The evening of June 19 at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School was a dramatic one. High winds and water damaged the McGarry gym floor and roof on June 19, 2014. Unfortunately, the gym floor took the brunt of the water damage and the entire main court floor is being replaced. The damage has caused major challenges for students, faculty, and athletics during these first months of school. However, they have been creative, ingenious, and graciously adaptive in responding to the challenge and inconvenience.

In his inimitable way, NDCL Principal Joseph Waler decided to turn everyone’s eyes toward the future. The new floor boards being installed in the gym were brought to the cafeteria gathering area and over the lunch blocks all NDCL students and staff were invited to write their name on the reverse side of the wood strips with a colored marker of their choice. “ The damage to McGarry Gym has caused huge expenses and major inconveniences, but we've decided to transform all of that into a community-building experience for our students and staff, " said Waler. The colorful autographs won’t be visible once the floor is complete, but everyone will know they put their “signature” on their school for years to come.