The passage from child to adult is rife with personal and social struggles, which are only made more difficult in an educational system that discourages independent thought and promotes conformity.  At the Dragon we believe that the future depends on what the next generation will discover and do, not in our having the right answers. Instead of reaffirming individualistic and competitive social values, we value co-operation, tolerance, and questioning.  

The Dragon is a safe and supportive environment. Our students are important members of a community of learners that includes their teachers and their parents, and has ties to the world beyond the school walls. This community is united by a sense of social justice, inclusiveness and open-mindedness, where we provide, not facts and approaches, but the tools to understand and harness what is known, from the arts to science and technology, for the good of others.

Our Graduates

The Dragon began in 2000. We have had 20 graduates so far, all of whom have been admitted to their top choice of university to which they applied (including McGill, Trent, Brock, Western, University of Toronto, MacMaster, Ryerson, York, Concordia, UBC and Queen's). Over half were offered scholarships. Our graduates are studying everything from Studio Arts to Math and Physics, and they're all doing really well.

We’re proud of their considerable academic achievements, but proudest of the way they’ve grown. When they leave us, they are ambitious, self-motivated, confident, and knowledgeable, above all about themselves.

Our students and their parents

In gathering their reflections for these pages, our students and their parents articulated everything that is most important to The Dragon’s vision:

• intellectual richness,
• the Socratic method,
• a strong and compassionate community,
• access to the riches of Toronto’s cultural institutions,
• the benefits of smaller classes and intimate community
• the integration of learning across the curriculum,
• the critical importance of constructing your own knowledge,
• the moral purpose of education.

The best testimonial is what our community members have to say for themselves.

"In conversations with parents of prospective students, I hear again and again, ‘He’s doing well, but he’s so bored at his current school.’ Or, ‘She’s just not motivated. I know she could do so much better.’ When they read our literature and come to meet with us, they remark on our warmth and sense of community. ‘We certainly were able to get a feel for the passion everyone has for teaching and learning (even while playing cards, one could feel the camaraderie).’ They almost always say, ‘I wish I could have gone to a school like this.’" -Dr. Fox

After their children have enrolled, they tell us things like:

"Max was late this morning because he and his dad were so absorbed in an intense discussion about the gospels, their accuracy, the sociopolitical roots of Christianity, and the alleged divinity of Jesus. Wow! Our jaws are bruised from hitting the floor so much. Keep up the great work."

"I mean really, how many kids go into withdrawal when school is out?"

"What an unexpected delight and surprise Dragon has been. All we were looking for in working through a horrible time was relief. And we found a gem. Our daughter is so appreciated here, which has done wonders for her self-esteem. I believe deeply in your programming and approach."

"The Dragon and John (Vervaeke) have had an impact on that young man that will last him a lifetime. You have changed his life."

"As I told mum last night, "We're lucky to have found The Dragon when we did -- it's going to become a benchmark for education and there'll be a LONG waiting list."

"I can't begin to tell you what The Dragon has meant to me. Your belief in Michael and the constant support and love you gave to him helped him to know what a wonderful and worthwhile person he is. He has truly flowered under your care from a lost soul into a strong and thoughtful human being, a whole person. Thanks alone will never be enough.