Today more than 950 elementary students from Halcyon, Wilson, Floyd, Southlawn, & Davis 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 >
- These Montgomery students are excited to meet Libby Liberty™.
- The students are all smiles as they start their Super Citizen journey.
- These students pose with the Statue of Liberty replica and Torch Pin.
- These Montgomery students are excited to meet Libby Liberty™.
- The students are all smiles as they start their Super Citizen journey.
- These students pose with the Statue of Liberty replica and Torch Pin.
- Jalesa, Kyra and Mya help Libby show off her true measurements.
- Her official name is “Liberty Enlightening the World”.
- Megan, Brittney and Karmya lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Reeivice Girtman of the Liberty Learning Foundation welcomes everyone to the 2016 Super Citizen Kickoff.
- The chains around her feet are broken and they symbolize our freedom from oppression.
- She isn’t green like Shrek, she is patina.
- Libby shows off her selfie stick for a picture with the students.
- “We may have come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now.
- Libby asks the students to close with eyes to imagine.
- The students picture coming to America after a long, hard journey.
- The imagine coming to America for the first time and meeting the lady in green.
- Jana Jordan of the Liberty Learning Foundation speaks to the students about appreciation.
- She represents the American Dream, freedom and hope.
- The Torch Pin and Statue of Liberty replica will be give to the community heroes of the students choosing.
- Libby shares the iconic poem, The New Colossus.
- Libby with Reeivice Girtman, Becky Sauders, Rachel Stewart with Guardian
- Libby leads the tour anthem “YOU in the USA”.
- Zarrian, Joycelyn, Melisa, Sabrina, Mariah and Xavier help Libby lead “YOU in the USA”.
- “Only you can keep the YOU in USA”.
- The view as the students sing about freedom and liberty.
- Libby high five’s all the students as they leave the kickoff.
- Libby gets a picture with these citizen before they leave.
- Libby high five’s this student as she leaves to start her journey.
- Libby and this Super Citizen pose for a picture together.
- Many thanks to our incredible sponsors who make this program possible.
- Many thanks to our incredible sponsors who make this program possible.
- These smiling citizens pose with Libby after the kickoff.
- Libby and our Next Great Americans.
- The students smiled for the camera as they prepare to start their Super Citizen journey.
- Libby and our Next Great Americans.
- The students smiled for the camera as they prepare to start their Super Citizen journey.
- The official Libby Liberty™ selfie.