Today more than 325 elementary students from Harry N Mixon & Joseph W Lisenby 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 are the smiling faces of our future Super Citizens.
- The students of Ozark pose with the Statue of Liberty replica and Torch Pin.
- All smiles as they wait to meet Libby Liberty™.
- These are the smiling faces of our future Super Citizens.
- The students of Ozark pose with the Statue of Liberty replica and Torch Pin.
- All smiles as they wait to meet Libby Liberty™.
- These are the smiling faces of our future Super Citizens.
- Principal Lowery welcomes everyone to the Super Citizens Kickoff.
- Pledge Volunteers: Waylon, Sarah, Abram and Aniyah
- Julia and Ben help Libby show off her true measurements.
- Her official name is Liberty Enlightening the World.
- Her color is not green like Shrek, it’s the beautiful color of patina.
- Her shoe size, when on her pedestal, is 879.
- Libby shows off her selfie stick to get a picture with the students.
- The chains around her feet are broken and symbolize our freedom from oppression.
- Libby asks the students to close their eyes and imagine they’ve been on a long hard journey.
- The students picture being greeted by a huge lady in green on American shores.
- The students imagine coming to America for the first time.
- Libby introduces her helping hand, Mr. Palmer.
- Libby shares the iconic poem, “The New Colossus.”
- Libby tells the students that they are the Next Great Americans.
- Kristen Sharp of the Liberty Learning Foundation speaks to the students about showing appreciation.
- Libby leads the crowd in “YOU in the USA” with the help of Jamariayna, Legend, Jaylon, Eugene, Adyah, Anzley, Kari and Anne
- Libby and Super Citizen, Ricky Stokes
- Libby and Superintendent Dr. McInturf
- Libby gets a picture with these Super Citizens
- Libby gets a picture with school board member, Theresa
- Principal Lowery gets a picture with Libby after the kickoff.
- The Next Great Americans of Ozark
- The future Super Citizens of Ozark
- The Next Great Americans of Ozark
- The Next Great Americans of Ozark
- The future Super Citizens of Ozark
- The Next Great Americans of Ozark
- The future Super Citizens of Ozark
- The Next Great Americans of Ozark
- The future Super Citizens of Ozark
- The Next Great Americans of Ozark
- The future Super Citizens of Ozark
- The Next Great Americans of Ozark
- The future Super Citizens of Ozark
- The Next Great Americans of Ozark
- The official Libby Liberty™ selfie