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The Headmaster celebrates the end of term with a romp in the snow.
From the Headmaster
Welcome back to a new term and a very Happy New Year to you all. It’s good to be back and the arrival of the children over the last couple of days has brought the school back to life. Please read on very carefully.
Before the start of term I wrote to all parents and copies of these letters can be found on the parents’ area of the web site. I also confirmed the term dates through to the end of the Christmas Term 2012 but need to make one amendment to these. Having set the half term for the Easter Term 2012 well over a year ago – before many schools had done so – I now realise that we are out of kilter with many of the senior schools where Dragons have siblings. Until about a week ago this date was always published as “Provisional” so I hope I am in time to announce that the dates for the Easter Term half term 2012 are moved to the earlier week of 10-19 February. This brings us into line with the vast majority of local schools and many of the senior boarding schools. I apologise for having to do this but I expect parents would rather I made the decision to do this now than be inconvenienced in a year’s time. This change is also announced in the attached letter, the accompanying e-mail and on the web site. (It will be repeated several times over the coming weeks.)
I look forward to seeing many parents over the coming term. Thank you for your continued support and please do get in touch if you have any worries or concerns.
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Future Schools Advice
Parents of children in E to C Block, and new parents of other years, are reminded that the Future Schools Forum will take place on Saturday 22 January. The session will outline the processes, timings and procedures for senior school entry and explain the nature of the different pre-tests.· It will also help parents to understand who to consult for advice. The Forum will start at 11.15 a.m. in the Lynam Hall. If you are planning to attend please email
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Missing Keys?
A set of Volvo keys were found at the Sale on 18 December. Please contact the Bursary if they are yours.
Spectrum
Please remember that the Friday evening Spectrum events are open to all day children and all parents. This term’s programme can be found here as well as guidance on how to book places. To save parents looking at the web site, here is a brief summary of the programme.
14 January - 'The Dragon Reaches Out' - A Selection of Dragons & ODs will present selected elements of our Social Impact & Responsibility Programme. Led by Danny Gill
21 January - Rowing Oceans and Climbing Mountains - (James Nettleton OD)
4 February - The Importance of Being Earnest
Upper School play production. (A seat reservation will be required for this performance.)
11 February - “An Evening with Charley” Charley Boorman – Adventurer, travel writer and actor.
4 March - Debates - Upper School in Lynam Hall; C, D & E Blocks in The Forum.
18 March - 'Last of the Borneo Rainforest' with Paul Baker and Quintin Lake
25 March - Fiddler on the Roof
Upper School play production. (A seat reservation will be required for this performance.)
More Singing Success
We are delighted to announce that the Dragon School Chamber Choir has qualified for the finals of the ‘Barnados Choir Competition’ which will be held on Monday 7 February at the Barbican, London. Tickets for the evening concert which starts at 6.30 p.m. can be purchased from the Barbican Box Office on 0207 638 8891 or by clicking here
Netball Changes
The netball fixture on Tuesday 25 January for the U13 Houghton’s will now take place on Tuesday 1 February and will start at 3.15 p.m. The U13 Young’s fixture on the 1 February will also start at 3.15 p.m. The U9 netball tournament with Lynams arranged for Friday 18 March has been rescheduled for Friday 25 March due to a clash of events.
Poppy Appeal
A big thank you to all who donated to the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. The school collection raised £565 for the charity.
Carol Collection
Thank you to all who donated their money at the Carol Service in December. The Retiring Collection raised £510 and these funds will be donated to The Cutteslowe and District Community Association.
Any Old Beads or Aprons?
If anyone has spare Hama beads or unwanted cooking aprons, the Art Department would be delighted to put them to good use. Please contact Maura Allen.
Weekend Sculling
There are two sculling events before half term which Mr Walker would like the Dragon to attend. However he needs to draw your attention to the fact that the first one is on the Saturday of the first Exeat (29 January). While this is of course open to all, some possible children for selection will want to go home; Mr Walker will therefore make his selection based on those who would like to and can go. He will be asking the children to sign up as soon as they return and to check with their parents that other activities have not been arranged for them. Please could parents therefore have the answer ready for possible scullers?
The second event, on Sunday 6 February, is the South of England Indoor Rowing Championships at the Oxford Brookes Leisure Centre. Again this is open to all and children will be told to sign up and ask their parents if they can attend. This is a team event so it is very much hoped that enough scullers will be available. If there are any issues arising please contact
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as soon as possible.
