Dear Parents,
I hope you are all well. This is Orgesa from Rise to Lead, part of my wider work through Configur Academy.
This week's session was one of my favourites so far. The energy in the room was something else entirely, and by the end of it, I genuinely could not stop smiling.
Our focus this week was body language and pitching, and the children took to it in a way that genuinely surprised me. They didn't just learn the rules. They used them, in real time, under pressure, in front of an audience.
The Mystery Box: Dragon's Den
When we opened the mystery box, the room shifted immediately.
The challenge: invent a product or service for children, then pitch it to the Dragons.
The children had ten minutes to work in their teams, choose their roles, name their product, explain what it does, give reasons why children would want it, set a price, and, in some cases, draw a picture of it.
What followed was genuinely impressive. The teams brought creativity, structure and real courage to their pitches. They used their body language. They made eye contact. Some of them used their hands to show the size of their product. A few of them smiled mid-pitch and held it, which takes more confidence than most people realise.
The Body Language Workshop
Before anything else, we took ten minutes to explore something that most adults still struggle with: the fact that your body is already communicating before you say a single word.
We worked on four simple rules together:
Stand Tall – feet flat, shoulders relaxed, head up. Not stiff. Just ready.
Eye Contact – look at the people you're speaking to, not the floor.
Hands Help – use them to show, point, gesture. Don't hide them.
Smile When It Fits – not the whole time, just when it feels right.
We practised as a group. The children stood up, repeated a sentence using all four rules, then did it again. The second time was noticeably better, and we made sure they noticed that too. Two tries and they already looked like confident speakers. That's not a small thing.
Celebrating Effort & Values
After the pitches, the children voted for their favourite (not their own team), and we gave out awards, including:
Best Pitch Award – for the most convincing and clear presentation
Most Creative Invention Award – for the most original product idea
Dragon Slayer Award – for the best answer to a Dragon's question
As always, the focus was entirely on effort, courage and how each child showed up for their team.
Well done to Ocean Girls for winning this week’s team challenge.
🌟 Important Announcement: The Final Showcase
This is the one you have been waiting for, and I am so excited to share it with you.
The Rise to Lead Final Showcase will take place on:
📅 Friday 27th March 2026 🕔 5:00pm – 6:00pm 📍 The Patch
A few important details:
Our last regular session is on Monday, 23rd March 2026. Children will be collected as usual at 5:00 pm on that day. Nothing changes for the last Monday session.
Then, that Friday, 27th March, I would kindly ask that you drop your child off at The Patch at around 4:45 pm. This gives them a little time to come in, settle, do any last-minute arrangements, and feel ready before parents are invited in at 5:00 pm sharp to begin our celebration.
What to expect on the day:
The children have been working hard, and they deserve a proper celebration. In the evening, you can expect:
Performances and presentations from the children
Snacks and drinks
Certificates and badges to mark their achievements this term
The children were given a choice about how they wanted to present at the showcase. Some have chosen to do an individual talk, some have chosen to pair up, and some have decided to do both. I am more than happy to give each of them the time and space they need to shine in whatever way feels right for them.
Both parents are warmly welcome to attend. Please feel free to bring along siblings, too. The more people cheering them on, the better.
A personal note: I have genuinely loved working with every single one of these children this term. Watching them grow, week by week, has been one of the most rewarding things I have done. I am organising this celebration evening with a full heart, and I would not have it any other way.
So a big thank you to everyone. Your support truly means a lot, and I am looking forward to welcoming you on the night.
Warm regards,
Orgesa
Founder, Rise to Lead
Configur Academy
Wesbite: www.risetolead.uk
Instagram @configuracademy
Facebook @configuracademy