From a Charity Quiz Night for Children’s Mental Health week, and a Boarding Bake Off, to virtual inter-school matches and celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science, there were many moments to enjoy this winter at the Dragon. Unfortunately, planned performances, expeditions and trips were unable to go ahead this term, but that didn’t stop the Dragon community getting together virtually.
Below are a selection of highlights from this Easter Term.
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Community in Action
The Power of Partnerships
This winter, the Dragon is proud to have joined Oxford Mutual Aid’s efforts in supporting vulnerable people in the local community, the NHS, key workers and local aid organisations.
We worked alongside OMA over the Christmas holidays, providing 3,000 meals, 200 meals a day, for at-risk people in Oxford. Together with OMA, we provided emergency support through delivered meals to people in need within the Oxford City Community Food Network and local volunteer groups, including the Rose Hill Junior Youth Group, Botley Larder, Iraqi Women’s Group, Syrian Community Oxford and Oxfordshire (SYRCOX) and food for people experiencing homelessness in Oxford.
Charity Quiz Night
Friday 5 February 2021
In recognition of Children’s Mental Health Week, the Dragon held a Live Charity Quiz Night on Friday 5 February, for current Dragon families and staff. The theme was ‘Express Yourself’, and pupils were invited to share their suggestions for questions and rounds on subjects important to their families. The event was a great success, hosted by Tom Aubrey-Fletcher and Alex Clissold-Jones. All money raised will go directly to the following charities that support children’s mental health; Young Minds, Place2Be and At The Bus. We look forward to the next one!
Winnie the Pooh Day
Monday 18 January 2021
Despite the geographical distance, our boarding communities have been keeping well connected. Cherwell BAs hosted a fantastic tea to celebrate the birth anniversary of A. A. Milne, author of Winnie the Pooh. Boarding girls joined in virtually in fancy dress, enjoying tea, cake and sharing their favourite quotes by A. A. Milne.
DUCS League
Easter Term 2021
Remote learning didn’t stop our inter-school sporting competitions this term. January saw our first virtual fixtures against fellow Schools, including Winchester House, Notting Hill Prep and Alleyn’s School. Dragons were invited to have a go at a variety of challenges, and the results were announced each week. At the end of the first half of term, the Dragon challenged Cheam to a virtual match day.
In addition to the DUCS League, all pupils were invited to join live games sessions every Wednesday afternoon.
Dragon QUEST
Saturdays, during Easter Term 2021
The planned activities for this term’s QUEST moved online this term. Our future Dragon rock stars were trained in the art of playing in a band in ‘Dragons Rock’. They were taught about song arrangements, pop techniques and how to record themselves to compile a song and pop video.
In ‘Dragon Hits’, the children wrote and recorded their own songs under the supervision of our Music department composers. This term, four brand new songs were composed, from solo singer-songwriters to a more experimental bagpipe and guitar combo.
Our ‘Expressive Dragons’ designed modernist homes, and ‘Dragon Writers’ followed up the ‘RSPB’s Great Garden Birdwatch’ by focusing on migrating birds for their literary inspiration. It has been great to see the children continue to discover and develop new skills through this virtual platform.
Ready, Set, Bake!
Easter Term 2021
Dragons have been busy baking in their kitchens with their families and produced some very impressive bake-offs. Dragon House was set a weekly cooking challenge and, each Monday, a recipe was added to bake at home that week. Our young Dragons sent through a photo of the finished product, and their Houseparents (Mr and Ma Wilson) and the Dragon House BAs voted each week on the best looking bake. A prize was sent in the post to the ‘star baker’ each week.
Inspiring Talks in Lockdown
Fridays, Easter Term 2021
This term, one positive to the lockdown is that we have been able to invite our Friday Spectrum speakers to share their expertise with the entire school as an online audience.
The first talk was by Charlie Walker, who specialises in long-distance, human-powered expeditions to develop an intimate understanding of the world’s most remote communities. The second was by Ian Findlay, SnowSport England Talent Pathways. The third was by Marilyn Payne MBE: Save the Children Then and Now. Money from the Dragon Sale has been supporting Save the Children since 1985.
World Book Day
Thursday 4 March 2021
Our young Dragons celebrated reading this World Book Day, and were encouraged to send in photographs of themselves taking part in Mr Dickson’s ‘Extreme Reading’ challenge. The children (and staff) were challenged to take a photo of themselves reading their favourite book in a place they wouldn’t usually be seen reading. A book voucher was awarded to the most creative and inventive photo from each year group, with extra credit awarded for those with links to literary history. Frances Houghton MBE (OD 1993) also got involved!
