Today more than 900 second and third grade elementary students from Lynn Fanning, New Market and Hazel Green Elementary Schools 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 like Madison County Community Alliance, BlueCross Blue Shield of Alabama, ScreenTech, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc., Regions Bank, Wells Fargo, Madison County Commission, AEgis Technologies Group, COLSA Corporation, Sam’s Club, U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Walmart and Lockheed Martin 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 >
- Lynn Fanning Principal, Tammie Burger, welcomed everyone to the Super Citizen Kickoff.
- Her official name is “Liberty Enlightening the World”.
- Libby explains how she lives on Liberty Island, right next to Ellis Island.
- The students of Hazel Green, New Market and Lynn Fanning Elementary schools join together to meet Libby Liberty™.
- The students get excited to meet Libby Liberty™.
- The students watch intently as they learn lessons in freedom and liberty.
- All smiles as they learn how big Libby’s shoe is.
- Janasia and Kingston help Libby show off her true measurements.
- Jessica Quillin of the Liberty Learning Foundation speaks to the students about becoming Super Citizens.
- Libby introduces Mr. Palmer, her helping hand, who will help teach the lessons to the students.
- The students close their eyes to imagine they are coming to America for the first time.
- They imagine what it would be like to see the Statue of Liberty for the first time.
- Libby and her helpings lead the crowd in song.
- The crowd sings together “YOU in the USA”.
- “Only you can keep the YOU in the USA”.
- The students wave their flags together in song.
- Molly, Jaden, Charlotte, Kendall and Lilly help Libby lead the students in the tour anthem, “YOU in the USA”.
- The Next Great Americans of Madison County
- The future Super Citizens of Madison County
- Molly, Jaden, Charlotte, Kendall and Lilly help Libby lead the students in the tour anthem, “YOU in the USA”.
- The Next Great Americans of Madison County
- The future Super Citizens of Madison County
- The Next Great Americans of Madison County
- The future Super Citizens of Madison County
- The Next Great Americans of Madison County
- The future Super Citizens of Madison County
- The Next Great Americans of Madison County
- The future Super Citizens of Madison County
- The Next Great Americans of Madison County
- The future Super Citizens of Madison County
- The Next Great Americans of Madison County
- The future Super Citizens of Madison County
- The Next Great Americans of Madison County
- The future Super Citizens of Madison County
- The Next Great Americans of Madison County
- The future Super Citizens of Madison County
- The Next Great Americans of Madison County
- The future Super Citizens of Madison County
- The Next Great Americans of Madison County
- The official Libby Liberty™ selfie