SPECIAL CHRISTMAS FOR LONDON PRINCIPAL

This week, Academy Principal, Emma Steel, had a wonderful white wedding in the snow! Emma, who is Principal in North West London, married Andrew Butler, an actor, who is also actively involved in running the branch. The couple met at drama school and when Emma decided she wanted to use her acting skills to inspire children and help them develop confidence and self esteem, Andrew remembered his own time as a student with the Academy and contacted Head Office. Emma has never looked back, now running classes for almost 250 students in her area. Their wedding took place on a farm in Cheshire, and, as the pictures show, it truly was a white wedding! Everyone at the Academy wishes them all the love and luck in the world for a happy marriage and a successful future.

NEW PRINCIPALS RARING TO GO

From left to right, Catherine Prout, Warwick, Sarah Walton, Blackpool and Abbe Martin, Exeter, are the three new Principals who were chosen from hundreds who entered the Remote Employment Awards this year and are now preparing to start their own Academy in January 2010. After training in October, they were sent away with a list of tasks to work on to have the best possible start in the New Year. All three are very excited. Sarah said: "It was amazing to see my name in the listing on the website http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ It makes it all real and I can't wait to start classes."

In Spain, it is the same story - Jose Miguel Cubillo (L) and Luis Valenzuela (R), seen here with National Director, Nigel Le Page - are working closely with schools in Madrid to confirm classes for 2010. We wish them all the best of luck in the New Year.

PUDSEY SAYS THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

Principals at the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy are still collecting sponsor money and donations following the very successful NATIONAL TALKING DAY! this month.

Some branches have collected thousands of pounds, helping the Academy as a whole edge nearer to their target of £50,000. In South Wales we are grateful to

The Big Yellow Self Storage Company

Dalton Printers

for their kind donations.

It's still not too late to become involved. Details can be downloaded from our website http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/

Thank you to everyone. You have helped make a huge difference to the lives of so many children.

BBC CHILDREN IN NEED UPDATE

On Friday 20th November, a team from the Academy had a great time at the BBC Children In Need Show in London. Fundraising continues and will do until the end of the year. Schools and companies are invited to participate in NATIONAL TALKING DAY! activities. We are grateful for the support of:

AON Insurance Managers, Guernsey

Powell's Primary School, Cirencester

For full details of how to become involved, please visit http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/

PUDSEY ROCKS!

A team from the Academy joined the audience at BBC Television Centre on Friday 20th November to present a cheque to Sir Terry Wogan in favour of BBC Children In Need.

National Director, Nigel Le Page, spoke to Sir Terry live on air, and enjoyed a fantastic, star studded, evening of entertainment which was interspersed with accounts of the children helped by the charity.

The Academy is proud to be a corporate partner of BBC Children In Need. It is, indeed, a fitting charity, enabling children to support other children less fortunate than themselves. Fundraising continues to meet the target of £50,000. It's not too late to donate, please see http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ for full details.

TALKING FOR PUDSEY!

Lower Primary children in Chewton Mendip, Somerset, celebrated their National Talking Day! this week by inviting parents to attend class to listen to their prepared two minute speeches. The teacher offered the children the opportunity to speak in front of everyone and 5 year old Amy took on the challenge. She was speaking about why she liked being a child in her family. Amy only joined the Academy this term and mum was delighted she had the confidence to commit her talk to film!

The class was a great success, and parents were very generous with their sponsor money, raising more than £250 in total, which will go towards the national target of £50,000.

BAG PACKS FOR PUDSEY

Another successful supermarket bag pack took place this weekend by students from the York Academy. Some 50 students and parents, staff, friends and family were all there and Pudsey himself lent a hand.

York Principal, Lindsay Goakes, said "There was a wonderful team spirit and great fun was had by all. I was so proud of our students. They were amazing! Two wee lads, without parents there, packed bags for three hours non-stop with no complaints. All the parents were hugely supportive and felt it was an excellent opportunity for children to give something back.

We had many members of the public and members of staff comment on the excellent behaviour of our children as well as their excellent verbal skills and their confidence."

