Our mission is to provide children with special needs the opportunity for an inclusive Catholic education in their home parish schools.

Highlights Video on Inclusion & FIRE Inclusion trends What is FIRE NE Iowa? Next Steps for FIRE NE Iowa Ways to get involved & ways to continue to grow your own schools inclusive education program. Packet for each principal.

FIRE Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF2oOBMFeAk

Inclusion Trends Mindy & Tom – what do you want On the inclusion slides……

Mission Our mission is to provide children with special needs the opportunity for an inclusive Catholic education in their home parish schools. FIRE NE Iowa lights the way for children with special needs to share in the opportunities, challenges and faith-based education that Catholic schools provide.

Two Major Pillars Two Major Pillars of Purpose FIRE serves as a FUNDER, raising monies that are granted to partner schools & for special projects. Schools use grant funds to create successful learning experiences for students with special needs. FIRE serves as an ADVOCATE for inclusive education. Our Foundation promotes inclusion as a best practice to schools within our Diocese as well as to inquirers from other communities and regions of the country through education and consultation. Not the experts but have connections to the inclusion experts

Inclusion in the United States Information pulled from the National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion

Inclusion in Northeast Iowa

FIRE & the Schmitz Family

What has FIRE NE Iowa IGNITED over the last year?

August 22, 2016 Ignited in Partnership with KC

501c3 Organization by the IRS We Became Official 501c3 Organization by the IRS Non Profit Charitable

Kansas City, MO on February 22 – 24, 2017 Grant Award Winners 13 administrators & teachers representing 9 schools and the archdiocese school office & 2 FIRE NE Iowa Reps

Kansas City, MO on February 22 – 24, 2017 Grant Award Winners Archdiocese of Dubuque Catholic Schools Office Representative:  Mindy Hart Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta Representative: Tom Novotney Beckman Catholic High School Representative:  Pat Meade Columbus Catholic High School Representative: Dale Monroe St. Joseph / Immaculate Conception Representatives: Sharon Mayer & Janice Rosauer Mazzuchelli Middle School Representatives: Jill Jhohmann & Carrie Massey-Watters Newman Catholic Representatives: Victoria Ries & Keely Weiner Sacred Heart Catholic School Representative: Jori Ohrt St. Columbkille School Representative: Barb Roling Saint Edward Catholic School Representative: Aaron Becker Inclusion in Catholic and Parochial Schools: Welcoming and Supporting Students with Special Needs Kansas City, MO on February 22 – 24, 2017

Ignite Inclusion Committee To share best inclusion practices, brainstorm creative ideas on how to grow inclusion offerings in our schools, network with others that value inclusion, share challenges, share strengths of what is already being done, plus more. Tom Novoteny – Chair Vicki Ries, Aaron Becker, Dale Monroe, Sharon Mayer, Janice Rosauer, Barb Roling, Mindy Hart, Kelley Harbach, Kristi Holien, Becky Schmelzer The Inclusion philosophy is everywhere – playgrounds, work, schools, etc.

Inclusion Summit 2 Prior to the NCEA Conference Two FIRE NE Iowa Reps attended.

NCEA Exceptional Learners Conference Grant Award Winners Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta Representative: Tom Novotney Newman Catholic Representative: Victoria Ries

FIRE NE Iowa Board of Directors

FIRE NE Iowa Board of Directors 12 Board of Directors as of July 1, 2017

Board of Directors Erin Schmitz (Jesup), President Tom Novoteny (Waterloo), Co-Vice President Kristi Holien (Calmar), Co-Vice President Bruce Schmitz (Jesup), Co-Secretary Kim Grzywacz (Ames), Co-Secretary Teresa Schmitz (Jesup), Treasurer Braxton Chicchelly (Brandon / Cedar Rapids) Renee Mchann (Dubuque) Julie Drake (Dubuque) Becky Schmelzer (Durango) Craig Riendel (Mason City) Vicki Ries (Mason City)

Additional Activities Prince of Peace Lenten Project Gilbertville Daze Parade

Next Steps for FIRE NE Iowa Grant Opportunities Share your schools inclusion story with us! Nominate a rock star inclusion leader from your school! Winners will receive $1000 towards their schools inclusive education program. Applications will be open on October 15th Special Projects Partner Schools Awareness / Advocacy Through a variety of different channels Talk through Partner Schools

Grow Your Schools Inclusive Education Program By Getting Involved Join the Ignite Inclusion Committee Day of Prayer for Inclusion (toolkit posted by mid-Sept) December 1, 2017 – Schools December 2 – 3, 2017 – Churches Professional Development Opportunities Mustard Seed Project Conference VICKI”S class name Inclusion Summit hosted by Inclusion Connection in Cedar Falls NCEA Exceptional Learners Conference Loyola University Inclusion Certificate Norte Dame – Program for Inclusive Education * Encourage you to look at the Exceptional Learner Whitepaper Partnership with NCEA & the Greenley Center

Get FIREd Up! Like Our Facebook Page Follow Us on Twitter Explore Our Website www.firefoundationneiowa.org Principals Tab Subscribe to FIREworks Newsletter Become an Ignite Inclusion Committee Member

Questions

Thank You! Contact Info: FIRE Foundation of Northeast Iowa PO Box 211 Raymond, Iowa 50667 319-529-1109 info@firefoundationneiowa.org www.firefoundationneiowa.org