It has been wonderful to see the children reunited with their friends and teachers, hear the sounds of laughter and to feel the Dragon return to being a hive of activity after the weeks of lockdown. First to arrive were the boarders, who were welcomed back by their Houseparents on Sunday evening and it was fantastic to see them feeling at home so quickly – catching up around the campfire, playing games or simply chatting.
It has been particularly joyful to see the children back out on the playing fields and astros enjoying their games lessons. Although many participated in the fun, virtual fixtures of the DUCS challenge during lockdown, they could not match the sheer exuberance of kicking, throwing or hitting a ball with their friends again. The Music pods are being used for lessons and practices in preparation for end of term concerts and there is mounting excitement around the return of Dragon QUEST activities on Saturday morning.
The Dragon Health Centre has done a wonderful job of coordinating the required lateral flow testing so efficiently. Young Dragons are to be congratulated on their resilience and maturity in continuing to observe all the measures put in place around the School to help keep the community safe.
There are a number of children who are still overseas and they are able to continue to feel valued members of the community thanks to the filming of classroom lessons, use of the on-line learning platforms and resources that Dragon staff and children have become experts in using over the past year and regular contact with their tutors and Houses. We do hope to see them back in Oxford before too long!
