Today, 2nd graders from Saraland Elementary filled the gymnasium. After finishing 10 weeks in the Super Citizen Program, they are gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and honor local heroes from the stage.
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Saraland Schools Superintendent Aaron Milner was honored today as a Helping Hands Hero.
Thanks to Mr. Palmer and his very hands-on teaching, these students have begun learning about their important roles in America’s future. The “Hands on Liberty” DVD series and accompanying activities and lesson plans teach crucial lessons in civics, character, financial literacy and social studies to a tech-centric generation. And in the closing piece of the program, Helping Hands, students are applying those crucial lessons in the real world.
Students chose heroes who embodied the traits of amazing citizens and read essays from stage before presenting them with Liberty Pins. They learned that “when you honor a hero, you become a hero!”
Saraland Schools Superintendent Aaron Milner was honored today and spoke of the importance of the Super Citizen Program and the Alabama Bicentennial celebration. “It helps any student in Alabama to know about the pride we have in our state,” he says. “Celebrating 200 years and the challenges we’ve overcome in the state to become more inclusive: loving one another, caring about each other. I watched our students do this throughout the program.”
He reiterated the program’s role in rounding out the equation for career and citizen-ready youth. “We had community members from Saraland and surrounding communities hearing students talking. They were providing a testimonial about how much they care about their community, their country, their faith, their family. That’s the things we hear from our stakeholders that they want to see in our public schools, and they’re seeing that every day in Saraland schools.”
See heroes honored and a glimpse of the exciting event in the gallery below!
Today’s event and the donation of Super Citizen teaching kits was made possible by the Mobile County Community Alliance. With their help, we are teaching, inspiring and empowering our Next Great Americans.
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 >
- Mr. Stokley, Principal of Saraland Elementary welcomes everyone to the celebration!
- Blakelin and Hailey lead their classmates in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- These students stand together to say the pledge!
- Mary Jane Donald is honored as a Helping Hand Hero by Caden and his class.
- Michelle Cooper is honored as a Helping Hand Hero by Harper and her class.
- Omariyah honors Nurse Garrett as her class Helping Hand Hero.
- Dr. Aaron Milner is honored as a Helping Hand Hero by Samantha and her class.
- Jansen honors Mark Berkin as his class Helping Hand Hero.
- Scott Parks is honored as a Helping Hand Hero by Mollie and her class.
- Braleigh honors Ben Pilgrim as her class Helping Hand Hero.
- Jennifer Bexley is honored as Alexis’ class Helping Hand Hero.
- Private James “Jake” Trout is honored as a Helping Hand Hero by Analee, Fisher, McKinlie, KarlEzra, and Baya.
- This student proudly take his Super Citizen Pledge!
- Jaylyn, Kara Beth, Madison, Devon, Kadyn, Karley, Caleb, and Leslie lead everyone in our tour anthem!
- These students celebrate in song!
- We were so excited to have Saraland School Board President Bill Silver, Mayor Dr. Howard Rubenstein, Dr. Barry Booth, and members of Daphne City Council: Joe Davis and Pat Rudicell pose with Principal Stokley and LLF member Reeivice Girtman.
- Only YOU can keep the “U” in the U.S.A.!
- So happy that Alexi Taylor with Christopher George PC was able to be with us at the celebration and pose for a picture with Mr. Girtman and Dr. Milner!
- The 2017-18 Saraland Elementary School Helping Hand Heroes and the students who honored them!
- The Students of Saraland proudly wear their sponsors logos!