Today second graders from Wills Valley Elementary 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 DeKalb County Community Alliance) 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 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 >
- Wills Valley Elementary students gathered today to meet Libby Liberty™!
- Ready to Kick Off Their Hands on Liberty Program!
- These students are excited to arrive at the Hands on Liberty Kickoff!
- Excited to meet Libby!
- Mattilyn and Parker lead everyone in the Pledge Of Allegiance.
- Libby Liberty™ makes her entrance to greet the students!
- 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?!
- Her finger is 8 feet long or about the size of an entire car!
- Libby reveals her 879 inch shoe size.
- There are 25 windows in her crown, from which you can see the beautiful view of the New York Harbor.
- She isn’t green like Shrek, she turned patina through a process called oxidation.
- Libby’s torch is what lights the way to freedom.
- Do you know what’s written on Libby’s tablet? Here’s a hint: It’s the date of American Independence!
- 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!
- Auguste Bartholdi gifted Libby to the United States of America to celebrate our 100th 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.
- Libby shares Martin Luther King, Jr’s hope that Americans will be judged “not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
- Libby shares the iconic poem “The New Colossus.”
- “I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” –Emma Lazarus
- Libby leads the students in showing their appreciation for everyone who made the event possible!
- Libby’s helpers do a great job showing everyone the moves to “YOU in the USA!”
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- Singing along to our tour anthem!
- U.S.A.!
- Waving their flags in song and celebration!
- Libby loves seeing students excited to sing along to her tour anthem!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- U.S.A.!
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- We are so thankful to Principal Jennifer List and all the amazing teachers at Wills Valley Elementary for their continued support and dedication to their students!
- The Next Great Americans of Wills Valley Elementary!
- Wills Valley Elementary students are excited to begin their Hands on Liberty journey!
- Libby Liberty™ loved meeting the students of Wills Valley Elementary!
- Nothing but smiles from these amazing Wills Valley Elementary students!
- Libby Liberty™ poses with these awesome Wills Valley Elementary students after the kickoff!
- These incredible students are ready to learn and grow throughout their Hands on Liberty journey!
- Big smiles and lots of excitement from these amazing students!
- Libby Liberty™ loved spending time with the students of Wills Valley Elementary!
- Libby Liberty™ shares a special moment with these amazing Wills Valley Elementary students!
- Libby Liberty™ had so much fun visiting with these incredible students!
- The excitement was contagious as these students began their Hands on Liberty journey!
- Libby Liberty™ had so much fun visiting with these incredible students!
- Wills Valley Elementary students are ready to make the most of their Hands on Liberty journey!
- Libby Liberty™ shares a special moment with these amazing Wills Valley Elementary students!
- The Official Libby Liberty™ Selfie!
















































