Champlain Elementary School
800 Pine Street
Leslie Colomb, Principal
Burlington, VT 05401
Erin LaBonte, Admin.Assistant
864-8477
Our mission is to provide opportunities for students to achieve their personal best, become responsible and
productive citizens and embrace lifelong learning!
April 9, 2013
Dear Families,
This Thursday evening (6:00 p.m.) our after school play performance group is acting out selections
from You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. While many of us as adults grew up with this comic strip
character our students at Champlain may not have. The after school group gave a glimpse of what
was to come when they performed a couple of scenes at our school wide assembly last week. As
adults we were chuckling and enjoying the story line but we also discussed that perhaps our students
did not have enough background knowledge of this historic comic strip. We would love you all to
attend this evening event with your children, and, to better prepare them for the story line, I’ve gone
online and pasted in a description as follows:
You're a Good Man Charlie Brown tells the story of an average day in the life of the famous comic
strip child hero, Charlie Brown. Most of the characters in the play are 5-6 years old and the members
of the Peanuts gang are Patty, Shroeder, Lucy and Snoopy. As the play progresses, the relationships
of the Peanuts characters to one another are developed. Lucy is crazy about Schroeder and takes
great pleasure in tormenting Charlie Brown. Linus loves his blanket. Snoopy lives in his rich
imagination. Charlie Brown is in love with a mysterious little, redheaded girl. The show ends with
each character listing things that for him or her equal happiness. Finally, Lucy ends up telling Charlie
Brown what a good man he is leaving a smiling, happy Charlie Brown alone on stage.
What makes me smile the most about this musical is the theme of happiness. Happiness is
something all of us can relate to. In preparation for attending the Thursday evening performance
perhaps you could talk to your child about what makes them happy. Until then, here are the lyrics
from the song to read together and enjoy! Let’s thank all of our parents who have volunteered their
time after school to work with our children on this production and a big thank you to Rachel Horton
and her after school staff for supporting our parent volunteers. Garrett Kimberly, John Luce, Elizabeth
Brody, Celia Cuddy and JB Barna are some of the parents that I know have donated many hours so
a huge thank you to all of them for their kindness and generosity!
Happiness is finding a pencil, pizza with sausage, telling the time. Happiness is learning to
whistle, tying your shoe for the very first time. Happiness is playing the drum in your own
school band, and happiness is walking hand in hand. Happiness is two kinds of ice cream,
knowing a secret, climbing a tree. Happiness is five different crayons, catching a firefly,
setting him free. Happiness is being alone every now and then. And happiness is coming
home again. Happiness is morning and evening, daytime and night time too. For happiness is
anyone and anything at all that’s loved by you. Happiness is having a sister, sharing a
sandwich, getting along. Happiness is singing together when day is through, and happiness
is those who sing with you. Happiness is morning and evening, daytime and nighttime too.
For happiness is anyone and anything at all that’s loved by you.
From the musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (1967). So come on out and enjoy some of Champlain’s happiness as we watch these talented students
perform!
Sincerely, Leslie
Baked goods needed for school fundraiser to support the School Play
Please bring all baked goods to the office on Thursday April 11th during
school or Thursday April 11th to the play by 5:30 pm
DATES
TO
REMEMBER!
Champlain Elementary School Play
Champlain Peanuts:
Selections from You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown
Director: Garrett Kimberly
Musical Director: John Luce
School Play
Thursday, April 11th
at 6:00 pm
●
●
April Vacation
Monday, April 22nd – Friday,
April 26th
Thursday, April 11, 2013
6pm
Champlain School Gymnasium
School Assembly
Wednesday, May 8th at 2:00
pm
●
Bake sale fundraiser before and after show!
●
Announcing: The Champlain Elementary Talent Show and Silent
Auction night is May 29, 2013.
Kindergarten Open House
Wednesday, May 8th 5:30
pm
Early Release
Wednesday, May 15th
Dismissal at 11:30 am
●
Begin to think about your participation as a member of the Champlain
Elementary Community. Will you donate goods to the Silent Auction
and come enjoy the performances? Are you the "talent" part of the
evening? Planning now is very important for the Talent Show piece as
no registrations will be accepted after May 3. The form for signing up
will be distributed next week on April 16th. Looking forward to this
year's event!! Sincerely, Laura Barbieri. Please let me know if you have
any questions. 802.264.5405 or [email protected]
Talent Show – Silent
Auction
Wednesday, May 29th
●
*** Families are welcome at
all school assemblies***
There still time to sign up for baseball! with Burlington American Little League!
We've extended out sign up schedule for coach pitch, t-ball and minors! You can still register your
child on the Little League site at burlingtonamerican.com if your child is at least 4 years old (as of
May 1, 2013). Don't let them miss out on the fun of baseball! Any questions call Jeff Smith at 6587719
Let's Play Ball!
Music-COMP, or Music Composition Online Mentoring Program (formerly the Vermont MIDI
Project), is a 502(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing experiences in music
composition through online mentoring for students, live performances, new resources for
student composers, and professional development for teachers. Music-COMP serves over
5,000 students. Congratulations on having students from your school selected to have their
original compositions performed in a live concert by professional musicians at the historic
Haskell Opera House in Derby Line on May 1.
-Alex Wick, Grade 4 ("Concerto in G Major")
-Sammy Beste, Grade 5 ("Happiness")
-Owen Harris, Grade 5 ("Flying")
-Ariel Felcan, Grade 4 ("Up a Tree")