News @ The Dixie May 2016

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T here has been a great deal of comment in the press regarding testing in the last few weeks

and as I write this newsletter, external exams have started for our Year 11 and L6 and internal

exams are about to start for years 6-10. Our Upper 6th are in the final week of preparations for

the start of their A2 level exams after half term. Recent headlines in the media regarding testing have

ranged from 'We mustn't hide our children from pressured situations - learning to fail is important',

‘Stop 'after-test parties', Nicky Morgan tells primaries’ to ‘Secret Teacher: Dear Nicky, I cried at the

SATs hell you put my pupils through’ and ‘Sats: pupils in tears after sitting 'incredibly difficult' reading

test.

I am very happy to be the Headmaster of a school in which Year 6 students don’t sit SATS and which

doesn’t confine students’ learning to preparation for one week of tests. Any test of greater significance

for the school than the individual pupil is in my opinion the definition of a bad test and our curriculum

is about far more than just the learning which takes place in the classroom, as the advert at the bottom

of this page reflects. Our aim for Year 6 students is that they emerge from the summer exams feeling

that they were well-prepared and happy; the pressure for high achievement should not be felt by our

10 and 11 year-olds. By the time students reach Year 11 and GCSE exams it is very much our experience

that revision strategies are so finely honed that exams pass without any undue bother. I wish all our

older students well as they make final preparations for external exams.

To help our Year 6 students celebrate the end of their first exam period at the Senior School, on Friday

27 May they worked on a variety of cross curricular activities in preparation for a South American day

at the Junior School. The rota of activities included making Brazilian cookies in HE, replicas of Inca

treasure in DT and in History they started producing their graphic novella based on the explorer Piz-

zaro. Finally, in the afternoon they designed and made Mardi Gras masks in preparation for their day

at the Junior School. Pictures are included on the final page of this newsletter.

Tuesday presentation assemblies highlight the impressive range and quality of achievement at the

Dixie. From Chemistry competitions, Maths challenges, Biology Olympiads, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Climb-

ing, Fencing, Singing, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Music making, Netball, Hockey, Rounders, Tri-

athlon, Athletics, this half term has been another of outstanding involvement.

The GCSE and A level Music Soirees were real

musical treats highlighting the talents of our sen-

ior musicians, but also the tremendous strength

of our music department, the dedication of the

staff and peripatetic teachers and fantastic tech-

nical support.

News @ The Dixie May 2016

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From the

Headmaster

www.dixie.org.uk

01455 292244

PTA Sleepover

Despite what the forty-two Years 6 and 7 stu-

dents may say, the majority slept fantastically

well in the first ever PTA Dixie Sleepover. A

great time was had by all and the wonderful

PTA mums made very careful plans to ensure

that all had as much fun as possible. From

chocolate fountain, candy floss machine, pop-

corn machine, bouncy castle, treasure hunts,

group challenges, BBQ and late night film in

the assembly hall, the atmosphere was defi-

nitely one of enjoyment, despite being held in

school. The hot chocolate and croissant break-

fast got everyone going on the Saturday

morning and by 9.30am everyone had gone

home, presumably to get a good night’s sleep!

I am hugely grateful to Mrs Smart, Mrs Boddy,

Mrs Wilebore and Mrs Harding who slept in

the hall with the students and who cleaned

and tidied on Saturday morning, but also to

Mrs Williams who devised the treasure hunt

and group challenges and Mrs Oliver and Ms

Young who did so much to ensure the event

went off without incident. The Year 8 helpers

were fantastic leaders and were very busy

ensuring that students felt as much at home

as possible.

The next big event in the PTA Calendar, just before the Whole School Sports Day is the Grand Summer

Ball. Over 150 tickets have been sold, but it is not too late to book a table—the closing date is Friday 3

June. On the night there will be separate fundraising for

two charities very close to our hearts— The Richard Mayne

Foundation and the Rob Walton Children’s Trust Fund. Tick-

ets are available from the front office and cost £80 which

includes welcome drinks, a four course dinner, casino and a

live band.

The PTAs in both schools do a remarkable job in raising

funds, but more than that the ’get-togethers’ they organise

are a critical part of school life. We are making moves to

unify the Junior and Senior PTAs to reflect our 3-18, whole

school approach. If you would like to get involved, please

just come along to one of the PTA meetings as advertised in

the school calendar. You would be most welcome.

