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 felt different from every session before it. Quieter. More personal. And in many ways, the most rewarding one yet.
Showcase Rehearsal Day
This was a full rehearsal before our final showcase on Friday, and we made it count.
Rather than running the session as a full group, Ruth and I divided the children into two smaller groups and worked with each child individually. One by one, every child practised their talk, received personal feedback, and left knowing exactly what they are doing on Friday.
What I was not fully prepared for was the range and quality of what they have created.
From pets to pizza. From art and how it has shaped them, to a talk about calmness and what the future means to them. Every single child has come up with something entirely their own, something that reflects who they are, what they care about, and how far they have come since Session 1.
I think you are genuinely in for a treat on Friday evening.
🌟 The Final Showcase
Friday 27th March 2026 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm The Patch
Please aim to drop your child off at 4:45 pm so they have a little time to settle and prepare before parents are welcomed in at 5:00 pm sharp.
The evening will include performances and presentations from the children, followed by a certificate and badge ceremony, and then a small drinks and snacks reception in the co-working space afterwards.
Both parents are warmly welcome, and siblings are very welcome too.
Our last regular session is Monday, 23rd March, with children collected as usual at 5:00 pm. Then we look forward to welcoming you on Friday evening for the big celebration.
A Note on Summer Term
I had originally planned to open a new beginner public speaking class at St Mary's CE Primary School in Twickenham for the summer term. Unfortunately, the only day available there was a Monday, which would have created a direct conflict with this class. After careful consideration, I made the decision to protect what we have here rather than stretch across two classes at the same time.
This means I will not be opening a new public speaking class for the summer term. This class remains my priority and my full focus.
For that reason, I wanted to ask, if you have not already told me, please could you let me know by Friday, 20th March, whether you would like to reserve your child's space for next term. I have very few spaces remaining, and while my existing pupils are absolutely my first priority, I will be opening those remaining spaces to new families shortly and will start running a waiting list.
Thank you so much to everyone who has already booked. If you are yet to secure your child's space for next term, you can do so here, and I would love to see them back:
What to Expect Next Term
Next term, we move into a new, very exciting programme. From the very first session, we will be guiding the children toward their end-of-term showcase, giving them plenty of time to develop the structure, the content and the delivery of something truly polished.
Confidence is not built in a month or two. It is cultivated slowly, session by session, through small acts of bravery repeated over time. And I say this having watched it happen in front of me every single Monday this term.
These children have so much to say. Sometimes all they need is that space. This week, one of them said something so quietly beautiful that I had to stop and take a breath. I will leave it there, but you will see it for yourselves on Friday.
📚 Summer Term Bookings
Bookings are open now, and founder pricing is being honoured in full; your term fee is exactly the same as last term.
👉 Book here: https://buy.stripe.com/14A3cvagCcds1Xl4vy7Re00
Payment in instalments: If you would like to spread the cost across three equal payments, simply reply to this email or send me a text and I will arrange that for you straight away.
A Little Thank You for Passing the Word On
If you recommend a family and their child joins any of our classes, I will take £15 off your next term's fee for every child that joins using your name. There is no deadline and no expiry; referrals accumulate quietly across every term and every class we ever run.
When you reach 7 referred children who have each completed at least one full term, your child's following term is completely on me. No conditions, no small print. You get there in your own time, and the reward will be waiting.
Siblings joining any of our classes receive a £30 discount on their term fee automatically.
If you have any questions about either of these, please do reply to this email or drop me a text. I am always happy to chat.
Thank you, as always, for your trust and support throughout this term. Watching these children grow week by week has been one of the most genuinely rewarding things I have done. Friday is going to be a very special evening, and I cannot wait to share it with you.
See you Monday for our last session, and then Friday for the celebration.
Warm regards,
Orgesa
Founder, Rise to Lead
Configur Academy
Wesbite: www.risetolead.uk
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