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!

MEXICANS AND GRUBBY GERMS - THEN CHRISTMAS COMES TO THE ACADEMY!

Imagination is running high at the Academy. In Norwich, students enjoyed their Mime to Music "The Grubby Germs" and really took on their characters thanks to some stunning masks provided by Principal, Gill Prins.

Previously the children had put together a play called "Go Easy On The Chilli" and Mexican costumes were all the rage!

With Christmas looming, Bournemouth Principal, Susana Ayala, took her students to join the Christmas Parade. Here they are, with Susana (r), all dressed as snowmen, ready to perform.


Back in Norwich, the children had another Mime to Music called "The Christmas Decorations" when, with the help of some props, they became a stunning Christmas tree!

And then (almost all) the lights went out ........

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!