In all the day raised well over £1,000 towards the Academy's target.

BUSINESS SUPPORTING NATIONAL TALKING DAY!

We are grateful to businesses around the country supporting our fundraising efforts. In South Wales we have had sponsorship from:

Great Western Media

Richard Thomas Solicitors

Mayzmusik

Our thanks also go to

Meantime IT

BAG PACK FOR BBC CHILDREN IN NEED

As part of fundraising for BBC Children In Need, South Wales students, their parents, teachers and numerous friends and family, spent most of their Sunday packing bags in ASDA and collecting funds for BBC Children In Need to add to the sponsorship raised through NATIONAL TALKING DAY! and various other activities.

Principal, Becky Goodfield, said she was very proud of her students: "42 young people came from lots of different classes, in different areas of South Wales. At the start of the day they barely knew any other students but by the end they had all made lots of new friends. They develop excellent communication skills in class and they certainly put them to good use on Sunday."

Deputy Principal, Helen Ward, who is on maternity leave right now, brought new baby Liam along to help. Unfortunately
the Academy didn't have t-shirts in his size!

Fundraising continues throughout this week and we thank everyone for their amazing efforts!

BBC CHILDREN IN NEED

On Friday 13th November, NATIONAL TALKING DAY!, Principals around the UK invited children to speak on a given subject, related to the charity, to raise money for BBC Children In Need. Everyone was invited to dress up for the fun lesson and above, Croydon students have a great time with their teacher (dressed as Buzz Lightyear!) before speaking for their allotted time. The talking continues right through this week until Friday which is the 'official' BBC Children IN Need Day.


And it's not just talking! There have been supermarket bag packs, sponsored walks, bad hair days and, in the Tayforth branch, parents were invited to join their childrens' lessons and paid good money for the privilege.

NATIONAL TALKING DAY!

Although yesterday, 13th November, was the official NATIONAL TALKING DAY! its not too late to put your money where your mouth is!

For the next six days, in Helen O'Grady Drama classes all around the country children will be talking for Pudsey. They made a great start yesterday and already thousands of pounds have been raised.

Thanks and congratulations go to all of those who have taken part so far.

By next Friday, 20th November, which is BBC Children In Need Day, we are confident we will have reached our target of £50,000 raised.

We have also invited contributions from the business community. Our thanks so far go to:
Franchise Connect
Drawbridge Creative Partners

For full information and to download a sponsor form go to http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/

On behalf of all the children helped by BBC Children In Need, we thank you ...... lots!

FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER .................................. IS NATIONAL TALKING DAY!

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!

This is the message going out around the country on Friday 13th November
Children in Helen O'Grady Drama classes all around the country are raising tens of thousands of pounds in sponsorship as they talk to their parents and teachers about BBC Children In Need.

Schools are also joining in and this week the challenge has been laid down to the business community, entertainers, entrepreneurs to gain sponsorship for telephone calls, lectures and even chats around the photocopier.

Last year the Academy presented the charity with a cheque for £20,000. This year the target is £50,000 and counting.

For full details and to download a sponsor form, please visit our website: http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/

And please, put your money where your mouth is ..................................

Thank you

NEW PRINCIPALS IN ACTION

New Principals threw themselves into the action during training last week in Bristol. Executive Principal, Alison Mazanec and Training Manager, Margaret Darley taught the group a specially extended lesson so they could experience as much of the curriculum as possible.

The group found their big voices for the speech work and used their exaggerated drama actions!

There was no language barrier as the English principals worked with their Spanish counterparts to develop a 'snippet' at the end of the week.

In Spain, the Helen O'Grady lessons will be taught in both Spanish and in English to help the students with their communication skills in both languages.

For more information on the Academy in Spain visit http://www.helenogrady.es/

NEW PRINCIPALS TRAINED AND READY TO GO!

Another successful training week was carried out in Bristol last week. Among the Principals training, were Catherine Prout and Abbe Martin, recent winners of the Remote Employment Awards, in which they were awarded their very own Academy. Sarah Walton, runner up in the same awards, trained with them, together with a group from Madrid, who will open the first Academy in that area of Spain in January.

