Connecting the dots ...

 Seth Godin, writer of many books, one of which is great for entrepreneurs, "The Purple Cow"  wrote a very interesting must read on "Stop Stealing Dreams".  While the article is written based on American school system, it defines how the changing role of teachers are killing the aspirations of our future generation.  Unfortunately, this is not only an American issue.  Teachers for the sake of a different outcome - statistics rather than the journey / process has destroyed interest in learning and fostering dreams for what could be. Here's an extract from his article:

When we teach a child to make good decisions, we benefit from a lifetime of good decisions.
When we teach a child to love to learn, the amount of learning will become limitless.
When we teach a child to deal with a changing world, she will never become obsolete.
When we are brave enough to teach a child to question authority, even ours, we insulate ourselves from those who would use their authority to work against each of us.
And when we give students the desire to make things, even choices, we create a world filled with makers.

According to Kids.Net.Au, the definition of kids drama is "the quality of being arresting or highly emotional"; "an episode that is highly turbulent and emotional" including the traditional definition that is popularly known to all that drama is "the literary genre of works intended for theater".

In 1979, the founder, Helen O'Grady created a vision - "Development Through Drama."  33 years later, her program is still the only international children's program of its kind! 

Drama allows your child to experience safely within four walls - ideas, emotions,verbal and physical expressions in each lesson; some of which they may not engage in their lifetime.  These experiences lead them through highly creative and imaginative moments that allow development to take place at the child's pace - the ability to communicate effectively and speak confidently, to think and problem solve creatively, to build teamwork and leadership life skills such as critical thinking, time management, conflict management as well as negotiation skills.

This program does not stop at development just for children; it is also a platform for adults - young, mature and seniors.

Food - always a talking point!

Desserts galore! Yummy yum yum... Jean Chan, Principal of Helen O'Grady Singapore bakes such delightful looking cupcakes.  It is a wonder why we are all staring!  It's a sight to behold and of course, truly very tasty!

But that's not why the children join the Drama Academy!  Like these individual cupcakes, Jean and her teachers treat every child with the same tender loving care. Children are encouraged to develop through drama at their own pace.  Our trained specialists uses the Helen O'Grady drama curriculum to draw out the children's natural gifts and extend their multi-talents; challenging them to improve year after year.

Helping Kids Become Good People

Helen O’Grady Singapore was privileged to invite Helen O’Grady, founder of the international Helen O’Grady Drama Academy to its year-end celebration cum Seminar on Dec 16, 2011.  The teachers who were present found Helen O’Grady’s training and her energy very inspiring and motivating.  Helen O’Grady presented on “Vitality in curriculum implementation” infusing her energy into her motivating talk as well as demonstrated how to give the lift in Speech for Youth.  Her closing speech on “Helping Kids become Good People” reminds everyone that we are more than just a drama teacher.  “As a Helen O’Grady drama teacher, you are a special person who Helps Kids become Good People.”

Helen O'Grady with Helen O'Grady Asia management team

and Helen O'Grady Singapore Principal, Jean Chan and her

team of teachers - Jaime, Elaine, Tanya,Nur, Francine, Beatrice,

Kim, Nicole, Chin Fern and Margaret.

Dec 16, 2011

Helen O'Grady with Eastern Asia team -

(from left) Lynette Chiu, Helen O'Grady, Nancy Soon,

Lynette Teo and Margaret Ow.

(from left) Singapore Principal Jean Chan, Helen O'Grady and Nancy Soon

Wishing Everyone Happy Holidays!

Classes commence in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh Cities

Vietnam launches their first Helen O'Grady Drama classes this week in Hanoi on Wednesday evening October 19th and Ho Chi Minh begins on Saturday October 22nd.  After several discovery classes held at the beginning of this month, parents are now enrolling their children for English drama classes with the aim of improving their communication skills in the language. 

Classes are conducted at:

Lotte Mart Saigon South

2nd Floor, 469 Nguyen Huu Tho Str,
Tan Hung Ward, Dist 7, HCMC, Vietnam
Tel: (08) 3775 5008

Vincom Tower 2

7th Floor, 114 Mai Hac De Str,
Le Dai Hanh Ward, Hai Ba Trung Dist,
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (04) 2220 6848

and

Golden Westlake

160 Hoang Hoa Tham Str, Thuy Khue Ward,
Tay Ho Dist, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (04) 3728 2528

The Emperor and the Nightingale

Students elaborately costumed for their first English performance of "The Emperor and the Nightingale" on October 3rd at Shi Jia Elementary School in Chaoyang.  The students won 2nd place in the competition held from October 3rd to the 5th in Beijing. 

Classes are conducted at  卓美教育 Xihuan Plaza, Xizhmen 10C1 on Saturday and Sundays as well as various elementary and preschools during the weekdays in Beijing and on both weekdays and weekends at Jilin(Changyi district). For class enrolments, please call +86 010-5830 1872 for Beijing and 0432 6242 7026 for Jilin branch.

Public Demo at Drama-In-Education Conference

At the Drama-In-Education Conference held in Beijing from October 3-5th, more than 150 students from the audience participated in two public Helen O'Grady class workshops on stage. Many of these non-English speaking children from ages 5 up to 12 were eager to learn and participate on stage in front of perhaps 400 - 500 pairs of eyes.

Lead teacher Rebecca Shatford with her larger than life personality was a great entertainer and trainer.  Leading Chinese expert in Drama and Film, Ji Shi Loong commented, "She has drama not only in her voice but also throughout her body.  It was entertaining to watch her teach these students who had no prior training with her." 

The Conference was organized by Dreamaker Theater jointly with China Youth Development Center and Shanghai Theatre Academy.

The Emperor's New Clothes - first drama performance by Beijing Dreamaker Organization

October 3rd - 5th marked the first school performances and Drama-In-Education forum in Beijing. This public event attended by more than 1000 families was hosted by Beijing Dreamaker Organization in collaboration with China Youth Development Center and Shanghai Theatre Academy.  Experts from Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore were present as panelists to judge the many participating schools and centers. Included in the performances were groups from the Aspergus Association and Weston High School from Boston, Massachusetts.

This platform raised the profile of the need for Drama in China schools.  Children with the confidence to perform demonstrated their abilities to think on their feet, co-operate and work together as a team.  According to one of the judges Ji Shi Loong who is reputed in Beijing film industry and a Drama instructor, "A great performance is one enjoyed both by the audience and the actors. It is also one that is lovely to look at."  This was evident in the first English performance, "The Emperor's New Clothes", scripted and directed by Rebecca Shatford and performed by children from 7-10 years old from the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy of Beijing.  The children enjoyed their public performance and worked very well as a team. 

New Location and classes for Singapore

In partnership with Jelly Beans Art Studio, Helen O'Grady Drama Singapore announces classes in September on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Our new trainers in Vietnam

A warm welcome to our 2 Principals in Vietnam - Helen Cruickshank-Cowie and Ruth Mortimer who completed their initial trainings in Ho Chi Minh from 02/09/2011 – 07/09/2011.  Both Helen and Ruth lived in Hanoi for 3.5 years and have taught English to Vietnamese kids, directed and performed plays in Hanoi.  Helen from Scotland is not only a great English teacher, she is also a fabulous dancer.  A treat for us during the training breaks as she waltzes, rumbas and swings! Ruth hails from London and was creative advisor and coach for a TV talent show in Hanoi "Lets Get Loud".  Effective from September 2011, Helen takes charge of the drama program for the whole of Vietnam while Ruth oversees Hanoi. See the pair in action as they co-teach a demo class of 12 Vietnamese and 5 Korean children in "Spider Island".