News @ The Dixie May 2016

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It is very difficult to say goodbye and this time of year always involves doing so more than in the rest of

the year. In our last presentation assembly of the half term we took the opportunity to thank Mr Tyrell

and Kirsten Engfer for all their work with us. This is not the first time Mr Tyrell

has left the school, but on this occasion the bitter pill of ‘goodbye’ is sweetened

by a ‘welcome back’ to Miss Fatima after her maternity leave. We are hugely

grateful for the calm expertise of Mr Tyrell in guiding, amongst other classes, his

Year 10 (above) in Miss Fatima’s absence.

Kirsten has worked in the English Department and also given one to one speaking

sessions to all of our Sixth Form students of German, as well as some students in

Year 11. They have really enjoyed working with Kirsten and have found the ses-

sions very useful in helping them prepare for external exams.

For the Year 11 (below) and Upper Sixth students (bottom) we have greatly en-

joyed scouring our photo archives and had great fun sharing these in their re-

spective last assemblies. A particular thank you to Mrs Scott, Olivia Ward, Jenna

Mihsein and the many parents who provided such fantastic images from years gone by.

News @ The Dixie May 2016

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Yet another outstanding effort was made by our athletes this last half term at the ISA Midlands Ath-

letics Championships who ran, jumped and threw to stunning success. Five athletes were crowned

Midlands Champions and six qualify for the National Athletics at the Alexander Stadium on Wednes-

day 29 June:

Isla Crameri in the Year 7 girls 200m and Long Jump, Nathan Cadman in the Year 7 boys 100m,

Jared Cutler in the Year 8/9boys 1500m with a new PB, Chloe Vinestock in the year 8/9 girls Long

Jump and Theo Sjoberg in the Year 10/11 boys 100m with a PB of 11.9s and Iona Crameri who came

second in the 1500m.

Other highlights were as follows:

Year 7 Alfie Madden 3rd in the Shot-putt, Oliver Crane 2nd

in Discus, Harriet Whitehead 3rd in the Shot-putt

Year 8/9 Katie Mears 2nd in High Jump

Year 10/11 Keiron Green 3rd in Shot-putt, Charlie Jacques

3rd in Long Jump, Abi Hewitt 2nd in 100m, Georgia Ellis

2nd in Shot-putt and 3rd in 800m and Eniola Awodiya 2nd

in the Long Jump. Our Year 10 & 11 girls came home 3rd in

the relay (Abi Hewitt, Georgia Ellis, Shelby Chapman and

Eniola Awodiya).

Also this half term, students have participated in the English Schools Track & Field Cup Athletics

Competition and the Hugglescote Area Athletics – a progressive competition for the County

Schools Athletics Programme. From the Hugglescote Athletics Day we have 13 individual county

finalists and two relay teams— ’a fantastic achievement, our best to date’, commented Mr Field-

ing. County finalists from the boys are: Nathan Cadman (100m), Patrick Martin (300m ), Alex Bran-

kin (300m) , Keiron Green (400m), Oliver Crane (Discus), Alfie Madden (Shot-putt) and Matt Ev-

ans (Long-jump). Girls finalists are:

Isla Crameri (200m), Megan Mears (High Jump), Eniola Awodiya (Long-jump), Harriat Whitehead

(Shot-putt), Chloe Vinestock (Long Jump), Georgia Ellis (Shot-putt ) and Under 13 girls won the

4x100m relay and qualify for the County finals.

News @ The Dixie May 2016

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Our athletics prowess is, I am certain, linked to our on-going relationship with Ian Roberts, England

athletics coach who attended the Dixie earlier in May and delivered a series of masterclasses. Elite

athletes from Years 6-11 benefited from this experience and were able to put his advice into practice

in the athletics competitions.

Year 6/7 were taught the mechanics of throwing activities, with particular focus on the shot-putt; Year

11 IGCSE students were taught the theory of 'acquisition of skill' through the long jump; Year 8 were

taught the sub-routines of the 'Fosbury flop' to develop their high-jump technique, whilst Year 9/10

worked on their relay baton change-overs.

Earlier in the half term, 18 students from the senior school participated in the ISA National Tri-athlon at Lucton School. All those who participated greatly enjoyed the event and did them-selves and the school proud, several students narrowly missing out on medals. The final results were as follows:

Tristar 2 (Boys) 11-12 years: Robyn Thiele 9th, Dan Kennedy 10th, Rio Naik 25th, Joseph Blunt 40th, Ted Davies 42nd, Elliott Breadon 49th.

