HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE HELEN O'GRADY DRAMA ACADEMY

With much of the country covered in snow, many children will be wondering if Father Christmas is already on his way - as the sleigh, pulled by the trusty reindeer, is one of the more reliable forms of transport right now.

To all Principals, teachers, students, parents and friends of the

Helen O'Grady Drama Academy, we at Head Office extend a wish for a very Happy Festive Season, hopefully spent with family and friends. May the weather be kind to you and allow you to visit where you will and when the New Year comes, may it bring peace, health, happiness and continued success to you all.

SNOW CONTINUES TO AFFECT CLASSES - BUT NOT MORALE!

Bolton Principal, Karen Ryder, may have been kept away from lessons by the snow, but she is not one to miss a marketing opportunity! She just saw the snow as another chance to let everyone know about her wonderful classes!

Scotland has been one of the worst hit areas and Tayforth Principal, Barbara Brett, has faced a week of challenges. But, when you live in such a beautiful part of the UK, you can take a little time out to enjoy the views!

Most classes should be back to normal this week but the weather forecasters are not optimistic! There could well be more snow on the way.

GRADY BEAR'S ADVENTURES

Over the last twelve months, many branches have introduced the students in their younger classes to their very own 'Grady Bear'. A child is chosen each week to take home the bear and record his adventures in a scrap book which will be kept in class. Bolton Principal, Karen Ryder, decided to take her Grady on his own adventure. He is here in the snow with Karen.

Then (below) she took him to Blackpool, here is he is in front of the famous Black pool Tower and then ................. ............................................they went ice skating together.

The North West of England has not had as much snow as some parts of the country but Grady certainly had lots of fun in the cold wind and on the ice.

HELEN O'GRADY IN THE SNOW!

Like many others around the country, Leicester Principal, Beth Daniel, has been unable to run all her classes this week because of the heavy snow. Above is the view from her office window and below the fields nearby.

South London have a particularly bad few days with many classes cancelled.Croydon Principal, Ian Brown, dressed for the weather, did find some time to play in the snow.

BIG FREEZE AT HEAD OFFICE!

National Director, Nigel Le Page, reported there was two feet of snow in Guernsey this morning. It's certainly unusual for the Channel Islands! Here's his picture.

MORE NATIONAL TALKING DAY! PICTURES

All over the country Principals have been raising money for Children In Need. Many branches of the Academy invited parents into class to join in their childrens' lesson. Lots of them were encouraged to wear something spotty. In Leicestershire, Rebekah Davidson (above) single handedly (well with just a little help from her dad!) raised £260. Well done to her!

The talking - and certainly the fundraising - continues. The academy will be collecting spare change for Pudsey right through this term. You can get involved by visiting our website - http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ - or send a donation to the address on this blog.

Keeeeep talking!

TALKING FOR BARNARDOS IN N.W.IRELAND

Now the talking is almost over for Children In Need, Academy students in North West Ireland are holding their own Talking Week in aid of Barnardos Ireland. Principal, Angela Gallagher, sent this picture of some of her Manorhamilton class preparing for their talking which will take place all this week.

Good luck and best wishes to them all. Watch out for more pictures!

THE CHEQUE FOR SIR TERRY!

Training Manager, Margaret Darley, seen above centre with South Wales Principal and Training Supervisor, Becky Goodfield (R) and her Manager, Helen Ward, were lucky enough to attend a special reception at the BBC on Friday before joining the audience for the second half of the big Children In Need extravaganza.

The South Wales branch of the Academy raised more than £2,000 towards the final total and Becky was very proud to present the cheque to Sir Terry Wogan live on air. It was a star studded evening, with the second half opened by Sir Tom Jones and featuring, among others, Heaven 17, Pixie Lott and Maroon 5, as well as excerpts from several West End shows.

Fundraising will continue until the end of the year so it is not too late to be involved. Visit our website http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ for full details or send your donation to the address on this blog. Raising money for Children In Need has become an annual event for all branches of the Academy and it was wonderful to have a prescence at the show.

The only slight disappointment of the evening was the fact Take That were performing on the earlier show and the girls had to be content with seeing their performance on the big screen in the reception - and knowing they were actually in the same building!

This is as close as Margaret got to Take That!

THE BIG DAY!

Today is the day Children In Need takes over the airwaves. You will see and hear Pudsey on almost every programme through the BBC today and, of course, the big show is on tonight.

A team from Head Office will be there to present the big cheque for £50,000. Principals around the country and their students have worked extremely hard towards the target and the Academy is proud to be representing them tonight. See us on the show in the 'late' spot, from 10.30 to 2am.

