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NEST Open House
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What does it take to design and deliver an event for 261 students – from concept to execution – while still in school?
At Dover Court International School in Singapore, opportunities like the Spring Formal go beyond celebration. They give students the chance to take ownership, collaborate and develop real-world skills through meaningful experiences.
This year’s Hollywood-themed Spring Formal brought together students from Years 10–13 for an evening of music, creativity and connection – entirely organised by a dedicated team of Year 12 students, under the guidance of Ms Glazerman, Deputy Head of Secondary, Community & Guidance and supported by staff supervisors.
Reflecting on the experience, the Year 12 organising committee shared:
“The Spring Formal was an extremely memorable night that reflected all of our hard work across many months, from the initial planning to the final decorations on the night.”
A Student-Led Event from Concept to Execution
From the earliest planning stages to the final moments on the dance floor, students led every aspect of the Spring Formal. Months of preparation went into shaping an event that balanced creativity with organisation, logistics and teamwork.
One of the most memorable moments came before the event even began:
“The biggest highlight of the event was getting to set up the venue with the entire committee and watching the space get transformed into something magical.”
Shaped by Student Voice
A defining feature of the Spring Formal is its “for students, by students” approach — ensuring that the experience reflects what students themselves value most.
This year’s Hollywood theme was the result of direct student input:
“We made a form to allow attendees the autonomy of getting to choose the theme. There were a few winning themes, so we merged them to get to Hollywood.”
The final result was a fully immersive experience, complete with thoughtful details:
“Our favourite Hollywood-inspired details were the Oscars trophies for the Spring Formal Royalty winners and the movie-inspired props for the photobooth.”
Developing Real-World Skills Beyond the Classroom
Behind the scenes, organising a large-scale event required students to apply practical, transferable skills — from budgeting and decision-making to managing suppliers and timelines.
Reflecting on what they gained from the experience, the committee noted:
“The biggest lesson we learned was the importance of negotiation. Once we got the hang of it, we managed to save hundreds of dollars.”
Collaboration was central throughout the process, as students worked closely together and coordinated with multiple stakeholders:
“Working as a team allowed us to lean on each other for ideas and support, a vital part of success when organising a large-scale event and incorporating multiple vendors.”
Empowering Students at Dover Court
Experiences like the Spring Formal are part of a wider commitment at Dover Court to empower students through leadership, collaboration and real-world learning.
By placing students at the centre of planning and decision-making, they are encouraged to:
The Spring Formal is a clear example of how student leadership is embedded into school life — creating opportunities that are both engaging and meaningful, and preparing students for life beyond the classroom.
“The 'for students, by students' aspect allowed us to use our past Spring Formal experiences to make adjustments to this year's event.”
A huge congratulations to the Year 12 organising team — Annika, Florence, Jagriti and Lily — whose commitment, creativity and teamwork brought the evening to life and ensured a memorable experience for all.