Dragon Boats, Gong He Spirit, and the Michael Crook Cup    

The beat of drums and splash of paddles echoed across Duck Lake this week as the WAB community gathered for the annual Michael Crook Cup Dragon Boat Race, an event that brings students, staff, and parents together in the final week of school. 

Community in Motion 

Held over two days, this year's event began with 11 self-organized teams on Monday, representing a cross-section of the WAB community. The lineup included student teams, faculty teams, a security team, two parent teams, a leadership team, and a mixed parent-teacher team from the Swiss School. On Tuesday, the top crews returned as mixed teams, blending students, staff, parents, and guests, for a final round of friendly championship races. 

While each crew pushed hard across the water, the Michael Crook Cup has always been about more than just competition. It’s a recognition of shared effort, cultural tradition, and the sense of belonging that defines WAB. 

Cultural Connection, Shared Experience 

Named in honor of WAB’s founder, Michael Crook, the race reflects the school’s commitment to building meaningful connections between Chinese and global perspectives. Taking place on WAB’s own Duck Lake, it’s a moment of cultural appreciation brought to life through movement, rhythm, and collaboration. 

As teams stepped off the boats and gathered for the final award ceremony, what stood out most wasn’t the race standings, but the way students, parents, and staff came together, building new connections and strengthening old ones in the process.