Happy Friday! 👋 If you've ever tried to surprise someone, you know the hardest part is keeping people quiet. Now imagine coordinating a secret wedding with an entire school. Somehow, they pulled it off – and this week's lead story will make you believe in the impossible.

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Feel good stories from Happilynews.com guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Principal Brianna Lanoye had noticed something was off that school morning. Her students at Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School seemed... dressy. Sure, Fridays meant kids could ditch their uniforms for their own clothes, but this felt different. Too coordinated and way too formal.

She brushed it off. Maybe she was overthinking things.

She wasn't.

What Principal Lanoye didn't know was that for weeks, her entire school community had been orchestrating an elaborate secret – one that would end with her walking down an aisle she never expected, toward a ceremony she had no idea was coming.

The mastermind behind it all? Her friend and assistant principal Courtney Champlin, who knew exactly how much the school meant to her colleague. Ms. Lanoye had built this place from the ground up, serving as founding principal of the school's second Doat Street campus in Buffalo, New York. She'd guided it through COVID when enrolment sat at just 60 students. Now, six years in, that number had swelled to more than 425 students and staff.

Champlin also knew something else: Ms. Lanoye's official wedding to her fiancé, Zach Klapp, was scheduled for Sunday, October 12 – and the principal would have loved nothing more than to have all her students there to celebrate. That, of course, wasn't logistically possible.

But what if the wedding came to them?

Ms. Champlin got to work. She coordinated with teachers on decorations, reached out to parents with discreet requests to keep the secret locked down tight, and – perhaps most crucially – contacted Zach to make sure he and both of their moms could be there when the moment arrived.

Meanwhile, middle schoolers began secretly rehearsing to lead the ceremony itself. Elementary students were assigned roles in the bridal party. Teacher Greg McClure prepared to capture everything on video.

And somehow, miraculously, not a single one of those 425 people spilled the beans.

Then came the big day. With Mr. McClure's camera rolling, colleagues pulled Ms. Lanoye aside and presented her with a veil. That's when they told her: she was having a wedding. Right now. At school.

The principal's hands flew to her face. She stood frozen in disbelief, tears already forming, as the reality hit home.

Then, outside in the school's backyard, her entire school community waited. Zach stood at the end of an aisle and students lined the path, barely containing their excitement. And Ms. Champlin – wearing a tuxedo T-shirt for the occasion – walked Ms. Lanoye down the aisle and "gave her away."

As Ms. Lanoye made her way toward Zach, kids erupted in screams of pure joy. She smiled and waved from side to side, overwhelmed by the scene unfolding around her.

The middle schoolers led the ceremony with confidence, taking turns to thank their principal for everything she'd done for them. Elementary students played their bridal party roles perfectly. By the time it was over, there wasn't a dry eye on campus.

The school later shared video of the surprise online, where it quickly filled with loving messages from people moved by what they'd witnessed.

For Ms. Lanoye, reflecting on the day still brings a flood of emotion. She's described seeing everyone gathered there as "the purest sense of joy and happiness" she's ever felt.

The fact that students led the ceremony held particular meaning. Empowering student voices is something the school believes in deeply, and watching those kids step up with such poise made the moment even more beautiful.

Nine days later, Ms. Lanoye and Klapp made it official at their planned ‘real’ ceremony. But that surprise? It had already given her something irreplaceable.

As she put it: after experiencing that kind of love from her school community, it's impossible to ever have a bad day again.

Watch the video of the wholesome moment here

It’s not all doom and gloom out there. Here’s some positive news items from publications around the world.

📍Ohio, USA
🧸 This 9-Year-Old Is Making The Holidays Brighter For Hundreds Of Sick Children
Jack from central Ohio has one goal this holiday season: make sure no kid spends Christmas in hospital without a cuddly companion. The inspirational kid founded Jack's Bravery Bears last year when he collected 445 stuffed bears for young patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital. But this year he's aiming to go bigger and reach 500. Neighbors, classmates, and church friends have all pitched in, and his home is now overflowing with plush smiles waiting to be delivered. (Read more 👉 SunnySkyz)

📍Arizona, USA
📱 One Wrong Text, Ten Thanksgivings Later
Remember the "Thanksgiving Grandma" story? In 2016, Wanda Dench accidentally texted a dinner invite to 17-year-old Jamal Hinton instead of her grandson. He asked if he could still come. She said yes – because that's what grandmas do. A decade later, the unlikely pair just celebrated their 10th Thanksgiving together. What’s even sweeter is Wanda, who battled breast cancer last year, is now cancer-free giving the pair something else to be thankful for this year. Some friendships are meant to be. (Read more 👉 People)

📍Gaza
🚗 The Popemobile Has a New Mission - Saving Children’s Lives
A vehicle Pope Francis used during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem has been transformed into a mobile pediatric clinic for children in Gaza. The converted Mitsubishi pickup – where the late Pope once stood and waved to crowds – now features a treatment area capable of helping around 200 children a day. Francis blessed the initiative before his death in April, and organizers hope to get it into Gaza as soon as possible. (Read more 👉 NBC News)

