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

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!

NEW BRANCHES & NEW PRINCIPALS THIS TERM

September has seen the opening of several new Helen O'Grady branches, as well as a handful of new Principals taking over existing areas.

In Manila, in the Philippines, Monique and Vince Bunuan have had a great start introducing the unique Helen O'Grady programme to dozens of local children. Here they are above with the magnificent banner they are using to promote their classes. We are very proud of their opening classes and know they will spread the word very quickly.

New mum, Iesher Fitzmaurice Mendez (above), who gave birth to baby Zain at the beginning of August, took over the reins in the Staffordshire area. She has been teaching for the Academy for several years and jumped at the chance of becoming Principal. As well as making a great start with existing students, she has opened three new classes which have all started well.

In South West London, Melanie Moore has opened new studios as well as taking over some existing students. Although drama trained, Melanie was new to the programme and has taken the very structured lessons to heart. She is, as you can see below, very excited to be part of the network. In Northamptonshire, Gemma Knight has succeeded Sarah Moloney as Principal. Sarah was a hard act to follow but Gemma had worked with her for some time before the handover and the students remain in more than capable hands!

In the Herts-Cambs area, retiring Principal, Fiona Taylor, was more than happy to pass the business on to her former teacher, Lucinda Symonds, pictured below. Lucinda will continue to teach and work with her sister, Jessica, who will take most of the responsibility for administration and marketing the business. the Symonds sisters don't believe in doing things by halves! During the first weeks of term they were also planning a wedding. Lucinda married Tim Gray on 1st October. We wish them all the love luck and happiness they deserve.

Last new Principal to launch was Lisa Bennett in Southampton. Lisa, too, has taught for the Academy and is already building the numbers up in her own branch.

All the new Principals have started well and we wish them a long and successful association with the Academy.