GRADY BEAR COMES HOME

After a very exciting few weeks in Toronto, Canada, Grady Bear is finally back on UK soil. He enjoyed the flight and caused lots of smiles as he was travelling.

He had great fun in classes with lots of lovely Canadian children, enjoying the classes almost as much as they did. He loved all the stretching and curling - especially after spending the long flight curled up in the overhead luggage rack!

He liked watching the Lazy Worms and the Birds, and he thought he may like some of those worms for dinner!

 

But he grew just a little bit tired of the cold and spent a lot of time watching the snow settle from his cosy apartment.

So, when it was time to leave, he very quickly packed and waited for his ride to the airport.

He will miss all the lovely children and their parents but he is happy to be back in the office in Somerset. Just a bit exhausted!

Jetlag has taken its toll and it may be a few days before he is back in routine. And will it ever stop raining in England???

MORE NEWS FROM THE MANCHESTER SEMINAR

Here are more pictures from the Production Seminar in Manchester at the weekend.

Principals chanting wildly during the rehearsal of Rent A Crowd

More of the right moves from Principals and teachers

Principals taking notes while 'Snake Charmer' is being taught

Imagine That!

As usual, Grady Bear was awarded to a Principal at the end of the Seminar. National Director, Nigel Le Page (below) was happy to award it to York Franchisee, Lindsay Goakes. As well as participating in most of the workshops during the day, Lindsay led one of the Youth Theatre workshops in the afternoon. Nigel praised her preparation, commitment and energy which, he said, was amazing! Grady will spend Production term with Lindsay, her family and her students and return to the next Seminar with a scrap book full of stories and pictures of his adventures. Well done Lindsay!

Grady Bear goes to a new home for the term!

The Helen O'Grady network at the end of a busy day.

OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM!

Children In Kindy Drama classes have 'The Farm' as one of their themes this term. While learning the 'Old MacDonald' song, they used masks to represent the farmer and the animals they became.

 

 

 

 

On Old MacDonald's Farm

Grady Banana has also made an appearance this term. He is, of course, related to Grady Bear, who is often featured on this blog. Each week he goes home with a child who has made a particular effort during the class and returns the next week with his adventures recorded in his scrap book. This very worthy winner has promised to take great care of him.

Grady Banana off on another adventure.

So far, this term, Grady has built snowmen, baked cakes, had a ride on a hamster and been swimming at least twice! He has had lots of yummy food and some very exciting bedtime stories. Check back next week to see what happens this time.

TRAINING SEMINAR - JANUARY 2013

To kick off the new year, Principals and their teachers met in Crawley this weekend for the traditional January Seminar in preparation for the term ahead. More than sixty people attended the day, workshopping curriculum for Term 2 and generally sharing ideas and stories from Term 1.

Principals listen attentively as Mime to Music is explained

Preparing for some very interesting speech work

"Crammed on the bypass .........." Verbal Dynamics

Working together on improvisations .......

....... sometimes with hilarious results!

At the end of the day, Gloucestershire Principal, Rosie Reynolds, passed on Grady Bear to colleague, Gemma Knight, from Northampton. The Bear is visiting Gemma's branch for the term after the team thought the Principal's participation and input during the day warranted some sort of reward. No doubt Grady will many adventures before Easter. You can sign up for a regular newsletter on our website to catch up with all of Grady's antics in our regular newsletter.

L to R - National Director, Nigel Le Page and Principals, Gemma Knight and Rosie Reynolds

GRADY BEAR IN GUERNSEY

This Grady Bear, who really lives in Bristol, made a surprise visit to Helen O'Grady Head Office in Guernsey this week. He felt he needed to know a little more about the workings of the company so he could spread the word!

National Director, Nigel Le Page, explained something about his job as Grady inspected emails.

Unfortunately, he was none to keen on the rain in Guernsey so will be back in Bristol by the weekend.

Grady in the rain

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!

GRADY BEAR MOVES FROM LONDON TO CHESHIRE

On Saturday, dozens of Helen O'Grady Principals and teachers gathered in a hotel in gatwick to prepare themselves for the summer term in the Academy, when students in all classes start work on a short scripted production to perform for parents and friends at the end of term.

More on that later, but another important event at these Seminars is the welfare of Grady Bear. Grady has spent the last three months with Principal, Melanie Moore and her partner, Sam Rossiter, in South London. They have, of course, taken great care of Grady but he is now ready for his next big adventure.

He is venturing north, to Cheshire, with Principal, Brian Ormrod. After a usccessful visit to Sheffield last year, the Bear tells us he is ready to travel again and relax after the hustle and bustle of London. During his visit, Brian will fill his scrap book with photographic evidence of Grady's exploits to be shared again with everyone at the next Seminar.

Saturday was a busy day - check back here later for pictures and stories about this year's plays!

THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF GRADY BEAR

Last year, many branches introduced Grady Bear to their students, sending him off home with someone who had done just that 'little bit extra' in class. We have already reported some of his adventures and, this weekend, he has obviously been making the most of the sunshine!

Here he is relaxing on a narrow boat!

It was obviously all too much, though. When he returned home he needed a bath and, we are told, a bit of a detox!

A nice warm AGA!

What better way to warm up and dry off ?

Check back here to see what else happens to Grady.

FURTHER ADVENTURES OF GRADY BEAR

Grady is certainly having a good time in Bromley with Academy Principal, Helen Walls. Helen was lucky enough to be in the audience at a recording of The Graham Norton Show on the BBC and there she had the opportunity to introduce Grady Bear to actress and singer, Jennifer Hudson. The Bear was very cool and didn't appear at all star struck! Whatever next? - Watch this space!

GRADY BEAR ON THE MOVE

Grady Bear was first awarded at the Academy Training Seminar in July 2010. Each term, he is placed in the safe keeping of a Principal who shows themselves worthy and responsible! The Principal then has to document the Bear's visit to their area and return him to the next Seminar with his 'diary'.

Fresh from adventures in South London, where our hero had a close encounter with a cat and ate a lot of pizza, he is now temporarily residing in Bromley with Principal, Helen Walls, who has promised to make sure he has a good time and comes to no harm. Photographic evidence is, of course, required!

The award followed a very successful - if exhausting - training day. More picture stories will follow in due course.

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.