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Fee Payment Queries
Mary Tyler, our Assistant Accountant, has worked in the Bursary at the Dragon for over six years; a qualified Accounting Technician, she previously worked in an Oxford college. Mary deals with the ‘nitty-gritty’ of fee accounts and she will usually be your first contact for queries about items on bills, setting up direct debits, and other accounts-related questions. However, she is particularly busy at this time of term as she has to process approximately a thousand payments arriving in various ways in a short space of time.· Parents are therefore reminded that there is much information on the website which may answer your questions, see for example How to Pay Fees. If you need further information please email
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Thank you for your cooperation.
Website Tip of the Week
Our Dragon A-Z may help parents to understand some of the aspects and quirks of Dragon daily life. Please click here to view.
Evening Parenting Group
Parents might like to know that during the Easter term a Family Links Parenting Group will be run at the Dragon on Monday evenings from 7.00 to 9.00 p.m. We will explore and discuss ways to enjoy bringing up children and to get the best out of family life. We will look at how emotions influence actions and discuss many positive, practical ways of guiding children so that they learn to handle both their feelings and their behaviour. The group will be led by Wendy Baugh, Lucia Simon and Sally Stuart-Clark. The groups are strictly confidential and would ideally comprise about 10 parents. Mothers and/or fathers of children at both the Dragon Pre-prep, Lynams or the Dragon will be most welcome to attend. The dates are: 17, 24 and 31 January; 7, 14 and 28 February; and 7, 14 and 21 March.
There will be a further course during the Summer Term on Wednesday mornings from 8.45 to 10.45 a.m., led by Mary Taylor, Caroline Kerr and Maxine McConville. To book a place on either course please email
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; if you have any questions please ring Mary Taylor on 01865 315589.
Earnest Reminder
The A and B Blocks will present 'The Importance of Being Earnest' on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 February at 6.45 p.m. in the Lynam Hall.
Please note that the Thursday performance is a Parents’ Preview and is exclusively for the parents and family of the cast. There will also be very limited seating on the Friday as boarders will attend this performance.
You will need to reserve seats for this production by emailing
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Tickets will not be issued but seats will be reserved in your name and you will be directed to these on arrival. You should include any Dragons sitting with you in your booking. The reservation deadline is Monday 31 January, seats cannot be guaranteed after this date. All Dragon children attending this production should wear a 'B' Suit.
Gunga Pool
On the last day of last term, the 2010 Gunga Pool finals were played. Milo Smail and Hector Hardman won the doubles, beating A Blockers Milo Bugel and Charlie Jacobson. Milo Smail also pipped Jack Flynn at the post to win the singles tournament.
Enormous Sale
The Dragon is pleased to announce its participation in the collection of good quality second-hand children's clothes for an 'Enormous Second-hand Clothing Sale’
in Oxford Town Hall on 18 and 19 of March in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Bags of clothes can be dropped off in the wheelie bin clearly labelled ‘Macmillan’ which can be found in the lobby of the Boys’ Changing Rooms next to the Cauldron.
Last year's sale extravaganza raised over £18,000; every single pound went to support the charity’s important work to improve the lives of people affected by cancer in Oxfordshire.
For more information or if you would like to help with the sale, please contact Gretta McNamara on 07890 090281.
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Diary Reminders
For all sports fixtures and the full calendar of events, please see the main School Calendar
Friday, January 14, 2011
Spectrum: 'The Dragon Reaches Out' - A Selection of Dragons & ODs will present selected elements of our Social Impact & Responsibility Programme, 6.45 p.m.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
E Block/New Parents' Lunch (for those who have received an invitation), 12.30 p.m.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Second Sunday after Epiphany, Robert Startin, School Chaplain, 10.00 a.m.
Full cast rehearsal for 'The Importance of Being Earnest' (until 5:00pm), 11.00 a.m.
Full cast rehearsal for 'Fiddler on the Roof' (until 5:00pm), 2.00 p.m.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Year 3 Monday Clubs Begin today
Pegasus Visit: Cooking Day (for selected D Block children), 9.00 a.m.
Year 2 Music Makers Club begins today
Dragon After School Clubs begin today
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Year 2 Tuesday Clubs begin today
Year 3 Music Makers Club begins, 3.40 p.m.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
National Youth Jazz Orchestra to visit Dragon for workshop with Big Band, 3.15 p.m.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sound Lectures for A & D Blocks (in the morning)
Year 3 Thursday Clubs begin today
Friday, January 21, 2011
Spectrum: Rowing Oceans and Climbing Mountains (James Nettleton OD), 6.45 p.m.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Future Schools Forum (Lynam Hall), 11.15 a.m.
E Block/New Parents' Lunch (for those who have received an invitation), 12.30 p.m.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Third Sunday after Epiphany, Cherwell House, 10.00 a.m.
Full cast rehearsal for 'The Importance of Being Earnest' (free at 5:00pm), 2.00 p.m.
D Block Parents' Evening (in the Forum & Lynam Hall) 6.00 p.m.
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