Within these uncertain times, we hear daily of the many members of our Dragon community who are working on the front line and behind the scenes to help overcome this pandemic, continuing to support the country, spread kindness in their communities, and keep the nation informed during these challenging times.
The tradition of social and environmental impact is central to life at the Dragon and has never been more evident than in the remarkable efforts shown by members of our community in recent weeks. To name but a few, Deputy Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Dame Angela McLean has advised the Government and spoken at Downing Street, Professor Sir John Bell has joined the government’s COVID-19 vaccine task force and BBC Science Editor David Shuckman continues to keep the public updated and informed.
There have been generous donations from our Dragon parents, including donations of over £900 from Year 1 parents for food for ICU workers at the JR Hospital, this was co-ordinated by Dr Katya Miles and Louise Arnold, c. 500 masks have been donated to Stoke Mandeville Hospital, thanks to D Block (Year 5) parents, Mr & Mrs Groves, and co-ordination of volunteers at the HelpHub, who support individuals who find themselves with limited contact due to Covid-19 has been organised by parents from the Pre-Prep. PPE has also been donated to the NHS Oxford hospitals, as well as funds donated for food for NHS staff in St Helier.
Closer to home, our Science department have donated 70 pairs of goggles to our local John Radcliffe Hospital and our incredible D&T departmenthave begun production and donation of PPE masks to the John Radcliffe Maternity Ward, and local pharmacies. Mr Impey has been instrumental in the coordination of Dragon manufactured PPE to the JR. Meanwhile, former staff member, Lucy Baddeley, has been busy sewing nearly 50 laundry bags and five sets of scrubs to give to Key Workers.
For Dragon parents designated as Key Workers, our provision remains in place, and we continue to do all that we can to support the Dragon community at this time. We are delighted to be reconnecting ODs from across the globe with classmates they’ve been out of touch with for many years, whilst getting in touch via telephone with those members of our ODs who now find themselves in isolation. We feel the Dragon community growing in strength and numbers now, more than ever.
‘…we have failed, unless we have helped [them] to develop [their] mind and [their] capacities in [their] own way, unless we have given [them] full scope for all of imagination and originality that is in [them]…unless we have made [their] heart beat with the heart of mankind…Unless we have done or tried to do these things we have failed.’ Skipper Lynam, 1908
At the very centre of the worldwide effort to defeat this pandemic, we find members of our Dragon community, and it is wonderful to witness those who deserve recognition, receive it. We share a photograph of Sabrina Lister (OD 2005) below, a paramedic, being applauded as she too applauds her fellow NHS heroes. We feel immense pride at witnessing our community not only identify the problems, but take the necessary steps to develop solutions. We know that so many of our Young Dragons have themselves, too, taken up the call and continue to utilise the dragon values of kindness, courage and respect, showing remarkable resilience and adaptability as they do.
Share your #DragonImpact with the Development team – we’d love to hear how you’ve been demonstrating your Dragon values in your community. Likewise, if you would like to connect with a fellow OD please visit our Community page and submit a short form – we would be delighted to hear from you.
‘I found it is the small, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay…small acts of kindness and love.’ J. R. R. Tolkien