A big, big thank you to everyone who has been involved including our printers, Franchise-Connect and a special vote of thanks to The Waldegrave Arms in Chewton Mendip, Somerset, who have taken National Talking Day! to their heart. Tonight their barmaids will be dressed in our special edition tee shirts requesting donations from every customer who speaks in the pub!

It's not too late to be involved. Visit our website to download a sponsor form or send a donation to the address on this blog. We will happily link to your website if you provide details.

CHARLES DICKENS SUPPORTS BBC CHILDREN IN NEED!

Last year Bromley Principal, Helen Walls, was among the Helen O'Grady team at the BBC Children In Need show to present the big cheque. With her students she raised more than £800 towards the final total. This year she is on track to better that amount but will not be able to attend the show. For very good reason!

As part of The Chelsfield Players Helen is playing Mrs. Cratchitt in a production of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'. And not only Helen. Her Chislehurst teacher is playing the Ghost of Christmas Present and 11 children from her drama classes have roles too. So, as well as National Talking Day! and because Helen can not be at the show this year the Chelsfield Players will be doing the following to raise even more money for Children In Need.

• Asking the audience to donate to guess the name of Robinson Crusoe's parrot. The winner will receive said parrot!
• Charging the audience for mince pies and Christmas cake during the interval.
• Sending Tiny Tim and Scrooge out with a bucket for donations at the end of the show.

Helen says: "The information in our programme really echoes the ethos of BBC Children In Need and the work they do today. It's almost like we planned it!" The information says:

Ingnorance and Want

"One major theme in A Christmas Carol was rooted in Dickens'
observations of the plight of the children of London's poor. Thousands of
children were living in unimaginable poverty, filth and disease. In 1839 it was
estimated that nearly half of all funerals in London were for children under the
age of ten. Those who survived grew up without education or resource and virtually no chance to escape the cycle of poverty. Dickens felt this cycle could only be broken through education and became interested in the Ragged Schools in London."

This makes us all think about what a great job Children In Need does and makes us proud to be involved in their fundraising efforts.

We wish wish Helen and her colleagues the best of luck with the play and look forward to hearing about the rewards of all their efforts.

MORE NATIONAL TALKING DAY! NEWS

The talking continues in Helen O'Grady classes this week as students head for the target of £50,000 to present to BBC Children In Need at their big show on Friday. From Glasgow to Portsmouth, Belfast to Cambridge, students have put their money where their mouth is and have wonderful stories to tell.

In Northampton (pictured in group below) Principal, Sarah Moloney, invited the local BBC radio station to join join in. Click here to listen to what the children, the parents and the Principal had to say.

It's not too late to be involved. Visit our website http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ and download a sponsor form or send your donation to the address on this blog.

Our children are really making a difference to children less fortunate than themselves. You can too.

HELEN O'GRADY PRINCIPAL APPEARS IN 'ACCUSED' ON BBC1 TONIGHT!

The BBC tonight launches a new Jimmy McGovern drama series : 'The Accused'.

Preston Principal, Sarah Ibbotson (stage name Sarah Jane Corrigan) and teacher, Andrea Willams, both have small roles in the series. Sarah (pictured right) plays a bank clerk in tonight's episode alongside former Dr. Who, Christopher Eccleston.

CHILDREN IN SOUTH WALES VISIT THE WELSH ASSEMBLY ON NATIONAL TALKING DAY!

NATIONAL TALKING GETS UNDERWAY!

In drama classes all over the country, children are talking and raising money for BBC Children In Need.

NATIONAL TALKING DAY! 2010

Today, WEDNESDAY 10th NOVEMBER, is NATIONAL TALKING DAY! Children in drama classes all around the country will be talking with their families and with their teachers to raise money for BBC Children In Need.

Famous for its strong belief in verbal communication, the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy launched National Talking Day! in 2009 and, through sponsorship, its students raised almost £40,000. This year the target is £50,000.

The talking is not restricted to children. Business people, politicians and celebrities have been encouraged to join in too. And it's not too late to participate. The talking goes on right up to the 19th November when a team from Helen O'Grady Head Office will present a cheque on the television show. Visit http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/ for full information.

STEPHEN FRY OFFERS SUPPORT ...... FROM AFAR!

When we launched National Talking Day! in support of BBC Children In Need, we felt Stephen Fry would be an excellent ambassador, given his command of the English language and his love of conversation. His PA sent this reply to our invitation for him to join us on 10th November.

"If Stephen had five lives he would be delighted to consider becoming an Ambassador for National Talking Day. The fact is, however, he is deep in commitments to the charities, organisations and individuals he currently supports, as well as snowed under with promises, half promises and everything in-between to others.

Stephen is very sorry to turn you down but he cannot pretend he can find the time to offer you more than his support from afar."

We really appreciate the fact he bothered to reply and we know Stephen will remain a role model to anyone with a wish to hold meaningful and amusing conversations.

