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Under Construction: Building an Inclusive Catholic School ( on a budget! )

Under Construction: Building an Inclusive Catholic School ( on a budget! ). Beth Foraker and David Perry St. James School, Davis, CA. Agenda. Introduction Background and History of St. James How it All Began-Patrick’s Story Setting the Vision Implementing the Vision Where are we now

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Under Construction: Building an Inclusive Catholic School ( on a budget! )

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  1. Under Construction: Building an Inclusive Catholic School (on a budget!) Beth Foraker and David Perry St. James School, Davis, CA

  2. Agenda • Introduction • Background and History of St. James • How it All Began-Patrick’s Story • Setting the Vision • Implementing the Vision • Where are we now • What is next

  3. Introduction • Beth Foraker • Dave Perry

  4. Background & History of SJS • Diocese of Sacramento • City of Davis • Msgr. Coffey-1965

  5. Patrick’s Story • Patrick is born July 1, 1999. He has both Down Syndrome and a genetic heart defect that requires open heart surgery at nine weeks old. • Patrick’s older brother, Jack, is a first grader at St. James. His older sister is a four year old in preschool. • My biggest sadness was the idea that Patrick would never go to school with his sibs.

  6. Leukemia • In May of 2002, Patrick is diagnosed with leukemia. Jack is in 3rd grade and Mary Kate is in 1st. • The whole school and our parish hold him close in prayer. • It’s a three plus year journey. He finishes all treatment in August of 2005, right before kindergarten.

  7. Feeling Welcome! • Cannot state enough how powerful and crucial a feeling of welcome is for the family. • Mary Kay and Father Dan Looney were welcoming, inclusive and open to the idea. • We were overjoyed! • No one knew what “inclusion” looked like at St. James, we just were thrilled with the opportunity.

  8. First Day of School – 2005!

  9. “With God All Things Are Possible.” • The school did not know how to treat Patrick. • Where did he belong? Should he follow all the rules? What exactly can he do? • Mary Kay’s welcome set the tone for the school! I believe it is impossible to succeed without this component. Vision is everything.

  10. Activity #1 • What does Inclusion look like at your Catholic School? • Is it happening? If not, does your Community believe that it can happen?

  11. Why Should We Be Inclusive? • United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – 1978 • “We are a single flock under the care of a single shepherd. There can be no separate Church for persons with disabilities.” • “Defense of the right to life implies the defense of all other rights that enable the individual with the disability to achieve the fullest measure of personal development…including education!”

  12. Setting the vision • Transition in Leadership • Pastor • New Principal (x 3) • New Vision • Why?

  13. Implementing the Vision • People • Values • Beliefs • Mission • Process • SST (Student Success Team) • Staff Development (Step Up to Writing & GLAD) • Persistence • Courage • Patience

  14. Activity #2 • What are some of the successes you have had at your school? • What are some of the roadblocks your are currently facing? • What is the next step for you? For your school community?

  15. What is next • Hope for: • Transformation • Ingrained and sustaining • Families seeing St. James as a choice

  16. Questions

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