Today over 950 elementary students from Eva School, Sparkman Elementary, Danville-Neel Elementary, Priceville Elementary, West Morgan Middle, Danville Middle, Priceville Junior High, Falkville Elementary, & Lacey’s Spring Elementary 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 Morgan County students are excited to meet Libby Liberty™.
- These students pose for a picture with the Statue of Liberty replica.
- The Morgan County students are starting their Super Citizen journey.
- The Morgan County students are excited to meet Libby Liberty™.
- The students will honor their community heroes with the Torch Pin and Statue of Liberty replica.
- Saying the Pledge were: Hayleigh, Casen, Brantley, Malcolm, Blayne and Kasey
- The students join together to pledge allegiance to the flag.
- Her official name is Liberty Enlightening the World.
- Cale and Karoline helped Libby™ show everyone how big she is on her pedestal
- Libby gets a selfie with her selfie stick.
- The students close their eyes and imagine 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.
- Libby tells the students that while we all have different American stories, we all share in the same bright futures.
- Libby shares the iconic poem “The New Colossus”.
- Jessica Quillin of the Liberty Learning Foundation speaks to the students about becoming Super Citizens.
- “YOU in the USA” song volunteers: SPARKMAN-Robert, DANVILLE-NEEL-Jack and Madison, PRICEVILLE-Chloe, WEST MORGAN-Reagan, Tera, Allahna, Ella, DANVILLE MIDDLE-Zae and Samantha, FALKVILLE- Bentley and AJ, LACEY’S SPRING-Jacey, EVA-Kameron and Baden, PRICEVILLE JR. HIGH- Addison and Reagan
- The students lift their voices together to sing with Libby Liberty™.
- The view of the crowd as they sing the tour theme song together.
- Morgan County students wave their flags and sing together “YOU in the USA”.
- The view of the crowd as they sing the tour theme song together.
- The students lift their voices together to sing with Libby Liberty™.
- “Only you can keep the YOU in the USA”
- Our Next Great Americans of Morgan County
- The future Super Citizens of Morgan County
- Morgan County students get a picture with Libby after the kickoff.
- These citizens smile with Libby for a picture.
- Our Next Great Americans of Morgan County
- The future Super Citizens of Morgan County
- Morgan County students get a picture with Libby after the kickoff.
- These citizens smile with Libby for a picture.
- Our Next Great Americans of Morgan County
- The future Super Citizens of Morgan County
- Morgan County students get a picture with Libby after the kickoff.
- These citizens smile with Libby for a picture.
- Our Next Great Americans of Morgan County
- The future Super Citizens of Morgan County
- Morgan County students get a picture with Libby after the kickoff.
- These citizens smile with Libby for a picture.
- Our Next Great Americans of Morgan County
- The future Super Citizens of Morgan County
- Morgan County students get a picture with Libby after the kickoff.
- These citizens smile with Libby for a picture.
- Our Next Great Americans of Morgan County
- The future Super Citizens of Morgan County
- Morgan County students get a picture with Libby after the kickoff.
- These citizens smile with Libby for a picture.
- Our Next Great Americans of Morgan County
- The future Super Citizens of Morgan County
- Morgan County students get a picture with Libby after the kickoff.
- These citizens smile with Libby for a picture.
- Our Next Great Americans of Morgan County
- The future Super Citizens of Morgan County
- Morgan County students get a picture with Libby after the kickoff.
- These citizens smile with Libby for a picture.
- Our Next Great Americans of Morgan County
- The future Super Citizens of Morgan County
- Morgan County students get a picture with Libby after the kickoff.
- These citizens smile with Libby for a picture.
- Our Next Great Americans of Morgan County
- The future Super Citizens of Morgan County
- Morgan County students get a picture with Libby after the kickoff.
- These citizens smile with Libby for a picture.
- Our Next Great Americans of Morgan County
- The official Libby Liberty™ selfie