Today more than 1,250 elementary students from Dalraida, Dannelly, Highland Garden, Morningview, Catoma, & Martin Luther King 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 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 Next Great Americans of Montgomery
- The future Super Citizens
- The Next Great Americans of Montgomery
- The future Super Citizens
- The Next Great Americans of Montgomery
- The future Super Citizens
- Reeivice Girtman and these citizens lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Her official name is Liberty Enlightening the World.
- Libby shows off her selfie stick for a quick picture with the students.
- Libby shows off her true measurements with the help of these two.
- Her shoe size is 879!
- Libby lives on Liberty Island, right beside Ellis Island.
- Once she arrived in America they put her together like a big Lego structure.
- The chains around her feet are broken to symbolize our freedom from oppression.
- Libby asks the students to close their eyes to imagine being on a long, hard journey.
- The students picture coming to America for the first time.
- The students imagine being greeted by the huge lady in green.
- They imagine what it is like to see the Statue of Liberty for the first time.
- Libby shares the iconic poem “The New Colossus”.
- Jana Jordan of the Liberty Learning Foundation speaks to the students about appreciation.
- Libby and her helpers led the students in “YOU in the USA”.
- A group photo of Libby and these great citizens.
- Libby gets a picture with Megan Bronson of Auburn University Montgomery.
- Torey Hatfield of Guardian Credit Union with Libby Liberty™
- Al Allenback, Torey Hatfield, Libby, Pace Josey and Megan Bronson
- Libby and the Montgomery students sing the tour anthem “YOU in the USA”.
- “Only you can keep the YOU in the USA”
- Libby and these smiling citizens get a picture after the kickoff.
- These happy students of Montgomery gather around Libby for a picture.
- A group photo of Libby and these great citizens.
- Libby loves these smiling citizens.
- This patriotic student waves her flag with Libby.
- These happy students of Montgomery gather around Libby for a picture.
- Libby gives high five’s to the students as they leave the event.
- Libby and these smiling citizens get a picture after the kickoff.
- The official Libby Liberty™ selfie