Picnic baskets, camping gear and golf umbrellas in tow, the pouring rain on Saturday afternoon, 27th August, did not deter our Dover Court families to come together to celebrate the start of the new academic year 2022-2023. The Dover Court Association (DCA) was proud to have hosted its first face-to-face Welcome Back Picnic ever since the COVID-19 pandemic had limited on-campus gatherings during the last two years.
As gusty winds swept up leaves and dark clouds gathered in the sky, parents and children braved the registration queue which extended all the way down to Dover Road. Raindrops started to fall but creativity, determination, and beer prevailed. Families lugged their belongings to the Red Dot Restaurant or found their rightful space under roofed bleachers, umbrella-shaded picnic tables, the canteen, and wherever else they could find dry land.
While parents lined up for cheese fries and chicken burgers at the Travelling COW food truck, children got cool tattoos, fierce and beautiful face-paintings, and squiggly balloon sculptures. They also enjoyed Giant Games like Jenga and Snakes & Ladders in the air-conditioned Academy room, or joined one of the CCA activities – kicking ball with Coach Leo, jumping obstacles with Proactiv Sports, doodling with Whizz Kids, or swimming under the sea with Centre Stage drama. Once Uncle Jimmy’s local ice cream sandwich cart was discovered in the corner of G block, a long queue formed until the supplies finished, much to the dismay of hot and sweaty kids. The chatter in the Red Dot Restaurant eventually became louder than the torrential rain drumming the roof, drowning out the music blasting from the boombox. With every table and seat occupied, old and new friends found each other, shared, relaxed, ate and drank, and gave meaning to this community called Dover Court.
We are grateful to all the families who attended and helped kick-start this exciting “post-COVID” academic year. The picnic would not have been a success without your presence, as well as the behind-the-scenes support of enthusiastic parent volunteers. We hope you had a great time despite the wet weather.
We look forward to seeing you at our Annual General Meeting, Thursday 22nd September at 9.00am in the Red Dot!
The DCA