SPECIAL EDITION TEE SHIRT LAUNCHED

Branches around the country will be taking delivery this week of the Helen O'Grady/BBC Children In Need tee shirts. Children in drama classes nationwide will be wearing the limited edition tee shirts with pride as they head towards National Talking Day! on Wednesday 10th November.

For full details of how you can take part, visit our website - http://www.helenogrady.co.uk/

Please, put your money where your mouth is and support our massive fundraising effort.

FORMER APPRENTICE STAR SPEAKS FOR PUDSEY!

Business woman, Claire Young, who is passionate about youth enterprise, was originally known as an Apprentice finalist in 2008. She hopes to join children from the Academy on National Talking Day! and has this message: "To have reached the place I am now, I had to do a lot of talking - particularly in Lord Sugar's boardroom! I have never had a problem with speaking but, in these days of social networking and texting etc., verbal communication is a vital skill for young people to retain and, if they can use this skill to raise money for others less fortunate than themselves, we should support them all we can! Let's all get talking with the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy for BBC Children In Need!"

Perhaps Claire's old colleague's from The Apprentice should take note too - businesses can also take part in National Talking Day! Download details from www.helenogrady.co.uk

COUNTRYFILE STAR COMMENDS HELEN O'GRADY TALKERS!

BBC Children In Need is a charity close to the heart of television presenter, Julia Bradbury, who last year was a participant in their 'Around The World In Eighty Days'. Of National Talking Day! she said: "Children should be the next generation of talkers so I commend their efforts on National Talking Day! Having conversations to support BBC Children In Need will only not raise lots of money but also raise the children's awareness of others much less fortunate than themselves. Well done everyone in the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy!"

Julia is pictured here when she reached the top of Scafell Pike (Skyworks)

SUE PERKINS SUPPORTS NATIONAL TALKING DAY!

Comedian and television presenter, Sue Perkins, who recently invited viewers to 'get baking' for BBC Children In Need, whole heartedly supports the Academy's efforts on National Talking Day! "What better way to raise money than for children around the country to talk to each other so showing their support for children less fortunate than themselves?" she said. "We need to encourage the art of conversation so I urge everyone to put their money where their mouth is on 10th November and talk up a storm for BBC Children In Need!"

Momentum is building and we plan for every branch of the Academy in the UK to be involved in a day of talking. More information soon!

HELEN O'GRADY NATIONAL TALKING DAY! IN AID OF BBC CHILDREN IN NEED

Following the huge success last year, the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy is proud to once again host NATIONAL TALKING DAY! on Wednesday 10th November 2010, followed by a whole week of talking for money in its after school classes.

Last year, children in drama classes around the country spent a few minutes talking to parents, to teachers and to each other to raise money for BBC Children In Need. The same will be happening again in a few weeks time.

The Academy has once again set a target of £50,000 which it hopes to present, on national television, to Sir Terry and Tess at the Big Night In on Friday 19th November.

Schools and businesses will also have the opportunity to be involved, check back here for more information very soon.

The Academy is in the business of developing communication skills and this will be happening big time in November. Once again we ask everyone to "Put your money where your mouth is!" and join the country in conversation on 10th November.

REMOTE EMPLOYMENT AWARDS 2010

In a lavish ceremony yesterday at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London, National Director, Nigel Le Page, was delighted to present the Helen O'Grady Special Award to Janine Van Den Berg.

Janine was the outright winner from a shortlist of six candidates andwill become Principal of the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy in Harrow, Middlesex. Janine's background in the arts and, in particular, acting and singing, made her an excellent candidate to operate an Academy. Her passions for children and the theatre, along with her business experience, provide her with all the necessary credentials to be a most successful Academy owner. Janine will bring energy, enthusiasm and a positive approach to running her own business.

Janine said: “I have been striving towards this goal for a long time and to have won the Helen O’Grady Special Award and to have been recognised in this way is absolutely wonderful. I am over the moon and very excited to be joining such a well renowned organisation and can’t wait to start teaching the children and look forward to a long and fruitful career. I am deeply thankful to the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy and to Remote Employment for making this possible.”

Earlier in the ceremony, last year's winners spoke about the effect of winning awards. Karen Reyburn, who won last year's Home Worker Award and Polly Marsh who won the Remote Employer Award joined Nigel Le Page to answer questions. Nigel was speaking on behalf of Exeter Principal, Abbe Martin, who won the Helen O'Grady Special Award in 2009 and who was yesterday, with the new term fast approaching, busy with setting up her new classes for 2010 after a successful first year in business.

Before closing the proceedings, Ken Sheridan, co-founder of Remote Employment with Paula Wynne, introduced entrepreneurs Karen Darby (Call Britannia) and Claire Young (former runner up on 'The Apprentice') who were happy to pass on some of their knowledge to the assembled business people.

