sing together of freedom.
- “Only you can keep the YOU in the USA”
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The future Super Citizens of DeKalb County
- The Next Great Americans of DeKalb County
- The official Libby Liberty™ selfie