📍Virginia, USA
🗳️ A 19-Year-Old Just Beat His Civics Teacher in an Election – And It Was Surprisingly Wholesome
In a race that proves politics doesn't have to be ugly, Cameran Drew of Surry County, Virginia defeated the incumbent for a seat on the Board of Supervisors – by just 10 votes. That incumbent was Kenneth Bell, Cameran's former high school civics teacher. Rather than attack his young opponent's age, Bell defended him on the campaign trail. And when the votes were counted, his response was gracious: congratulations, pride, and love. If this is what the next generation of politics looks like, we're here for it. (Read more 👉 Good News Network)

📍UK
🐕 How a 'Hero' Dog's Bark Saved Her Owner's Life
When Polly the golden retriever started barking just before 1am, her owner Hannah Cooke woke to find her husband Adam breathing strangely beside her – then not at all. Hannah quickly performed CPR until paramedics arrived, who shocked Adam's heart seven times on the way to hospital. He woke up six days later. Adam, a keen runner who was just 37 at the time, was later diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. He's since been fitted with an implantable defibrillator – and he credits his survival to his wife and his dog for alerting her to the medical crisis. Polly was recently honored as a "CPR Hero" by the British Heart Foundation. As for how she's handling the attention? According to Adam, she loves it. (Read more 👉 BBC)

📍Oklahoma, USA
🧶 This Bus Driver Is Knitting Hats for All 100 of Her Students
When her daughter gifted her a new knitting machine, school bus driver Tina Hutcherson had an idea: why not make a hat for every single kid on her route? She's now working her way through all 100 students, letting them pick their colors and making each hat reversible. She says the goal isn't just keeping heads warm. As Tina puts it: "I hope they know somebody loves them." (Read more 👉 Good Good Good)

📍Virginia, USA
🦝 A Raccoon Broke Into a Liquor Store and Got So Drunk He Passed Out in the Bathroom
Look, this isn't strictly good news – in fact, it must have been a rough next day for the raccoon in question – but in these somewhat dark times, sometimes you just need to raise a smile… Officials in Hanover County, Virginia responded to a call at a liquor store over the weekend and discovered a raccoon passed out in the bathroom. The furry burglar had broken in, ransacked the shelves, and sampled multiple types of alcohol before passing out. After a few hours of sleep at the shelter (and presumably a brutal hangover), he was released back into the wild after health checks. Click through to see the video for yourself. (read more 👉 ABC News)

A unique, sometimes quirky, but always eye-catching photo feature each week.

When you hear "firefighter calendar," a certain image probably springs to mind: shirtless hunks, strategically placed suspenders, maybe some baby oil catching the light.

Cape Coral's 2026 Rescue Meets Rescue Calendar is not that calendar.

Instead, firefighters from the Cape Coral Fire Department are fully clothed—and fully smitten—cuddling some of the city's most adoptable cats and dogs. The 15-month calendar pairs first responders with animals from the Cape Coral Animal Shelter, capturing them sliding down fire poles with Chihuahuas, posing in front of ladder trucks with puppies, and snuggling kittens at the station.

Firefighters were apparently lining up to participate. "There were people that were fighting in line trying to get involved," says Lt. Jason Spinner. "Everybody loves pets, and everybody has a soft spot in their heart for pets that can't find a home."

Photographer Ashley Roper-Lay of Grind & Press Photography shot the whole thing for free—her husband works for the department—and even brought her five-year-old daughter along for some of the shoots.

Amazingly, all the pets featured have already found forever homes. But there are plenty more waiting at the shelter.

The calendars cost $20, with proceeds benefiting both the animal shelter and the fire department's community programs. You can grab a copy here.

So there you go. Now you know what to get grandma for Christmas.

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Family Mindfulness in Micro-Moments

Mindfulness doesn't require silence or spare time – just tiny pauses woven into what you're already doing. Try a two-minute breath check-in after dinner: everyone takes two slow breaths, then shares one thing they notice in their body, one feeling, and one thing they're grateful for. On walks, pause for 60 seconds and have each person name something they see, hear, and feel. At mealtimes, try "rose and thorn" – each person shares one highlight and one challenge from their day. These small rituals help families slow down, regulate emotions, and actually notice each other again.

The Universe's average colour is called 'Cosmic latte'. In a 2002 study, astronomers found that the light coming from galaxies averaged into a beige colour that’s close to white. (Source: Science Focus)

43BC: Roman orator and politician Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated by soldiers under the command of Mark Anthony.

1848: US President James K. Polk triggers the Gold Rush by confirming a gold discovery in California.

1865: 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution is ratified, abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude.

1933: Prohibition ends in the US at 5:32 PM EST when the 21st Amendment to the US constitution is ratified.

2006: NASA reveals photos that suggest the presence of liquid water on Mars.

Can you find the encoded countries?

Hint: The letter indicates the first letter of the country, and the number represents the number of letters in the country name.

1) H5
2) V9
3) D7
4) J7
5) F6
6) N6
7) P4
8) Z8
9) R7
10) Q5

Answers at the bottom of the newsletter

*Studies show that watching heartwarming videos can boost your mood. So sit back and start your weekend positively - doctors orders!

🧠 Brain Teaser Answer

1) H5 = Haiti
2) V9 = Venezuela
3) D7 = Denmark
4) J7 = Jamaica
5) F6 = France
6) N6 = Norway
7) P4 = Peru
8) Z8 = Zimbabwe
9) R7 = Romania
10) Q5 = Qatar