Tristar 2 (girls) 11-12 years Daisy Wilebore 7th, Emily Cutler 15th, Charlotte Chenery 18th, Keeley Whitehead 27th, Alayna Friston 28th, Millie Gibbons 29th, Eleanor Bee 31st, Maddison Bolsover 44th

Tristar 3 (girls) 13-14 years: Eleanor Partridge 5th

Youths (boys) 15-16 years Mark McCall 4th, Zach Gauhar 6th, Luke Whitehead 16th

All participants were awarded with a certificate in school for their efforts. Well done to all our triathletes and to all who have represented the school so ably this half term.

News @ The Dixie May 2016

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The school’s Astronaut Training Club have been investigating the germination and growth of rocket seeds as part of a project organised by the UK Space Agency and the Royal Horticultural Society. One set of seeds had been on the International Space Station (ISS) for six months and the other stayed down on Earth. We investigated factors such as when germination occurred, when leaves appeared, height of plants, numbers of leaves and how many plants survived from the two samples. We couldn’t determine any obvious differences between our two samples, but we thought the colour of one set of rocket plants was slightly different overall to the other. Our investigation has now finished and our results will be sent to the UK Space Agency to be analysed with all the other results from around the country. We will be informed in the near future which of the two samples of seeds had been on the ISS and what, if any, effect this has had on their growth.

Dr Ketchion says that the astronaut trainees have been very keen and conducted their investigation in a proper scientific manner. Hopefully human kind will benefit from their results when astronauts can grow their own food on future space missions.

Seeds from Space Investigation

I am delighted to hear from Mr Macmillan that girls’ rugby training sessions for all years will

start on Wednesday 8 June and run for four weeks until Wednesday 29 June. Training will take

place at Barton Road after school and will finish at 5.15pm. Please arrange for your daughter to

be picked up from Barton Road. Any students that require a lift back to school will be able to

get one. The wearing of a mouth-guard is not compulsory but is recommended. If you have any

queries please feel free to contact Mr Macmillan at macmillanp@dixie.org.uk .

Dixie Tennis teams have

enjoyed a very strong

season—well done to all

who have represented

the school

Mr Hamson accompanied Jake Redrobe

and Elliott Middleton to the Isle of Man

for a fencing competition, along with their

parents. Jake lost his first five bouts, but

learnt a great deal in a very short space of

time and came back to win Gold! Elliott

Middleton secured the silver medal, com-

pleting a clean sweep for our international

fencing team! Many thanks to Mr Hamson

and the parents who supported the com-

petition.

News @ The Dixie May 2016

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From the Headmaster

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Our Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme contin-

ues to grow and I am hugely grateful to the

staff who give of their time so freely to ensure

that students have such outstanding opportu-

nities. Next half term we have both the Gold

and Bronze expeditions taking place—and all

in Year 10 are taking part in the Bronze.

Year 7 were champions and Year 8

got the silver medal in the Hinckley

Ladies Junior Netball Invitational

Tournament.

Teamwork was much in evidence as both the Senior and Junior Schools gave amazing performanc-es at the Hinckley and Bosworth Mayor's Service on Sunday 24th April. I was grateful the Dixie parents and siblings were out in force - without us the congregation would have been very small indeed.

At the Dixie we don't like

to count our chickens

before they hatch and a

big thank you to Ollie

Crane for providing us

with some fertile eggs

from his chickens. The

chickens all hatched and

have been returned safe

and sound, but not be-

fore they were captured

on film! What better way

to study growth and de-

velopment than to see it

for yourself?! Year 6 stu-

dents have really enjoyed

"playing" with our chicks

and probably haven't

realised they having been

learning a lot too.

Not only is Mrs Buckell, (former parent and Governor) the driving

force behind ‘Dixie Diggers’ she has also donated some money to the

Science Department, which has been used to purchase equipment

for next year’s Sixth Form practical experiments. (left)

News @ The Dixie May 2016

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From the Headmaster

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As we approach half-term, there is a great

deal to look forward to on our return.

