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Text Boxes & Advanced Layout

Linked text boxes, wrapping, anchors, and the Selection Pane.

Why Text Boxes and SmartArt

Text boxes and SmartArt add visual structure without rewriting body paragraphs. A text box holds floating callout text beside the logo. SmartArt shows a short sequence of steps parents follow on open day — Register, Tour, Meet staff. Use SmartArt for ordered steps, not for two-page policy essays. Long text belongs in normal paragraphs with Heading 1 styles. SmartArt suits diagrams parents scan in ten seconds in the foyer.

Insert a Text Box

1 Insert tab \to Text Box \to Simple Text Box . 2 Type Welcome to Northgate! 3 Drag the box to the cover beside the logo. 4 Shape Format \to Shape Fill \to light blue if desired. Text in a box moves independently from body paragraphs. You can drag the box without shifting the handbook title below it.

Insert SmartArt

Show the three open-day steps visually: 1 Insert tab \to SmartArt . 2 Choose Process \to Basic Process (three chevrons). 3 Click OK . 4 Click each shape and type: Register, Tour, Meet staff . SmartArt tab \to Add Shape if you need a fourth step later. SmartArt Design \to Change Colors matches school branding. Keep SmartArt simple — parents scan the handbook quickly on open day.

Resize and Move

Drag the SmartArt border to resize. Use SmartArt Design tab \to Change Colors to match school branding. The chevron process should mirror the numbered list and timetable table — same three steps in the same order. If the diagram says Register \to Tour \to Q&A but the table lists lunch before the tour, families get conflicting messages.

Northgate Open Day Visuals

Place the text box on the cover and the SmartArt process under the Open Day heading. Together they give two reading paths — quick visual scan and detailed table times. When is SmartArt a good choice? When you need a short sequence of steps parents follow. It is not the tool for page margins (Layout tab) or spelling (Review \to Editor).

Hands-on steps

Goal

$Add a sidebar text box for key open-day dates.$

$James Okonkwo adds this to NorthgateHandbook.docx as part of one polished student handbook, policy pack, and open-day collateral before families arrive.$

Insert text box

Where

InsertText Box

Do this

Insert \to Text Box \to Simple Text Box beside open-day prose.

You should see

$Floating box appears.$

Verification

Check your work

You are correct if all of these are true:

$Key dates sit in a text box — not simulated with spaces/tabs.$
$Box wraps without covering main timetable.$
$Fill colour subtle — text still readable.$

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