NATIONAL TALKING DAY!

Plans are well underway for the first, annual, Helen O'Grady NATIONAL TALKING DAY! on Friday 13th November in aid of Children In Need.

Principals around the country are ready to deliver thousands of letters to their students and into schools in their area. We have long extolled the virtues of verbal communication, in this world of blogs, texts and social networking sites! What better way to revive the art of conversation than with the aim of raising tens of thousands of pounds?

Last year the Academy presented the charity with a cheque for £20,000 (see below) following an amazing effort by Helen O'Grady students and their teachers all around the country.

This year our aim is much higher. Anyone can join in - we are inviting businesses to gain sponsorship - perhaps for every phone call they make on that day, or for the length of time they talk in meetings. The business community can set an excellent example to younger people by "putting their money where their mouth is!"

This is children raising money for children and children showing off their communication skills for a good cause! You can find out more on our website: http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ and check back here regularly for updates.

NATIONAL DRAMA WEEK

During National Drama Week - 28th September to 4th October - Principals invited special guests to visit their classes. Bolton Principal, Karen Ryder, invited Coronation Street star MAGS GANNON to attend her Prestwich class. She is pictured below with the children. Following the visit Ms Gannon felt inspired to email Helen O'Grady Head Office with her thoughts - see below.

"I have just returned home from a Prestwich class taught by Karen Ryder. I believe it is your "National Drama Week" and because of this (and being a local actress) Karen invited me to my local class. I have to say I have come away most impressed with the way Karen seemlessly covered so much in one hour; it flew by! The rapport between Karen and all the pupils was quite truly astounding - they loved her! I was a little apprehensive wondering what to expect, in fact I was imagining a "bad nativity school play" ... how wrong was I?! Karen did two main parts to the lesson, one was to music about cavemen and the other about an ice cream factory. I don't know who enjoyed it more, me or the children. I am certainly impressed with the Helen O'Grady programme, what you are doing for childrens' self-belief (call it what you wish) is first class; keep up the good work, you have made a 66 year old woman very happy this evening.

Kind regards, Mags Gannon."

NATIONAL DRAMA WEEK - 28th September - 4th October

As part of our 30th Anniversary celebrations, Helen O'Grady branches around the country are this week celebrating National Drama Week. Thousands of invitations have been distributed via existing classes and schools to children who may want to come along and try one of our exciting drama lessons. Principals and teachers around the country are presenting special school workshops to demonstrate the fun elements of a lesson to the students and the benefits of the structured and progressive programme to the teachers.

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HELEN O'GRADY CLASSES IN ACTION

ACADEMY OPENS NEW BRANCH IN WESTERN ISLES, FURTHEST NORTH LOCATION IN THE WORLD!

A very excited group of children from Tong Primary School on the Isle of Lewis following their first drama lesson.

New Principal, Isabelle Maciver (R) with Head of Tong School, Dorothy Kennedy

National Training Manager, Margaret Darley, demonstrating pre-school drama with nursery children in Tong.

This week has seen the opening of the Academy's latest branch in the Western Isles. The Isle of Lewis, where classes are commencing, is the largest and most populous of the Outer Hebridean Islands. The main town, Stornoway, has just over 6,000 residents.

New Principal, Isabelle McIver, has worked with children on the island for many years
and is well known and respected by Head Teachers. She will deliver the curriculum, in after school classes, initially to children from age 5 to 11. Margaret Darley, Training Manager for the Academy, spent the week with her, introducing the programme to schools in the area. Margaret also demonstrated the Academy's new 'Kindy Drama', which will be on offer on Lewis in the new year.

Margaret said: "This is something completely new to the island. Children and parents alike were thrilled with the lessons. Isabelle is an excellent teacher and we know she will offer exciting and fun lessons to all age groups. The school staff I met were impressed with the comprehensive curriculum and the high standard of delivery and are more than happy to recommend the programme to their students."

For more information locally Isabelle can be contacted on 07548 200312.

