Pine Tree fifth-graders sing 'We can all join hands'

Students write and record a song to raise awareness and money for Haitian earthquake victims MONROE - It seems there’s more bad news nearly every day. What can you do? That’s a question Pine Tree Elementary teacher Bob Barlow and his students in Room 211 have thought a lot about. They decided that doing nothing was not an option. After reading about the ongoing devastation in Haiti in the wake of last year’s earthquake, the students were eager to be a part of the solution. With Barlow’s help, the students wrote a song, called “We Can All Join Hands.” “It’s a perfect sing-along song,” noted one student. “It really gets people going. But it also tells a story that needs to be told. It’s been a year since the earthquake in Haiti, and things haven’t gotten much better.” The song, recorded at the Platinum Productions Recording Studio in Monroe, appears to be catching on. Already, such folk luminaries as Sloan Wainwright and Reggie Harris have given the tune their stamp of approval. The students have taught the song to the entire fifth-grade chorus at Pine Tree, and will be performing it at the school’s spring concert. And they’re currently hard at work on a fund-raising CD featuring the song. “They (the students) learned about the troubles in Haiti, and they decided to do something about it,” Barlow said. “That gives me a lot of hope for the future.” We Can All Join Hands Down in Haiti they still need a helping hand The earthquake left such devastation in that land Millions have no home, living in the open air Pain and cholera and hunger everywhere What can we do to help the folks down there? Let’s work together to show them that we care We can all join hands We can take a stand We can help the land … of Haiti! Here’s our simple plan: Let’s do all we can To help the land … of Haiti! A year after the shattering earthquake, things have not improved much for the people of Haiti. Food, clean water, health and safety - things we all take for granted - are in short supply. We have a chance to do something good for people who are suffering, and to set a positive example for the rest of the world. Please do all you can to help the people of Haiti! What can we do to help the folks down there? Let’s work together to show them that we care We can all join hands We can take a stand We can help the land … of Haiti! Here’s our simple plan: Let’s do all we can To help the land … of Haiti!

Many hands contributed
The project features some other local talent as well:
The CD’s cover features a chalk pastel drawing by Monroe-Woodbury senior art major Farnaz Orpee.
The design of the CD package was created by Burt Myers, a Binghamtom-based designer.
The string arrangement was written by Woodbury resident Viktor Prizgintas.
The string arrangement was played by the Allegro Youth Orchestra.

Listen, watch
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV66RtBznrs