A "Snowmageddon" Reflection

Catholic Schools Week always invites us to tell our story—to celebrate faith, excellence, service, and community. It asks us to reflect not just on what we teach, but how we live what we teach.

And this week, that reflection has come wrapped in snow boots, wind advisories, and the humbling force of nature.

Somewhere between checking forecasts, scanning road conditions, and rereading calendar contingencies, there’s an internal administrator’s monologue that plays on repeat:
Save the days.
But save the people.
February is coming.
But so is tomorrow morning.
What if we need these days later?
What if someone doesn’t make it here safely today?

It’s not dramatic—it’s daily. And it’s never just about school. If I’m honest, there’s even a moment of gallows humor in it all. The part where I’m standing outside in sub-zero wind, bundled like a human marshmallow, smiling and waving while my eyelashes threaten to freeze together—thinking, Ah yes, this is leadership.

Catholic Schools Week reminds us that our schools are ministries before they are institutions. Those policies serve people—not the other way around. That prudence, compassion, and common sense are virtues, too.

So when we call a snow day during Snowmageddon, it’s not giving in. It’s living out what we profess. It’s choosing safety over stubbornness. It’s trusting that learning will continue. It’s acknowledging that grace sometimes looks like a delayed bell schedule—or no bell at all.

And as our students enjoy the magic of a snow day, my prayer widens.
For the families who still have to report to work. For those navigating icy roads with no option to stay home. For the homeless in our community, may warming centers be open, shelters full, and neighbors attentive.

In this season of snow and service, may we remember:
We don’t just count instructional minutes. We count people.
And sometimes, the most Catholic thing we can do… is close school.

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