Dear Mr. Bonar (and to any others this may concern);

Us Upper School students, especially freshmen, were shocked and confused by the email sent out earlier this week regarding Winter Ball. Though some of the regulations, such as wearing a mask at all times indoors, seem completely reasonable, others were the source of indignation among the student body. An entrance fee of $35 seems exorbitant for a school dance, especially when we assume that food will not be available because of the aforementioned COVID restrictions. If around two-thirds of the Upper School attended this dance, the school would make $14,000, which is ridiculous given how well-endowed the school already is. This fee has made many of us reconsider our decision to go to the dance in the first place. Additionally, the rule stating that students would not be able to reenter the fieldhouse at any point seemed uncalled for. Again, with COVID protocols, some of us may want to get a breath of fresh air or take our masks off for a moment. Not allowing us to do so without abandoning the event is quite unfair.

We suggest that the fee be lowered to a far more reasonable $10 and that the re-entry rule be taken out altogether. Thank you for your time and for taking our requests into consideration.