Janine is now looking forward to training with other new Helen O'Grady Franchisees in Bristol and to starting her very own classes in the New Year. All at Helen O'Grady welcome her to the network and wish her the best of luck!

KINDY DRAMA NOW AVAILABLE IN MORE AREAS

A further training day this week, in the delivery of the Kindy Drama Programme for pre-school children, means classes will be available soon in even more areas of the UK. Four Principals based in the North West of England and their teachers spent a fun day with Academy Training Manager, Margaret Darley, covering all aspects of the programme and workshopping the curriculum which will be presented to the children in the new school term.



PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS WORKSHOP THE PLAY: "A SURPRISE FOR MUM AND DAD"

The lessons are 45 minutes long and packed with exciting elements, designed to increase children's confidence and their formative vocabulary skills. They also include training in team work, sharing skills and socialisation skills. The curriculum has songs and rhymes and lots of pros and dressing up.

"WE LOVE DRAMA - YAY!!!"

To find out more about the classes, visit our website: www.helenogrady.co.uk and contact the Principal of your local branch.

SUMMER SEMINAR

Principals from the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy met earlier this month on the beautiful island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands for another informative and motivating seminar. Part of the day was spent workshopping the curriculum for the new term and, as always, Principals joined in with gusto!

PRINCIPALS, HELEN WALLS (BROMLEY)

AND BECKY GOODFIELD (SOUTH WALES)

DEBATE A POINT IN A YOUTH THEATRE GAME

NORTH SURREY PRINCIPALS, ANDY BEYNON

AND LISA DAVIDSON ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS REALLY!

As part of the proceedings at the July Seminar Nigel Le Page presents his National Director's Award to a Principal who has made an outstanding contribution in some way. Portsmouth Principal, Anrea Ward, was delighted to receive the award in recognition of the work she had put in to help her sister, who is Director of the charity Village Africa, organise a national ambulance drive. See earlier blogs for full details.

ANDREA RECEIVES HER AWARD FROM

NATIONAL DIRECTOR, NIGEL LE PAGE

After a busy day, everyone took the boat over to Herm for a barbecue - with tropical island theme dress! It was a beautiful evening and the dress made it very colourful to say the least!

ANA VAZ AND LILIANA BRITES, WHO

RUN A BRANCH OF THE ACADEMY IN PORTUGAL

BETH DANIEL, WHO WILL RUN

THE NORTH LEICESTERSHIRE BRANCH

AND GILL HOLLIS FROM SOUTH MANCHESTER

At these events there is always a prize for the best male and best female fancy dress of the evening. This is always a difficult decision as everyone makes a huge effort.

PRESTON PRICIPAL SARAH IBBOTSON

CERTAINLY LOOKED THE PART!

NOT SO EASY FOR THE MEN ....
'NICKOLA' (NICK) CHADWIN, SHEFFIELD PRINCIPAL,
FOUGHT OFF THE COMPETITION

THE MANAGEMENT TEAM
TRAINING MANAGER - MARGARET DARLEY
NATIONAL DIRECTOR - NIGEL LE PAGE
EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL - ALISON MAZANEC

END OF TERM IN KINDY DRAMA

Children from East Harptree Pre-school in Somerset finished their last term in nursery with a presentation of the Kindy Drama skills they had been practising through the year. Academy Training Manager, Margaret Darley, teaches the classes and was delighted to meet parents and show them the progress their children had made. After a rousing 'Hello Song' the children demonstrated their speech exercises, with lots of actions!

BIG BRIGHT BEACH BALLS BOUNCE, BOUNCE, BOUNCE!

The movement section involved them in different expressions, and helped their concentration as Margaret demonstrated the required emotion and they copied.

WE ARE VERY EXCITED CHILDREN!

Lessons are split into themes and their most recent one was 'Beach & Ocean' and the class performed an adapted version of a Lower Primary Mime to Music called the Giant Octopus - ably assisted by their teacher, Lynne, as the octopus.

WE'RE NOT SCARED OF THE OCTOPUS!

To help listening skills the children are required to follow a series of instructions - helped by their class mates of course!

I AM WADDLING LIKE A PENGUIN!

To finish their show, each child had a finger puppet of some kind of sea creature and they sang 'The Fish In The Sea Go Swim, Swim, Swim' to the tune of 'The Wheels On The Bus'. Nursery Manager, Margaret Ballantyne, was happy to join in.

THE SEAHORSES GO UP AND DOWN, UP AND DOWN .......

All that remained was the singing of the 'Goodbye Song' and the show was over. Many of these children will now move on to primary drama classes in the new school year and Margaret is looking forward to meeting the new class in September for another exciting year of Kindy Drama.