POD Charity Assembly
During an informative and moving assembly, we learnt about the great work POD do to provide magic shows and entertainers to sick children in hospital. We heard about the range of entertainers, puppeteers and magicians who can bring some laughter and happiness to children having a difficult time. We are doing a number of activities this half term to support this worthwhile cause.
POD Children's Charity (Spring Term 2013)
Thank you to everyone who brought in their pound to support Pod Children's Charity; a fantastic organisation which helps to bring a little magic, fun and laughter into the lives of many thousands of sick children in hospitals and hospices. Magicians, musicians, puppeteers, storytellers and clowns give monthly shows in children's hospitals, hospices and children's wards throughout the UK, helping to make children in hospital feel better. Year 6 made a special effort to spend a relaxed day at school wearing their colourful onesies.
Carmel McConnell, founder of the charity Magic Breakfast, visited Fairseat. We were all shocked to hear that some children, many of whom attend other local schools, are sometimes too hungry to learn. Carmel was so saddened by this situation that she decided to help and worked hard to create Magic Breakfast. This is a small but very special charity which provides breakfast for school children in the UK, who otherwise would go without. We learnt that 700,000 children in this country arrive at school too hungry to study and we could enable them to have a nutritious breakfast for just 22p a day.
Through our hugely successful cake sale and home clothes day this term, we have been raising money for Magic Breakfast. We are looking forward to more fundraising events this term and hope to provide as many children with breakfast as we possibly can.Watch this space for our grand total!
This term's chosen charity at Fairseat is St Joseph's Pastoral Centre, a local charity who work with people with learning difficulties. The big fundraising evening is February 9th when the Junior school musicians join forces with the Senior school girls to put on a concert at St Philip The Apostle Church in Finchley. It should be an evening of wonderful music making! Please come and support us there.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the wonderful collection of food for our Harvest Festival. Miss Pepper organised a fantastic assembly with help from Year 6. All the food that was donated was taken to CARIS Haringey, which provides assistance for homeless families in the borough. We would like to thank Mrs Gee-Grant, Mrs Mules and Mrs Ozin for packing all the food up and Mrs Hagopian and Mrs O’Neill for transporting the food to CARIS.
We were delighted to welcome Nick White to assembly to talk about the Newman HolidayTrust, a charitable organisation which takes disadvantaged, disabled children on holiday. They run six trips a year providing one to one attention through volunteers for children who may not otherwise get a break. We look forward to supporting this very worthy cause. News to follow of our campaigns...
Earlier this year Fairseat raised a staggering £2217.03 for Amasango, a school which supports some of the neediest and most neglected children in Grahamstown, South Africa. During our assembly, we were treated to a visit by Mama Jane (Jane Bradshaw), Head Teacher of Amasango. Miss Tarr presented her with the cheque. Jane told Fairseat how important this money is and promised that every penny would be used to help the children she works with so that they learn and thrive. Fairseat were shocked to discover that the children of Amasango school have to use a disused train station as a school, that there are more children than classrooms and that the children need help to obtain and use the most basic supplies including clothing, food and toothbrushes. We were all delighted when Jane taught us to sing a hymn in Xhosa, that the children at Amasango enjoy called, ‘Singabahambayo thina kulomhlaba, Siye khaya ezulwini’.
With smiles, colourful clothing and fabulous fairy cakes, Fairseat enjoyed a deliciously successful charity day to raise money for Project Harar. Pupils enjoyed the opportunity to dress to feel happy. With the added delight of a cake sale, Smile Day was a tasty triumph. Congratulations to all involved!
Mr Crown told Fairseat about his charity, Project Harar, which we are supporting this term. With a selection of slides and stories, Mr Crown explained how, many years ago, he had visited Ethiopa and seen two young boys who were suffering with horrific facial disfigurement. Mr Crown arranged to bring the boys to London to undergo life changing surgery. Now, Mr Crown's initial concern and kindness has developed into an established charity which enables children and adults to be treated in Ethiopa for a range of facial disfigurements ranging from hyena attacks to cleft palette. We were all very moved by the pictures we saw and stories we learned and are delighted to support such a worthy cause. On the last Friday of this term, Fairseat will be organising a 'smile day' to raise money for Project Harar. Activities are detailed in the letter from Miss Pepper. Many thanks for helping us to back Project Harar.
Fairseat pupils covered a giant 'Hello Kitty' in change to raise money for Japan when disaster struck. This quick and effective activity made over £500. It is amazing what a big difference a little change can make.
