JULY SEMINAR - A HOT DAY IN BRISTOL!

With the all-important tambourine ready and waiting, another Helen O'Grady Seminar comes and goes.

"The Tambourine of Power"

At the end of this year's very busy production term, when Principals and teachers have been presenting their end of year productions to parents, relations and friends of their students, everyone was still happy to attend the end of term Seminar.

In a temperature of almost 30 degrees C (thank goodness for air conditioning!) Principals from around the UK and Europe met to cover business matters and workshop as much curriculum as they could in one hot day.

A favourite part of the day was workshopping the new Mime to Music: 'The Lazy Worms', creatively taught by South Wales Principal, Becky Goodfield. It certainly was the right sort of day for the worms to move languidly round the garden! But watch out for those pesky blackbirds!

Excited 'students' decide whether it would be best to be a worm or a blackbird.

St. Helens Principal, Andrea Williams, makes a convincing case for being a worm.  Susannah Gill, Training Supervisor, is really not sure!

North Leics Principal, Beth Daniel, takes on the role of the gardener.

Everyone has to be on the look out for the blackbirds, always hovering in the background.

Neil O'Gorman, (L) Principal, South London and Derbyshire Principal, Tom Cheshire make very threatening blackbirds!

There were more serious sides to the day. A great deal of business was also covered, with guest speakers from The Online Marketing Group and Trinity Guildhall.

Several awards were presented: National Director's Award, chosen solely by Nigel Le Page, went to Liverpool Principal, Tracy Shirley. Nigel said Tracy always put the children first and her passion for the programme ensured she had an excellent reputation in her area. Tracy was delighted - if slightly overwhelmed - to accept the award.

National Director, Nigel Le Page, presents Liverpool Principal, Tracy Shirley, with her award.

At each Seminar, as regular readers of this blog will know, the management team chooses a worthy recipient of Grady Bear, a delightful Guernsey Bear who will spend a term with a Franchisee, having all sorts of adventures.  Last term, Lindsay Goakes, York, took him home but she was more than happy to pass the Bear on to Andrea Williams, St. Helens and Warrington. Nigel said "Andrea has proved during the day she gives 100% to all she does. Her portrayal of a lazy worm was spectacular!"

L to R, Lindsay Goakes, Andrea with Grady Bear and National Director, Nigel Le Page

At the end of the day, the annual award was made to the Franchisee of the Year. This year, sisters Lucinda and Jessica Symonds from Cambridge and Herts took the prestigious award. Lucinda has taught with the Academy for many years and she and Jessica took over as Principals two years ago. Nigel praised their dedication and determination to continue to go from strength to strength, In an emotional speech, Lucinda said she couldn't run such a good branch without Jessica and they both agreed their teachers helped to make up an excellent team! Very worthy winners indeed.

The girls were presented with their trophy at an evening celebration on board the SS Great Britain. More news about that evening later this week.

The Management team: Nigel Le Page, Executive Principal, Alison Mazanec and Training Manager, Margaret Darley, stand back as Lucinda (L) and Jessica Symonds share the limelight with their award.

FROM SOUTHAMPTON, BERMUDA TO NEWPORT, SOUTH WALES AND BEYOND!

"The Sword In The Stone" is a new production this year and has been beautifully performed all around the world. Here are some pictures from a Composite class in Bermuda - we are told they executed their lines with beautiful English accents! Well done to all of them, this was their very first Helen O'Grady production.

"Whoever pulls the sword from the stone shall be the rightful king of England."

Will anyone be strong enough?

Surely someone will be able to do it?

"All Hail King Arthur!"

Earlier in the play, the knights all attend the Grand Tournament. Everyone is very excited about the jousting and two girls have been practising. Here is the South Wales version of how that jousting practice concludes.

 

We are so proud our programme is touching so many people's lives around the world. Helen O'Grady teachers the world over are following the same curriculum and parents the world over are seeing the same results. 

Congratulations to students everywhere who have performed already or are still to perform. We are immensely proud of you all!

BBC CHILDREN IN NEED 2012

It's that time of year again! Tomorrow sees the start of  NATIONAL TALKING WEEK! in the UK, leading up to the big BBC Children In Need show next Friday, 16th November.

Over the past five years, Academy Principals, teachers and students around the country have raised approximately £85,000 in various ways. Last year, 'Guess the UFOs in the jar', cake sales and special edition T-shirts helped the money roll in.

How many UFOs?

Yummy spotty cakes for sale

'Designer' T-shirts all the rage!

Parents joined in the fun

It was very challenging!

Someone even baked a Pudsey cake!

There will be lots of this going on - and more - and we hope to add to our grand total by the end of November.

