In mid-October, Upper School students received emails from their respective class deans reminding them of the dress code expectations. The email also referred to Cozy December as a privilege that could be revoked if Upper School students were not in dress code.

The threat of losing Cozy December was enough to get Isabelle Y. ’27’s attention. She described the email as a “wake-up call to lock in.”  She continued,  I think I started taking the dress code a little more seriously.”

As a Cozy December enthusiast, Isabella Y. ’28 also emphasized her willingness to do what it takes to secure Cozy December’s presence for the fourth year, even going so far as to remind her peers about being in dress code. “I’ve been pretty in dress code, so after I saw the email, I started telling people, ‘you can’t wear that’ [and] ‘wear a skirt over that,’” Isabella said.

Students also wondered about the timing of the warning. Uniform violations aren’t new, and enforcement has been increasingly relaxed over the past few years. “It was a little frustrating to know that [Cozy December] was being threatened after years of us doing this. Like, this is not anything new,” said Lucia F. ’26.

Emerson F. ’26, who described the email as “threatening,” believes the focus on the uniform is unnecessary. “At this point, I feel like the uniform is just picking on very little things when it’s generally devolved,” said Emerson.

Unlike Lucia and Emerson, Pip D. ’27 saw the email in “a positive” way, with respect to the “intention behind it.”  

Director of Upper School Dr. Melanie Arias clarified the emails’ intent. “Yes, a reminder went out. I think there was a very gentle ‘let’s make sure we head in the right direction going into Cozy December.’ And I think it was pretty much as simple as that,” she said.

In response to students who felt the email was threatening, she said, “I can understand that somebody might take it that way, but I think that the intention of the email was to remind everybody [of the dress code].”

For many, the emails felt like more than a reminder, and students’ close readings of the emails left little room for interpretation.  

Each email reinforced similar ideas regarding the dress code and mentioned Cozy December by name. Sophomore Class Dean Mr. Daniel Calmeyer’s email read, “Just wearing sweatpants is NOT in uniform.”   

Freshman Class Dean Ms. Laura Hatchman’s email, read, in reference to Cozy December, “We won’t be able to enjoy this privilege if we can’t lock in to appropriate uniform attire now.”

Senior Class Dean Coach Allison Clark felt the tone and intent of the email’s wording was more than just a reminder. “If things cannot improve, if people are not wearing the uniform, it’s something that’s on the table,” she said.

No matter if they intended to be threats or reminders, the emails seem to have had their intended effect—at least for now.

Sarah A. ’27 admitted that she hadn’t been wearing a skirt with her sweatpants for about a week before the email. She said, “I’ve been wearing my skirt ever since.”

“I think people are more in uniform and respecting it,” said Pip D.

Student compliance with the emails has not gone unnoticed by the deans. “I’ve seen some good strides in the uniform since the threat to Cozy December,” said Junior Class Dean Ms. Katie Wei.

Although the emails may have achieved student compliance around the uniform, the threat to Cozy December raised other concerns about consistent uniform enforcement and the role of Cozy December. 

Originally, Peer-to-Peer’s Love Your Mind Week, now renamed Be Kind to Your Mind Week, was a week-long opportunity to dress down in comfortable clothing. In 2022, former Director of Upper School Mr. Gary Baldwin and Director of Lower and Middle School Dr. Zanita Kelly appreciated Peer-to-Peer’s efforts and made the decision to extend the event until Winter Break.

Some Peer-to-Peer fellows were taken aback by the email, especially because Peer-to-Peer’s Be Kind to Your Mind Week was the catalyst for the Cozy December tradition. Third-year Peer-to-Peer fellows Olivia H. ’26 and Sabrina C. ’26 didn’t feel that losing Cozy December was the consequence for uniform violations. “It felt kind of unfair… specifically because we’re in Peer-to-Peer. I felt like the goal of Cozy December is just for mental well-being… for students in a really stressful time,” Olivia said.

Many community members have been left wondering if Cozy December is an established tradition or a privilege. Ms. Bonnie Martinez, the Upper School Dean of Student Support, considers it a privilege. “If [students] earn [Cozy December] absolutely—if not, then why should we do it?” she said.

Dr. Arias said the decision surrounding Cozy December is determined annually, which has remained consistent among the administration since Cozy December’s emergence in 2022. Dr. Arias also said that the decision “will happen in due course, like every other year.”

Olivia was concerned about how Cozy December was used in the Class Deans’ October 15 and 20 emails as a way to get students to wear their uniforms. “I understand the [concerns] of Upper School administration…but it did feel like not the best solution,” she said.

Director of Counseling and Student Support Dr. Lisa LaFave, who teaches the Peer-to-Peer program, empathized with both teachers and students when it came to the uniform. “There has been…a lot more freedom being taken around the uniform. I think it’s a hard place for students, because in some ways, our uniform has evolved, [where] it’s less clear, and we enforce it less,” she said.

However, as has been the case with the uniform for some time, the administration’s requests or threats are not at the forefront of all students’ minds. Alina S. ’27, along with other Cozy December enjoyers, is still planning on celebrating—even if the administration doesn’t renew the tradition. “If Cozy December were to be canceled, I would still wear free dress every single day,” she said.

“Same,” seconded juniors Eliza S. and Natalie L.