Today, around 300 elementary students from Walker County came together to kick off the Super Citizen Program for 2018. 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 walked 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 students are excited to meet Libby Liberty™.
- Principal Shubert, Kaedence and Kennedy lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Her official name is Liberty Enlightening the World.
- Hudson and Marie help Libby show her true measurements.
- Libby isn’t green like Shrek, but a more sophisticated Patina from Oxidation.
- Her skin is the thickness of two pennies.
- The chains around her feet are broken to symbolize our freedom from oppression.
- Libby invites the students to imagine what it is like to come to America for the first time.
- We all have different American stories but share the same freedoms.
- Libby shares the iconic poem “The New Colossus”
- Lexi, Blaze, Bryleigh, Lexi, Mayla, Memphis, Hanna and John lead everyone in the tour anthem “YOU in the USA”.
- “Only you can keep the YOU in the USA”.
- The students sing together of freedom and liberty.
- The Next Great Americans of Walker County
- Libby and Sonny pose for a picture after the program.
- The future Super Citizens of Walker County
- The Next Great Americans of Walker County
- The future Super Citizens of Walker County
- The Next Great Americans of Walker County
- The future Super Citizens of Walker County
- The Next Great Americans of Walker County
- The future Super Citizens of Walker County
- The Next Great Americans of Walker County
- Libby smiles with these sweet citizens after the kickoff.
- John and Libby smile for the camera.
- Principal Shubert and Libby get a post-kickoff picture together.
- The official Libby Liberty™ selfie.