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!

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!

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

AMBULANCE - STOPS 2, 3 & 4

Bournemouth Principal, Susana Ayala - who just happens to be eight months pregnant! - was the first host stop after Portsmouth. She really did the Academy proud with lots of colourful and delicious fruit and face painting for the children.
















In Exeter Principal, Abbe Martin, dressed in African clothes and provided lots of materials for the students to make props and display them on African cloths. They were joined for the photo shoot by Oscar, a very non-African animal!


Stop 4 was in South Wales. Principal Becky Goodfield and her teacher, Gemma Carter, obviously enjoyed their ride in the ambulance! The stop was at the Welsh Assembly. Roy Gee, a past volunteer, is seen in the picture in his African shirt.


Liz Collyer, who is driving the ambulance, has a son who attends Helen O'Grady classes in Portsmouth. She is seen here (R) with the director of Village Africa, Caroline Johnston, and also with Chris Franks who is a member of the Welsh Assembly.

To learn more or to make a donation visit http://www.villageafrica.org.uk/

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!