Brandon in Apple Daily - an explosion of colour!

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Will Santa put presentation skills in your stocking?

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Christmas presents and public speaking skills aren't an obvious combination but with a bit of creativity, the link can be made! For your children: encourage "show and tell" by asking children to introduce their new presents to family members. Use questions to develop a framework and help them to expand on the information they are giving. This is a great way to get your children making presentations because their enthusiasm over-rides any fear. For adults: try a "present debate" in which everyone has to give a one minute speech arguing why they have received the ultimate present. After each round, vote for the most popular gift based on the persuasive speech (not your own preferences!) Winner avoids the washing up. Effective public speaking begins with a basic interest in the subject and a desire to communicate. Both of these criteria are answered as you unwrap a fabulous Christmas present and can't wait to tell everyone about it! Happy Christmas...
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My favourite Irish "party piece" poem

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We had some wonderful parties when I was little. Everyone would take it in turns to entertain; to sing, to recite or to dance. You don't have to wait until Saint Patrick's Day to start this tradition in your own families and, when you do, consider something by WB Yeats. The wonderful lyricism of the language appeals to every audience and the simplicity of his visions will delight. The Lake Isle of Innisfree I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made. Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet's wings. I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand ...
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Then there were none... mergers and acquisitions in the prep world

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 The days of standalone prep schools are numbered in the UK...  Winchester College and Pilgrims' Radley College and Cothill Charterhouse and Windlesham  Who's next? I can take a wild guess. The fact is that running small schools in the UK has become increasingly challenging in the face of increased National Insurance, Teachers' Pension Scheme contributions, energy costs and general inflation. And that isn't before you think of falling rolls once VAT really kicks in. So the solution is joining forces with a larger entity. The tiny Heathfield school becoming part of the larger Mill Hill group is a good example.   Prep schools feed a range of senior schools; anyone wanting a solid prep for Eton, Winchester or Harrow picked from a wide pool. These days, the pool is shrinking whilst the group of boys entering from UK state schools is increasing as parents turn away from boarding and economise.  How does all this affect your choices?  There are still some st...
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