Dixon

MR MARK HOPPE dixon housemaster

It has certainly been a phenomenal year to be a Dixon Dragon and an even more humbling experience to, once again, enjoy the role as Housemaster for these incredible young men. The spirit, commitment, solidarity and good humour that have characterised the feelings within the House in 2018 have been as special as I’ve witnessed. Dixon boys have not only risen to the competitive rivalries that the numerous inter-House challenges inevitably foster, but there has genuinely been the sense of kinship and ‘brotherhood’ we so often aspire to within the House system at The Southport School.

The Dixon leadership group, some 20 boys strong at weekly meetings, have been a huge factor behind the success of the House in 2018 in building the intangible bond that has connected so many. I give each of these boys my heartfelt thanks for their interest in the workings of the House and the commitment they showed throughout the year. At the helm of this group, the four captains set a remarkable example each and every day about what it means to be servant leaders, selfless and committed. To Dominic Stansbie, Campbell Ross, Alexander Nott and Will Speering, you may not realise it now but future captains and leaders of the House will remember and will have been inspired by your efforts this year. From a very grateful Housemaster, please accept my thanks on a job well done.

To the Dixon House staff – in particular, Mr Mac, Mr Newton, Mrs Zauner, Mrs Hurd – thank you for being so invested in the pastoral support of these young boys. Your involvement and support, often managing the over-enthusiasm of a balding, 30-something, Housemaster, has been hugely appreciated.

The greatest myth of the four Housemasters is that we are often driven by the glory of the Howard Smith Cup at the end of the year. There is no doubt that the look of exuberance on young boys’ faces in the final days of the academic year warm our hearts. The greater joy is actually had in the less obvious moments. For me, this year, my highlights have been seeing boys excited about folding 600 ShoeBox, ready to distribute to classes; it’s been celebrating and acknowledging the added effort that our young leaders have given on any number of occasions; it’s been seeing boys blossom in House meetings and activities, engaging and showing that the House is important to them. These moments, amongst so many others, make the job of Housemaster such a rewarding experience. In closing, I want to thank the entire Year 6 cohort of Dixon boys for their service to the House. I hope that the memories you take with you into the Senior School and beyond will have you smile and reflect with pride on being a Dixon dragon. Fly high gentlemen!

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DRAGON Dominic Stansbie Dixon House Captain 2018 When I came into Dixon House I thought that it was just another House with a colour on its shirt and we all sat in the same House bay when we had events. When I went into my first House meeting as a small, new Year 4 boy, I remember not knowing what to do or where to go. Then amid all the confusion one boy in a blue Dixon shirt came up to me looked me in the eye and asked if I was new and if I knew where to go. It was at that moment when that Dixon boy told me, it meant so much more to be in Dixon. In Dixon, we look for boys to be caring and supportive to other boys no matter what House they are in. They

are passionate and patriotic and some of the proudest boys I have ever met because they show what it means to be a dragon. Dragons only fly high to help out those down below.

INTER-HOUSE EVENTS Alexander Nott Dixon House Vice Captain 2018 This year in Dixon we have secured some great victories against our fellow Prep Houses so it’s safe to say that wherever we place by the end of 2018, I will still consider Dixon House and all our boys to be winners. At Prep, there is an award at the end of the year for the House that tallies up the most points across all activities, from weekly House points to big events like athletics, swimming, debating, cross country, singing, cricket, soccer, oztag and many other sports. The winning House is then presented with the highly sought-after trophy called the Howard Smith Cup.

While the Dixon boys haven’t taken home the cup yet in my time, I can tell you we worked very hard during all of the events and tried our best. We ended up winning the swimming carnival, came second in athletics, second in cross country and second in House music. Whatever the outcome, our score will be very high, and I would like to congratulate all of our boys for their commendable work.

LOOKING BACK Campbell Ross Dixon House Vice Captain 2018

I still remember my first day at TSS, being a nervous child waiting eagerly to meet my new teacher and class but at the same time scared of what might happen in the future. Now, six years later, I am honoured to be Dixon Vice Captain after my growth at TSS. I came to TSS in Year 1 in 2013 and since then I have seen Dixon boys come and go. I have even seen boys come back to the school. Although they all have something in common and that is growing up as a Dixon dragon. All the boys in Dixon right now have many talents from sport, music, public speaking and many more. As I have seen the Dixon boys grow up, I have seen healthy relationships and strong independent boys. The growth of the House has been incredible, and I can’t wait to see the rest of these young group of Dixon boys in the coming years.

BEING AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS Will Speering Dixon House Vice Captain 2018

Being Vice House Captain is an extremely challenging, yet possibly the most rewarding, job in the Prep School. Whether giving up breaks to help fundraising or to just sort out assembly, there is always commitment involved and even hard work at home sometimes. But the reward to see Dixon come first in the Howard Smith Cup is awesome, to stand up in front of all the Dixon Dragons to lead a war cry because we won swimming or being a part of the leadership team and, best of all, setting an example for the younger ones in the future. Being Vice Captain is an awesome thing to take the role of. Working with all 20 leadership students, and Mr Hoppe, was truly a great opportunity. And I’m sure in the future the younger ones will rise to the challenge of these jobs and do an even better job than we have. It has been a wonderful year being a leader in our final year in the Prep School. Go Dixon!