Spectrum 20 May

Improvisation Evening

This evening’s Spectrum is “An Evening of Improvisation with Ian Murchie”
Please click here for the Spectrum Programme and details on booking.

Judging Appearances

Parents of children in A to D block are invited to a lecture ‘The Pressures of Physical Appearance and Body Image’, by Dr Aric Sigman on Tuesday 21 June at 6.30 p.m. in the Michael Cowan Lecture Theatre. Dr Sigman is a well-known author who has produced books and documentaries on scientific, social and psychological issues. Tickets for the event are £10 each (non-refundable) and will be added to your end of term bill. If you would like to find out more on the topic, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (01865 315561). For more information about Dr Sigman, visit: http://www.aricsigman.com

Scholar Art

Parents are invited to view the 2011 Exhibition of Dragon Art Scholars. Please click here for more information.

Charitable Dragons

On Tuesday, E block pupils made a donation of £4,197.95 to Sue Northcott from the Leonard Cheshire Disability home in Banbury. She thanked the Dragons for all the energy, effort and enthusiasm which went into raising these funds for the charity. Sue also provided a valuable insight into the everyday lives of the residents in her care and said the funds will be spent on a new minibus.

PEG Visit Stratford

On Tuesday, the Post Exam Group (PEG) welcomed Mark Quartley (OD 1998) and two of his fellow actors, Naomi Cranston and Louise Ford, to the Dragon. The actors treated the pupils to a series of excellent workshops on Shakespeare’s language and stagecraft, and shared their experiences of performing at the Globe Theatre. Pupils then performed shortened versions of the courtroom scene from ‘The Merchant of Venice’ before going to a superb performance of ‘The Merchant’ at the newly refurbished Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford upon Avon.

Super Swimming

The Dragon swimming teams performed extremely well with the U11 boys and girls relay teams qualifying for the National English Primary Schools Finals in June. Last weekend, 32 Dragons swam in the IAPS National Finals. The boys U11 freestyle and medley relays won a silver and bronze and a Dragon won a silver medal in the U11 boys 50m breaststroke. The U11 boys’ team finished 3rd in the country. The boys’ overall swimming team finished as the 6th placed IAPS team in the country. The girls also did extremely well with four individual finalists in the U10 25m freestyle. All the relay teams and individuals swam personal best times and the Dragon finished 8th Prep School and 6th ranked Co-Ed Prep School in the country.

Testing Rockets

Last week, E Block children became designers and builders for the day during a Design and Technology Day. Each Form worked on a different project ranging from building a strong shelter, making a colourful jacket, designing and testing rockets to making a vehicle to carry an egg without breaking it. Great fun was had by all as they learned the importance of a clear and sensible design.

Clock Watching Dragons

Dragons were thrilled to see the new clock fitted to the outside of the Art Block earlier this term. The clock was requested by children in the School Council and purchased through the 2009/10 Annual Fund appeal. The clock is well positioned on the wall overlooking the Astros to enable teams to check the time during matches. Children are now also aware of how much longer they have to play tennis during break-time and no longer have the excuse of being late!

Cricket Away Matches

The Summer Term involves some late return times after away cricket matches, usually at around 7.30 p.m. In order to help with logistics, there is a hard copy of return times posted on the games noticeboard, on the end of the Rink. It can also be found on the school website here.

Worcester Regatta

Dragon entries in the forthcoming Worcester Regatta are being changed to accommodate other schools’ entries. Parents are asked to visit the school website or the noticeboard for updates as we may have to scratch or substitute crews.

Tudor Time

Last Friday, the children of C Block delighted in a typically lively Tudor Day. The standard of the costumes was exceptionally high and included some severed rubber heads and limbs, along with formidable-looking axes and swords. The girls donned Tudor court outfits and some even came as serving wenches. The children engaged in a variety of ‘Tudor’ activities including cooking, singing, dancing, playing bowls, jewellery-making and art.

Tudor Mint

The Art Department turned into a Tudor Mint on Friday. The C Block pupils learnt about the processes involved in mould making and casting. The photograph shows an example of some of the coin designs made in plaster. The pupils had to make the mould by drawing their designs in reverse into the clay, so that the cast would be the correct way around.

Stringer’s Get Snappy

In the Christmas Term, the girls at Stringer’s House were encouraged to enter the Boarding School Association Photographic Competition. They had enormous fun while composing various situations with friends to portray the ‘Boarding is Brilliant’ theme. From a very strong national field of competitors, the Dragon recently heard that a Stringer’s girl won the Years 4-6 category. Her photograph is being displayed in Stringer’s House until the end of term. She won an impressive Nikon Coolpix camera to inspire her photographical talent.