School Report: Year ends on a high note

A colourful closing day ceremony brought down the curtain on another successful year for Happy House school.

The annual closing day is important for everyone and a day when achievements are celebrated and talents showcased. 

Certificates were presented to those who had done well, both individual efforts and class performances, in front of gathered audience of relatives, friends and guests.

In a vibrant and happy ceremony, each child had their part to play, from pre-schoolers (like Esther, left) to top primary. 

But for pupils of KG3 it was an even more significant event, their graduation from kindergarten to primary school.

A landmark in their lives, our graduates were smartly turned out in the Happy House school caps and gowns.

Each one, in turn, received their certificate from Mama Sue.

How proud they were!

Then came the entertainment - rehearsed over many weeks - of verse, music, drama and dance. 

Guests were  delighted with the programme and enthralled by displays of Indian and Scottish dancing, introduced to our school by volunteers.

Beautiful costumes added another dimension to the performances as dancers went through their routines without putting a foot out of place.

Mama Sue said: "Closing day was brilliant, the best ever.

" The children were amazing, everything was very well organised.
"They sang and danced their little hearts out.

 "When the graduates were about  parade in, the song up Up Town Girl started playing, I thought what's that on for, then I saw them all  in their caps and gowns  dancing to the music.

"They danced their way into the banda to loud applause.

" All the guests were thrilled with the show."

Pupils, teachers and volunteers had worked so hard to make closing day perfect and their efforts were congratulated with a  rousing response from all those who had so enjoyed watching them.

This was a fitting way to end the year.
It  was also a day when memories were made and which will be recalled with smiles by those taking part throughout their lives.

Well done, to all.

Anti-polio campaign rolls into Happy House

 The Kenya government has rolled out another campaign aimed at eradicating polio.

A four-day  door-to-door exercise, has been rolled out as part of a synchronised effort to reach as many as possible.

Health workers were welcomed to the happy House when they administered oral vaccine to our under-fives.

Uncle Billy said: "All our under 5s have been immunized with anti polio oral drops. We are always committed to ensuring optimal health for our children.

"They are our sole focus."
Kenya is one of the countries in the “wild poliovirus importation belt” – a band of countries stretching from west Africa to central Africa and the Horn of Africa, which are recurrently re-infected with imported poliovirus.
The poliovirus still circulates in Ethiopia, South Sudan and Somalia and porous borders between these countries and Kenya makes it hard to eradicate the disease.
Launching the vaccination campaign, WHO country representative Dr Custodia Mandlhate said  the WHO is committed to supporting vaccination efforts so that the disease is eradicated.
 "Whenever we have one case, we treat it as an outbreak like it happened last year. Currently, we are on the response mode."

Festive fair boosts funds

 Look who came to say hello to Happy House helpers at the Best Little Network Christmas market on Saturday?
Santa popped in to to tell us that he has his delivery round all mapped out and our 88 Happy House kids are on his list!
The Happy House is one of two charities receiving a donation from the proceeds of the fair at Wendy Hollands Fitness Studios in Thornton, plus we had a stall with hand made crafts, all donated by our friends.
Business was brisk for helpers Jackie Fineman, Andrea Manders, Pauline Royle and Elizabeth Gomm.
The family event was a first for the Network which is still in its first year, and showcased the businesses of some of its members.
We are extremely grateful to the network ladies for their very generous support of our Happy House family. It means so much to know that they have taken our children into their hearts.
Thank you ladies.
Thank you also to all the very talented crafty and arty people who made such lovely items for our stall at the fair, including Andrea Manders, Barbara Hall, Chris Camp, Carmel Farley, Nigel and Gill Hook, David Flynn.
It was a really festive event and it was great to see so many old friends, including several members of our Happy house sponsor family, and to make new friends. 
Our Happy House stall raised £249.45 (including advance sales by Andrea).

Pretty maids all in a row!

 As pretty as flowers in a garden some of our girls showcase some lovely dresses given by Dave Fineman,  from Blackpool, who runs a market and online discount clothing business 

Dave supports the Happy House after hearing about it from his wife Jackie.

Jackie , who is in Charity and Stevie's sponsor families,  is an ace shopper and is always on the look out for bargains to send for our family.

In fact it was Jackie who sent the red and white spotted dress (left) featured in a recent blog, which is still being worn, after four and a half years.

Jackie said she had to look twice at the newer picture to check it really was the same dress!
"I bought it in a sale in Peacocks," said Jackie, who is one of our top bargain hunters ... always on the look out for clothes for out kids at knock-down prices.
"I thought it was a lovely blog," she added "and nice to see it's still going strong
."Dave was delighted to donate these dresses, ex-New Look, knowing that what is given to Happy House goes exactly where it is intended ... to our children,

Thank you Dave and Jackie, for your wonderful support.

You will find Dave's online business at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Discount-Womens-Clothing

Something fishy going on - by Evans, Diana, Rasoa and Mary

A bonus today. Four of our children have turned bloggers after a school trip to Malindi Marine Park.
For Dr Danwata Scholarship students, Diana, Rasoa and Mary,  this will have been their first school trip ... and how exciting they found it.
Our own Happy House kid, Evans, also had a ball!
Evans :
We had a wonderful day at Malindi Marine Park. 
We learnt so many things from that place.
We went to the sea and we saw fish, we used bread to attract them. 
We swam with the fish and some people thought that we were going to be swallowed by the fish but they were wrong to say that, we just had a lovely time swimming with the fish.
Everyone was wishing to stay there the whole day and night.
It was a fantastic day out there. 
When the time reached for going home everyone was very tired. Now we wish to go back again,

Diana:

We had a trip to the Marine Park. On arrival we changed into our swimming costumes and waited for the guides to prepare the boats which we were going for snorkelling.
We were grouped in six different groups.
Each group had a guide and two teachers to lead us. We went to the deep sea to watch different types of fishes. 
There were big and small fish, with different colours. 
We fed the fish with the bread we had carried. It was very fun in the deep sea
. After that we headed to the much awaited island. When we arrive we were requested to dive in the water.
 Some were afraid to dive in the water thinking that it was very deep. When one of the guides told us about the island which meant it was not deep, everybody’s heart was relieved and we went for swimming.
 For about one hour later, we were told to get back in our respective boats, and set off back to the shores and have our lunch. 
We were served with delicious chips and fish and a bottle of soda each. We had a very wonderful day.

