You Belong at Hero Elementary! WETA's mission is to produce and broadcast programs of intellectual integrity and cultural merit that recognize viewers' and listeners' intelligence, curiosity and interest in the world around them. "Even though babies may not look egg-zactly like their parents, it is egg-cellent when families are together," quips the heroes' teacher, Mr. Sparks. 1 Personality; 2 Appearance; 3 Powers; 4 Etymology; 5 Trivia; Personality. But there is a place for them and they will bring something to it as well.". Benny Bubbles, Sara Snap, AJ Gadgets, Mr. Sparks, Fur Blur "I think it models how you can, with a few adjustments, adjust to a friend with different needs, whether it's autism or anything else," said Parente. Voiced by "We feel like there is so much strength in the idea of portraying a kid on the spectrum as just one of the kids and not making a huge deal about his autism," said Christine Ferraro, who co-created the series with Carol-Lynn Parente. And that's why we thought it was really important.". "You don't come into this world knowing how to do everything. Name Each episode runs about 11 minutes, with vibrant colors and a zany touch. They'll have different needs. Lucita's grandmotherLucita's papi Friends She is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish, for examples. She wears a white shirt with the Sparks' Crew symbol on it, blue sleeves, and red gloves. By visiting this site, you agree to our Terms of Service. There's a kid who can fly but is afraid of heights. With a superhero family, that can mean a whole lot, but she's always up for the challenge. "A lot of people pitch shows where there's an expert and kids just go to the expert and ask how to do things," she said. The series premiered Monday on PBS stations. How do you think we should get to that answer?' PBS' "Hero Elementary" stars Lucita Sky, left, Benny Bubbles, Sara Snap and AJ Gadgets, a superhero who has the ability to make super gadgets and who also happens to be on the Autism spectrum. The adults in our shows always say, 'Well, you know, that's a good question. And they tease it out of the kids, which is how it often is in real life.". PBS' "Hero Elementary" stars Lucita Sky, left, Benny Bubbles, Sara Snap and AJ Gadgets, a superhero who has the ability to make super gadgets and who also happens to … Most of the time they just want him to be part of the group. With the support of her friends who will literally catch her when she falls, she has nothing to fear. Family Her name resembles "Lucy in the Sky" a character in a 1967 song by. NEW YORK -- There's a new crop of superheroes coming to our TV this summer, but they may need a little seasoning. Hero Elementary is a Canadian-American animated television series created by Carol-Lynn Parente for PBS Kids.2 The series premiered on 2020-06-01. Her first name means "Little Light" in Spanish. Curious George uses George's insatiable curiosity as a way of acquainting preschoolers with key concepts in math, science and engineering. WETA looks back at the people and events of the 1980s — the disorderly decade that saw Washington's emergence as a true global capital. "They'll be a little different. But he's part of the team and always comes to the rescue. Courtesy of PBS Kids. Fandom Apps Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Lucita Sky Want to get the word out about your group's event? The PBS Kids' animated series "Hero Elementary" is set inside a grade school where a diverse group of four superhero students are learning to master their special powers. She wears a blue skirt, blue leggings, purple boots, and a purple cape. Flight Public Broadcasting for Greater Washington. PBS' "Hero Elementary" stars Lucita Sky, left, Benny Bubbles, Sara Snap and AJ Gadgets, a superhero who has the ability to make super gadgets and who also happens to be on the Autism spectrum. Ferraro and Parente are longtime veterans of "Sesame Street," which in 2015 introduced Julia, a 4-year-old girl Muppet with autism. Hero Elementary is a children's animated television series created and produced by Portfolio … Her surname relates to her ability to fly. "There is a place for kids with autism," Simensky said. Civilian The series is designed for children ages 4-7, and premiered Monday on PBS stations, the PBS Kids 24/7 channel and PBS Kids digital platforms. A natural born leader, Lucita Sky is one of the members of the Sparks' Crew. Contents. Lucita offers the same support, acting as a caring friend and with a strong sense of empathy that motivates her desire to help others and make the world a better place. D&D Beyond He's just one of the gang. All Rights Reserved. Linda Simensky, head of content at PBS Kids, said she was drawn to AJ's inclusion and the show's message of kids solving their own problems. 1 Plot 2 Broadcast 3 Episodes 4 Cast 5 International versions 6 References Hero Elementary centers around the titular school where kids with superheroes learn how to use their powers. Looking for something to do around town? Veronica Hortiguela. Programs A to Z "It just kind of came about in an organic way like that," said Ferraro. Female ♀ They've purposely not directly addressed autism except for a double episode slated to run later in the series. WETA is also a major producing station for PBS. Members of the Sparks' Crew -- Lucita Sky, AJ Gadgets, Sara Snap and Benny Bubbles -- work with their teacher, Mr. Sparks, to help people and solve problems. After all, they're only in elementary school. Entertainment A helpful teacher encourages them to keep finding solutions even if they don't succeed at first, teaching such skills as observing, investigating, testing and predicting. The series premiered Monday on PBS stations. A natural born leader, Lucita Sky is one of the members of the Sparks' Crew. They didn't initially intend to have a child with autism on "Hero Elementary," but as they fleshed out AJ's character it started to make sense. Hero Elementary Members of the Sparks' Crew -- Lucita Sky, AJ Gadgets, Sara Snap and Benny Bubbles -- work with their teacher, Mr. Sparks, to help people and solve problems. - Join the Sparks’ Crew from the hit PBS KIDS show - Meet Hero Elementary students Lucita Sky, AJ Gadgets, Sara Snap, Benny Bubbles, Fur Blur and Mr. Sparks Enroll in Hero Elementary and learn to use the Superpowers of Science today! "OK, enough egg jokes.". Choral Showcase presents the best in classical choral music from Washington and beyond each Sunday evening. Lucita Sky is a student at Hero Elementary, and the leader of the Sparks' Crew. The creators have been subtle about how they've portrayed the character of AJ Gadgets, who is on the high-functioning end of the spectrum. Lucita Sky And that's something that we don't see a lot on television. AJ doesn't like loud noises or wet clothes or to be apart from his beloved backpack. In, She can not carry very much weight while flying. PBS Kids Privacy Policy Funding for Hero Elementary is provided by a Ready to Learn Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that one in 54 kids were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder by age 8 in 2016, a nearly 10% increase over 2014 when the estimate was 1 in 59.