Principals at the 2011 show with Pudsey

Watch out for people in spotty Helen O'Grady T-shirts on the late edition of the show on November 16th. If you want to be involved with the Academy fundraising, please contact your local branch or email info@helenogrady.co.uk

SUMMER SEMINAR - AWARDS

During the course of the day, the management team keep an eye out for a worthy Principal to be awarded custody of Grady Bear. This term, the bear went home with new Gloucestershire Principal, Rosie Reynolds. It was really awarded to her husband, Ben, at his first Seminar, for excellent portrayal of a particularly rude child during a morning workshop.

Ben Reynolds recreating his award winning moment!

Rosie & Ben receiving Grady and his scrapbook from previous keeper, Cheshire Principal, Brian Ormrod.
National Director, Nigel Le Page supervises the handover.

Each summer, Nigel Le Page presents his National Director's Award to a deserving colleague. This year, the award went to South Wales Principal and Training Supervisor, Becky Goodfield. On presenting the award, Nigel said: "In an area of the country which is renowned for unemployment and low income levels, this Principal has seen good numbers, built up a formidable team of teachers and shown an exceptionally caring attitude to students, parents, staff - and other Principals. This year, I am presenting the award to someone who has gone beyond the norm of what we reasonably expect, and someone who always maintains a postitive and supportive attitude. All of this after having a baby in the last twelve months!!"

Nigel presents Becky with the national Director's Award

Becky with the management team. L to R - Training manager, Margaret Darley, Executive Principal, Alison Mazanec,
Training Supervisor, Becky Goodfield and Nigel Le Page

The culmination of the day at the summer Seminar is the presentation of the Franchisee Of The Year Award. The Management team draws up a shortlist and this year the recipient was, eventually,  a unanimous decision. The Award was presented to Susana Ayala, Bournemouth Principal.

Dorset Principal, Susana Ayala (second from R) with the management team.

Nigel said: "Deciding who to present this award to has proved very difficult again this year. We have been inundated with various initiatives many Principals have tried this year - some with excellent results. This award, however, is being presented for not only persistence over the last year, but for many years of following the tried and proven methods, introducing her own new ideas and maintaining high standards, always with warmth, a smile and total belief in our programme. Susana is also happy to provide advice and help to others".

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AWARD WINNERS THIS SUMMER!

SUMMER SEMINAR

Last week saw the annual Principal's Seminar, held in Bristol.

Training Supervisor, Becky Goodfield, kicked off proceedings, workshopping lessons with some less than enthusiastic 'children'!

Naughty 'children' waiting for their favourite teacher!

The day was a mix of business and administration, with some fun bits of curriculum breaking up the day.

New Bath Principal, Kathryn Gregory with Iesher Fitzmaurice (Staffordshire) and her husband, Adam.

MEETING PUDSEY BEAR!

A team from Head Office took a very large cheque to the live BBC Children In Need show on Friday night. But it wasn't as smooth as it should have been. A big accident on the M4 meant the team were delayed at the service station en route but the intrepid Goodfields managed to pick up speed eventually and arrive with enough time to put baby Morgan down for the night!

Here he is keeping an eye on the cheque!
And here are the girls sharing the moment with the intrepid Pudsey Bear.

Sir Terry Wogan spotted the cheque during the evening and the Academy had their mention on air. Well done to all those concerned, they all had a fabulous time. Sadly, Morgan wasn't allowed to attend!

THE DAY THAT CHANGED SARAH CURRIE'S LIFE!

A few weeks ago, South Wales Principal, Becky Goodfield, was chatting with a mum who was thrilled about her daughter's progress in drama classes. Becky suggested she write something for their local newsletter and the following is the piece she sent:

"The Day That Changed My Life!

In October 2006, having just started school and looking forward to the first holiday, something happened....... a lady came to the school to talk about the things I could do with the Helen O’Grady Academy; her name was Becky. Being painfully shy I just listened to what she said, but I then told my mummy as soon as I got home. She was sure I would never enjoy Drama and I would not even last through one lesson! I persisted and got her to take me to the last lesson before the October half term break. I loved it. I nagged her all through half term and have been a member of the group meeting in Radyr ever since. I even got my younger sister (Rachel) to join and she loves Drama too. We are both looking forward to the performances in July when for the first time we will be in different productions.
Thank you Becky – you have to take the credit (or blame) for my continued attendance in the Radyr classes. Also my thanks go to my teachers Emma, Kate and Zoe.

Sarah Currie (9 years)

PS My mummy would like to add her thanks to you at the Academy as she has seen me grow in confidence over the years."

Parents are echoing these sentiments around the country and, indeed, around the world. We, at Head Office, wish Sarah the best of luck with the end of year productions along with the thousands of other children who will be performing for their friends and family in July.

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!