The Year 5/6 Science Challenge Day (21

June) was such a success last year and I am

certain it will be just as effective this year in

helping our new students make friends and

start to feel at home in the Senior School. I

understand from Mr Kirkwood that the aim

of this year’s Yr5/6 challenge will to be cre-

ate and decorate appropriately a timing de-

vice/clock that will move a marble down-

wards 50cm. Like our Whole School Sports

Day (4th July) it will have an Olympic theme

and is closely followed by our Induction Day

(23 June).

Please put 4th July in your diaries and come

with your picnic tables. I have ordered an-

other very warm day and Mr Fielding, Miss

Dicksee and Mr Vernon inform me that this

year there will be a podium for race winners

and Olympic style presentation ceremonies. I

look forward to welcoming you at Barton

Road and I know that one of the highlights of

the day was the whole school warm up lap of

the athletics track to the Chariots of Fire

soundtrack—be sure to arrive in good time!

Mrs Banton and Mr Dixon are already plan-

ning the Sixth Form Induction Days on Tues-

day 5th and Wednesday 6th July and we will

be welcoming a good number of students

new to the Dixie for these days. The pro-

gramme on Tuesday, which starts at 8.45 am

in the Library, will give new Sixth Formers

the opportunity to meet Heads of Depart-

ment who will talk to you about expectations

for the coming year as well as vital prepara-

tion work to be undertaken in the summer

break. There will also be time to review ca-

reer based targets, spend time in the Sixth

Form House and meet with our current Low-

er Sixth students. This is also an opportunity for our new Sixth formers

to wear business dress.

Wednesday is intended to be a more interactive and informal day, with

a variety of teamwork activities incorporating not only key skills im-

portant for the Sixth Form, but also an element of healthy competition!

Weather permitting, we are also planning a barbecue lunch at Barton

Road Sports Ground so the dress is more casual on this day.

Finally, on the last day of term, you are all invited to the Presentation

of Prizes 2015/6 which will again be held in a marquee at our Barton

Road Sports Ground. This promises to be another great celebration of

the academic year, and I will be delighted to introduce our Guest of

Honour, Mr William Ashworth, District Judge.

News @ The Dixie May 2016

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I have shown prospective

parents around the Dixie in

increasing number this year

(I am delighted that we now

have waiting lists in some

years) and I regularly refer to

our wonderful Sixth Form.

Those who have taken the

opportunity to speak to our

visitors never fail to impress,

are always the most potent

of adverts for the school and

real evidence of the ‘Dixie

Difference’. I am devastated at the thought of the Upper Sixth not being here next year, and the Upper

Sixth of 2016/17 certainly have large shoes to fill. Senior prefects are appointed by the whole school—

each student has a vote, and the votes from students are given the same weight as votes from staff. As

well as writing a letter of application and presenting to the whole school, each candidate is given a pan-

el interview with me, Mrs Banton and the existing Head Boy and Girl. I am delighted to announce that

next year’s Head Boy will be Christian Smaditch, Head Girl: Kate Smart, Deputy Head Boy: Lewie Brooks

and Deputy Head Girl: Eve Webley. Other key prefect posts will be announced on the Lower Sixth re-

turn to school after half term.

Preparations for the second Dixie Alumni dinner to be held on June 25th are now well under way. Tickets will only be on sale until 11th of June or until they are all sold. Ex staff confirmed as attending include Mr G.M. Carter (Music) and Dr Dack (Physics). I am also delighted that amongst the ex-students attending will be Zoe Hildred (nee Green), Mark Pritchard, Suzanna Neville, Debbie Hill and Neil Taylor. We will be supporting charitable causes as part of the evening and Mr Hamson will be selling the first e-edition of the Dixonian magazine for alumni of the Grammar school with news about school developments, recent events, activities of alumni and also what is going on in town. Please register your intention to attend by emailing alumni@dixie.org.uk and all details about how to buy tickets are on the website.

All that remains is for me to wish you a relaxing half term and as promised, pictures of Year 6 enjoy-

ing this afternoon’s events are overleaf. Congratulations to those whose exams have finished, and

again, best wishes to those who have external exams to sit in June.

With my best wishes,

News @ The Dixie May 2016

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Huge thanks to Mrs

Scott, Mrs Ennis, Mrs

Malde, Miss Fatima,

Mrs Hannaghan, Miss

Gordon and Mr Tyrell

whose vision and en-

ergy ensured that Year

6 students had so

much fun!