We, the parents of the YIS Class of 2022, believe that the Class deserves a Prom or equivalent school-sponsored social activity.  While we appreciate the administration's priority for safety, e disagree with the decision to cancel and the refusal to provide an alternative.  The school has stated in past that its decisions would be guided by governmental guidance and the actions of our international school peers; in each case, the precedent is now clearly to allow social gatherings.

Our children have been exemplary in tolerating the difficulty of having their social lives crushed by the pandemic for the past two years.  Now, with Japan and the rest of the world relaxing all regulations and their YIS careers drawing to a close, we believe that they deserve the chance to mingle, laugh, and connect in person one last time.

While recognizing that the pandemic has not ended and of course agreeing that certain precautions should be taken - perhaps mandatory antigen testing that day? - we ask that the school reconsider its decision and sponsor a year-end party for the Class of 2022.