Mary :

We went to Marine park. We started the journey in the morning.

When we  reached to Marine park, we were told to go and change our school uniform and wear the swimming costumes.

 Were  divided  into groups so that we could go for boat. We really  enjoyed the boat riding.

It was a very fun day.  The bread we had carried we fed the fish with. After the boat riding we went for lunch. 
After eating we went back to school.  

Rasoa:

It was on Friday morning when our teacher told as that we shall be having a trip to Marine Park .
We were all happy because we knew that we shall enjoy  the trip. 
On that day everyone was very smart and noone was dirty.
I am happy because it was my first time to go to Malindi Marine Park. We arrived at Marine Park. The  teachers told us that  the supervisor  they will show us where we will shall go and  change our clothes. 
We went  to the room we change our clothes and wore the swimming costumes .

On that day we had to wait for a moment  so that  the boats to arrive we entered in the boat and we went and enjoy ourselves into the  sea.

Happy House in Focus and Halloween happiness

Our children touched hearts and made us more new friends when Elizabeth Gomm gave a
talk to the Focus group at Poulton Methodist Church.
The group listened intently as Elizabeth told them Mama's inspiring story of the road that led to founding her charity and creating her Happy House, the enduring love and support of Papa Dave, and the stories of some of our children.
They were amazed at the size and scale of the Happy House and of the remarkable transformations being worked on little lives.
A club donation and collection raised £181.84 for the Happy House.
Thank you Focus for giving Elizabeth such a warm reception.

Halloween happiness

It was Fright Friday when staff at  a Blackpool firm dressed up for Halloween.

And as a result Contractor accountants, Nixon Williams has donated £120 to the Happy House.

Marketing manager, Mark Clarke,  said: "Your charity was suggested by  Nathan Cooke, a member of staff, as our monthly charity.  

 Every month the staff here at Nixon Williams have a ‘Dress Down Friday’ on the final Friday and donate £2 that month's selected charity

 Last month in particular was a highlight as some of our staff members got dressed up for Halloween,  

 There were some really good costumes!''

Christmas Fair

Come along to see us today at the Best Little Network's Christmas Market Extravaganza at Wendy Holland's Fitness Studio, Butts Close, Thornton Cleveleys, from 2pm to 5pm.

We will have lots of love handmade craft items on sale for the Happy House plus our Happy House bags, bracelets, information and details on how you can change a life by sponsoring a Happy House child.

It's going to be a fab event with some fantastic ladies showcasing their businesses with the emphasis on Christmas shopping. Santa will be calling in and there will be activities to keep the kids busy while you shop.

Safe at last, Brian can discover a real childhood

There will always be room for another ... just as Mama starts rearranging space to ensure that we can fulfil that promise to the children who need us, the 88th member of our family has arrived.
Brian,a nine- year-old in need of protection from a violent relative, with a known history of child abuse, he came to the  Happy House.
Uncle Billy says Brian's plight was highlighted by his class teachers who called the Happy House for help worried that he was being subjected to beatings at home .
On Monday, neighbours unable to watch the continued ill-treatment, reported the relative to the police.
''We could wait no longer especially as she had been reported to the police which must have infuriated her further and put him at even higher risk. He is now safe and sound."
Uncle Billy said the little boy had endured cruelty, hunger and had been forced into child labour.
Now he is in our family he can finally enjoy, what every child deserves,a childhood free from worry and fear.
''Welcome home Brian. Please feel at home," adds Uncle Billy.
Brian arrived just in time to join in the excitement of the last day of term!
And instantly found that not only does he have new schoolfriends, he also has 87 brothers and sisters all eager to make him feel welcome and at home.
Papa Dave was one of the first to welcome him and soon got him chatting about football ... signing him up to his fan following for Leeds United  - the team Papa always says is the BEST!
It costs £20 a month to sponsor a Happy House kid like Brian and to help us give our children a safe home in our loving family and an outstanding education.  If you would like to know more please visit http://www.childrenofwatamu.net/sponsored-child-scheme/sponsored-child-scheme-watamu   or email elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net

Christmas Market: 

If you are anywhere on the Fylde coast tomorrow (Saturday) please pop along to the Best Little Network Best Little Christmas Market Extravaganza at Wendy Holland Fitness Studios, Butts Close, Thornton, from 2pm-5pm.

Little Network is a not for profit ladies only networking organisation.

This is their first official Best Little Network Sales event, where lovely ladies will get to showcase their businesses and an official fundraiser as they are donating part of the proceeds to Happy House and also to Trinity Hospice.

There will be a a big variety of stalls with some unique and original gift ideas, plus tombola and raffle,

And, of course, our Happy House helpers will be busy on our stall .

A true family event there will be some fantastic ideas to keep the children happy whilst mum & dad go shopping for Christmas gifts and Santa will be popping in!

Pictured are from left: Naomi Brown, Jo Smith and Mel Hesketh.