LIFE CHANGING AWARDS

The Helen O'Grady Drama Academy donated fabulous prizes in the recent Remote Worker Awards. In an exciting ceremony this week, at the beautiful Clivedon House in Berkshire, National Director, Nigel Le Page presented Abbe Martin and Catherine Prout (left and centre in picture) with a fantastic business opportunity. In a very closely fought competition, their entries were both deemed most deserving of the Special Award. Each was presented with a Helen O'Grady Franchise in their area. Runner up, Louise Snell (R) will benefit from a special introductory package as she too starts her own drama business in January 2010.

Abbe's branch will be based in Exeter and Catherine's in Warwick. Louise will be working in the Dorset area. All three girls are over the moon and will be training for their new role in October. Nigel Le Page said, " We worked out a short list of eight candidates, spoke with all of them and studied their applications very carefully. The calibre was so high, we decided to award two first prizes - and we were happy to give Louise a head start too! We are convinced all three ladies will be an asset to the Academy".

NEW PRE-SCHOOL 'KINDY DRAMA'

This week Principals and teachers from the Academy gathered in Manchester and London to train for the exciting new pre-school Kindy Drama Programme, being launched nationally this term. They were required to sing 'The Goodbye Song' (pictured) at the end of their training session as the pre-schoolers will do at the end of their drama lesson! The classes have already been trialled successfully in four areas of the UK and will be available nationwide over the next few months.

The aim of the programme is to give 3 and 4 year olds confidence, self esteem and a good grounding in basic conversational skills. This is done through very busy lessons - which include story, dressing up, some fun speech work and lots of songs and poems. The Academy has already developed these skills for tens of thousands of older children for the last fifteen years.

Training was great fun, Principals loved playing the part of 3 year olds! - and everyone is very excited about their new classes.

National Director's Award 2009

At a recent Seminar in Bristol, the Franchisee and Principal for Malta, Alan Montanaro, was presented with the annual National Director's Award. On presenting the award, National Director Nigel Le Page (pictured left with Alan), said: "Alan has shown dedication and commitment and has ensured the name of Helen O'Grady is recognised as the leader in self development in Malta".

International Franchisors at Thornbury Castle

For the first time this summer, Franchisors from around the world gathered in Bristol to discuss a very exciting future! Helen O'Grady (CI) Ltd. has recently taken over the world wide rights to Helen O'Grady International and hosted this first Seminar. Visitors from all parts of the globe visited Thornbury Castle in South Gloucestershire after the meetings to celebrate their success.

National Director, Nigel Le Page, now Owner and Licensor of the Helen O'Grady Drama System, said: "We had a very productive two days. All of us have the same passion for offering the best to the children who attend our classes, which are the only ones guaranteed to develop children's self esteem and skill in verbal communication. It was a privilege to work with so many positive people. Together, we can take the Academy forward into the future with confidence."

Youth Theatre Productions 2009

Youth Theatre classes around the country performed 'Jason And The Golden Fleece' and 'Blood On Their Hands?' as their end of year shows. In Bristol the Redland and Kingswood Senior Youth Theatres donned their togas with great aplomb for 'Jason' while Portishead, Frampton Cotterell and Keynsham enjoyed wearing the seventies gear for 'Blood?'

Upper Primary Plays - July 2009

Talented students, aged from 9 to 12 years, presented their end of year shows recently. They had great fun as 'Bold Buccaneers', swashbuckling their way to great aclaim. Jake and Lulubelle had plans to 'clean up' in Abilene but the Sheriff - and Jellybone - had other ideas and planned to keep Abilene as 'The Cleanest Town In Texas'. Perfect platform to show off their drama skills and a great time was had by all!

Exciting productions for Lower Primary students!

We are delighted to share some pictures from our end of year productions. Lower Primary children - aged between 5 and 8 years - presented two delightful plays: 'The Wedding' and 'Snake Charmer'. The plays gave students the opportunity to be part of something positive and successful at the end of the Academic year. During previous terms, the children had great fun working on our developmental programme, experiencing many forms of language development through drama in our exciting after school classes.