Beth Foraker and David Perry St. James School, Davis, CA

 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

 Beth Foraker  Dave Perry

 Diocese of Sacramento  City of Davis  Msgr. Coffey-1965

 Patrick is born July 1, 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.

 In May of 2002, Patrick is diagnosed with leukemia. Jack is in 3 rd grade and Mary Kate is in 1 st.  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.

 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.

 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.

 What does Inclusion look like at your Catholic School?  Is it happening? If not, does your Community believe that it can happen?

 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!”

 Transition in Leadership  Pastor  New Principal (x 3)  New Vision  Why?

 People  Values  Beliefs  Mission  Process  SST (Student Success Team)  Staff Development (Step Up to Writing & GLAD)  Persistence  Courage  Patience

 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?

 Hope for:  Transformation  Ingrained and sustaining  Families seeing St. James as a choice