Watch: heart-warming moment Dubai pupils surprise teacher with a birthday drive-by

A grade 6 teacher of Hartland International School saw his pupils for the first time since school campuses closed in March

Daniel Slack, a Dubai primary school teacher, waves at his pupils during his birthday drive by. Courtesy: Mr Slack

Nearly a dozen pupils of a Dubai school drove by their teacher's residence to wish him a happy birthday.

Grade 6 pupils from Hartland International School in Dubai sat in cars as their parents drove past their teacher, Daniel Slack, cheering and wishing him on his 32nd birthday.

A video shared by the school on their social media account shows Mr Slack was overjoyed to see his pupils and their parents pull up outside his Dubai Hills apartment in a parade of cars on June 8.

The drive-by celebrations is a social media trend that is catching up in different parts of the world as movement restrictions stay in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Daniel Slack, a year 6 teacher of Hartland International School received handmade birthday cards from his pupils. Courtesy: Daniel Slack

Wearing a mask and practising social distancing, Mr Slack went over to several vehicles to receive birthday gifts and handmade cards.

"It was absolutely amazing. There were about 14 to 15 of my pupils in the cars and it was incredible to see them again. They were all honking and it was quite a celebration," he told The National.

“I had no idea this had been organised and it was a great feeling, especially seeing my pupils after nearly three months.

“We see them on Zoom regularly, but seeing them in-person again was really special.”

People wearing face mask buy fruits and vegetables at the Al Awir fruit and vegetable market during a hot and humid day in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

People have lunch at Cafe Isan in JLT on a sunny day in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Safety measures put in place at Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh temple in Dubai as places of worship hope to reopen soon. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh temple in Dubai has put in place safety measures awaiting instructions from authorities to reopen. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Security guard checks the temperature of a visitor at the Al Awir fruit and vegetable market during a hot and humid day in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A chef prepares freshly roasted chicken wearing a face mask and gloves at Nightjar Coffee in Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz, to comply with health and safety measures put in place by Dubai Municipality. Antonie Robertson / The National

A staff at Nightjar Coffee in Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz, makes coffee as restaurants are allowed to open after complying with strict procedures put in place by Dubai Municipality. Antonie Robertson / The National

A woman wearing a face mask walks past art work depicting Emirati boys playing in Al Satwa area in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A worker cleans signs outside an Emirates NBD branch on Al Wasl road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

People wear protective face masks while waiting for the bus in Al Satwa area of Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Pedestrians wear protective face masks in Dubai's Al Satwa area. Pawan Singh / The National

Rami, a jeweller, cleans a ring in a Dubai store. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Mohamed Hawas Al Sadid, chief executive of the Ambulatory Healthcare Services checks the Covid-19 assessment center at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Staff at the Nightjar Coffee cafe in Al Serkal Avenue, Dubai follow strict procedures to ensure health and safety measures put in place by Dubai Municipality. Antonie Robertson / The National

The surprise was organised by the parent representative at the school who had asked Mr Slack to meet her outside of his apartment so she could give him a birthday card.

School campuses across the world were closed in order to contain the spread of the virus and distance learning was implemented.

The trend of drive-by celebrations is especially popular in the United States, where principals and school staff members drive by pupils’ homes to celebrate their graduation, birthday and proms.

Keeping with the trend, The American University in Dubai will confer degrees by drone at a midsummer drive-in convocation ceremony next month, it was announced last week.