Today second graders from Forest Oaks and Chelsea Park Elementary School cheered and counted down to the grand entrance of Libby Liberty™. Wearing green paper crowns and waving tiny American flags, they showed their enthusiasm for the Super Citizen Program they’ll begin after today’s theatrical performance.
Liberty Learning Foundation (with generous sponsorship by the Shelby County Community Alliance) is kicking off the program in a big way. Not only are students watching as the vivacious Statue of Liberty character brings history to life, they are also being introduced to the man who will give them a “hand” with lessons back in their classrooms. As Libby winds down, she hands the screen over to Mr. Palmer, a brash and brilliant hand-character who leads students in lessons in civics, character, financial literacy and our Great American Story.
After class photos with Libby, students and teachers return to classrooms energized to learn crucial, all-American lessons. They’ll also begin the process of nominating and honoring “Helping Hands Heroes” who they will honor at their graduation celebration when the program is complete for this year.
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 >
- Shelby County Schools students gathered today to meet Libby Liberty™
- Excited to meet Libby!
- Ready to Kick Off Their Hands on Liberty Program!
- 2nd grade Students of Shelby County Schools arrive to their Hands on Liberty Kickoff!
- These students are excited to arrive at the Hands on Liberty Kickoff!
- All smiles from Shelby County Schools students as they prepare to meet Libby Liberty™!
- All smiles from Shelby County Schools students as they prepare to meet Libby Liberty™!
- Waving their flags with excitement as they arrive at their Hands on Liberty Kickoff!
- Excited to meet Libby!
- Shelby County Schools students ready for their kickoff!
- Excited to meet Libby!
- Rowell and Olivia lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Libby Liberty™ makes her entrance to reveal her true name: “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
- Libby’s mouth is 3 feet long, about the length of an electric guitar!
- Libby’s nose is about the height of the average 5th grader, or Harry Potter?!
- Bowen and Bryn help Libby show off her real measurements.
- Her finger is 8 feet long or about the size of an entire car!
- When Libby was originally built, she was a shiny copper color just like a brand-new penny!
- Libby’s torch is what lights the way to freedom.
- Libby exclaims that on October 28, 1886, America had a huge celebration to welcome her home!
- Auguste Bartholdi gifted Libby to the United States of America to celebrate our 100th birthday!.
- We all have different American stories.
- Libby shares the iconic poem “The New Colossus.”
- “I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” –Emma Lazarus
- Libby wants the students to remember 3 words: Citizen, Community, and Appreciation!
- Libby leads the students in showing their appreciation for everyone who made the event possible!
- You ARE The Next Great Americans!
- The students filled the room with their voices as they sang “YOU in the USA.”
- We love seeing the students excited to sing along to our tour anthem!
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- Libby’s helpers do a great job showing everyone the moves to “YOU in the USA!”
- These students are singing our tour anthem loud and proud!
- “Freedom! Liberty! It starts with you and me!”
- U.S.A.!
- Libby loves seeing students excited to sing along to her tour anthem!
- Thank you to Cody Sumners, Mayor of Chelsea; John Samaniego of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office; and Carlyn Duncan, Principal of Forest Oaks Elementary School for their role in shaping the Next Great Americans!
- Shelby County Schools students are excited to begin their Hands on Liberty journey!
- The future is bright with these amazing students from Shelby County Schools!
- Hands on Liberty is officially underway for these incredible Shelby County Schools students!
- We had a blast kicking off Hands on Liberty with the students of Shelby County Schools!
- These amazing students are ready to learn, grow, and shine through Hands on Liberty!
- The Hands on Liberty journey is off to a great start for these Shelby County Schools students!
- Shelby County Schools students are excited to begin their Hands on Liberty journey!
- Hands on Liberty is officially underway for these incredible Shelby County Schools students!
- Nothing but smiles as these Shelby County Schools students begin Hands on Liberty!
- These amazing students are ready to learn, grow, and shine through Hands on Liberty!













































