Petition by Rivka Rutledge Watrous

The Ardrey Kell dress code wasn’t an issue last year, or the year before that, but now we aren’t even allowed to show our shoulders? For a new principal to come in after the swift dismissal of our past principal and change all of this without previous issue feels tone deaf, especially because the new changes are undoubtedly aimed towards female bodies. Many of us as students express ourselves with our style, and to completely mute that is absolutely an issue. Furthermore, the roll out of this new dress code merely two weeks before school starts gives families two weekends to shop for an entirely new wardrobe because last year, all of the banned clothing items were completely fine. Not to mention that half tops and tank tops are what stores have. Not everyone has the money or time to get new clothes to last the entire year. I implore you to wear a newly banned clothing item that was perfectly fine last year to the first friday of school — boys too. It’s unfair to restrict the student body in their choice of clothes like this when some of the issues can’t even be controlled on some body types, like cleavage. Please help send the message that we’re not happy with the new dress code on August 29th, 2025. Ardrey Kell is a school full of good students that have worn these clothes without disruption, and we should still be able to have a more reasonable dress code as a diverse and responsible group of students. Make our voices heard and make it known that we can wear these types of clothing without disruption or distraction. They can’t send us all home.