Lower School families enjoyed food, fun and fellowship during a summer gathering held in early August at Cloudland Station in Chickamauga, Ga. Planned by Clemson University senior and Darlington alumna Caitlin Davidson (’07), the event was a great opportunity for new families to be introduced to the Darlington Community and for longtime students to reconnect.
“Having graduated from Darlington, Caitlin has experienced firsthand the sense of community that is so important here,” said Suzanne Davidson, executive assistant to the director of Lower School. “She knew that Cloudland Station would be a great place to get Lower School families together to connect with each other prior to the start of school. I was so proud that she came up with this idea on her own, and everyone who participated had a great time. I really enjoyed meeting and talking to parents in a casual setting and really getting to know them.”
Marla Lee, director of the Learning Center, and her family were among the many who attended that are new to Darlington this year. “It was a great opportunity to meet other families because it was relaxed and perfect for conversation,” she said. “Cloudland Station offers the atmosphere of a small town and yesteryear community, very much like the Lower School, where every child is loved and cared for by the entire community. It felt like a family reunion and my children were very anxious to start school and kindle new friendships.”
All in all, 50 parents, children and faculty members enjoyed an afternoon of swimming in the saltwater pool or at the old-fashioned swimming hole and a barbeque complete with hot dogs, hamburgers and pulled pork.
“Our children went to a different school last year, but came back to Darlington largely because we all missed the strong sense of community here,” said Chris Allen, Upper School counselor. “This event was a great example of something you get at Darlington that you would never get at another school. When you attend something like this, you know that your kids are a part of something special that goes beyond the classroom.”
Click here to view photos of the event.
