Meet Work Program Teacher Forough Tamaddon...

 

 

Meet Forough, Stonecasting Teacher at Brookwood

 

Forough has worked at Brookwood for over 12 years, starting in Production, where she worked for 7 years, and then moving into Stonecasting where she has taught for the past 5 years.  She has a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and a Master's degree in Child Psychology.  She is married, with 2 grown children, and one 12-year old granddaughter. She taught science and math in Iran for 19 years and established an International Day Care Center in the Netherlands, which she ran for 7 years, prior to coming to Katy, Texas, where she now lives with her husband.

 

Forough feels that she was guided to work at Brookwood by God, and says, "I saw my heart here.  Creating love is the most important thing.  I enjoy being with our citizens to help them express themselves and feel useful and proud of themselves."

 

We thank you, Forough, for your care and attention and hard work over the past 12+ years!

 

...Picture and story by Beth Self

 

 

Education is key at Brookwood!

Carol Whitmore, Director of Education at Brookwood, and Patrick, a citizen who is hearing impaired, meet weekly to discuss Patrick's interest in iPad technology.  Patrick uses an app on his iPad to help him communicate with others verbally.  He types in his comments and the iPad speaks for him.  He uses it in the shops, when working in the Cafe and as an ambassador for Brookwood.  He demonstrated this way of communicating at last year's Open House. 

Wednesday is a Special Day at Brookwood!

This Wednesday, July 31st, marks Brookwood's first Network Day, where leaders from other groups interested in creating their version of Brookwood will come together to learn what we are all about and how we created our programs.  We are very excited to be able to offer this training on a more formalized level and consider this the beginning of formulating training content for our future "Center for Learning."

Brookwood's Development Team, (or "D-Team"), from left to right:

Joe Mazzu, Director of Development; Heather Hartt, Development Associate

and Internal IT Representative; Donna White, Development Associate;

and Travis Duncan, Development Officer.

 

On this day, we ask that our staff and citizens dress nicely (in an appropriate way for their particular jobs - Brookwood shirts are fine) and help us to promote Brookwood.  There will be 2 tours of 15 people each in the morning, as well as 30 people working in the shops as volunteers in afternoon for a hands-on experience.  In addition, another 30 people will be attending workshops taught by Carol Whitmore, Nancy Cathey and Joe Mazzu all day long.  Joe's team in Business Development have put this all together for us, in an effort to be more effective in our Outreach to other communities in need.

I will keep you posted on how it goes!

Thanks,

Beth Self
Communications Specialist

Handbell Choir Practice Schedule for this week:

Our Handbell Choir will be rehearsing at 3 p.m. on Monday,

Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

 

Jeremy ringing at the Houston Symphony's

Day of Music.

The Handbell Choir performing at the Houston Symphony's

Day of Music with Director Joyce Henderson.

 

...Photos from Beth Self

Come out to the country and visit us today!

I am not sure what the special is, but why not come out to the Brookwood Café to see!? And, while you are here...you can shop in the Gift Shop and the Retail Greenhouse too!

Our Café offers LOTS of choices, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily...281-375-2400 for reservations.

 

 Chris in the Retail Greenhouse with ornamental chili peppers.

 Let us help you in the Gift Shop...You know we have what you need!

 

And remember...Everything you spend at Brookwood, stays at Brookwood

to help support our adults with disabilities!

From Cards and Crafts...

...from Katie and Sterling, Teachers in Cards & Crafts... 

 Danielle flattening clay.

 

Cutie with a dusted nose! 

 

 J.J. working on a bread basket.

 

 Laura painting 3rd coat of paint on our famous star ornaments.  Great job Laura!

 

 Lauren rolling clay out.

 

Linley and teacher Katie flattening the clay to be made into ornaments.

Our Plant Shop is getting busier all the time!

Here are some pictures from Horticulture Teacher, Gerald Harper...

 

James taking trays of pots filled with soil from the soil machine.

 

 Courtney and Claudia helping load trays on the tables.

Rhea having fun in the Plant shop.

Robin is a very hard worker. 

Mary Chandler is spearheading a reorginization/cleaning project in the shops!

We are cleaning out our Molds Storage Garage in Stonecasting and organizing the molds...Some of our citizens and one of our interns helped us with this job.  They are now in the process of labeling items and will send us pictures when it is finished!

Brookwood employee Ryan (market warehouse, shipping & production) hoses down the storage area.

The molds are organized for future use.

Vicki and Toby sweep out the storeage area.  Thanks for everyone's help!

 

...Photos by Mary Chandler, Crafts "Go-to" Assistant

Community Builder Award...

Waller County recently presented the Community Builders Award to Brookwood. 
Citizens Kim and Diane accepted the award on behalf of all of our citizens
in front of the Brookwood Worship Center.



Stan Kitzman, Waller County Commissioner for Precinct 4, greeted Brookwood citizens

Kim, Wendy and Diane at the Community Builders Award dinner.

 

 ...Photos courtesy of Terry Owens.

Some pictures from Ceramics...

Ceramics Teacher April Watkins sent us these pictures of citizens in the Ceramics Shop...

Celebrating Friday with a Conga Line in Ceramics!

 

Christine showing us the classy kitty plate...

 

 Nancy is hard at work, painting Autumn leaves.

Josh ALWAYS has a smile on his face to brighten our day!

 

Teacher Starzy, citizen Bonnie and Transition Assistant Karen

model bows in their hair that Rita (Ceramics teacher) made for them!

 

 

 Linley is feeling pretty with her hair bow.

From Teacher Sterling, in Cards & Crafts...

Jenny is proud of her star she painted! Beautiful job, Jenny!

From Teacher Sobia Ali in Horticulture...

Movers in Action in the Greenhouse!

Pictures from Project BESST's Teacher Adriana Sanchez

Project BESST citizens filling up pots with soil in Horticulture.

 

 David working hard in the greenhouse!



Meet Melissa, One of Our Citizens at Brookwood...

Melissa loves to sing!  Here she is singing "Sunshine on My Shoulders"

at our recent Volunteer Luncheon.  In fact, when I went in to interview her

today, she sang me a round of it, too!  She wants you to know she is a member

of Brookwood's "Sunshine Choir," a group of ladies who like to sing songs

to bring sunshine into people's lives.

Melissa lives at Brookwood and works in the Finishing Shop.  In this picture,

she is separating the ribbons into their color groups.  They will use the ribbons to tie onto

the Brookwood ceramic ornaments sold in our Gift Shop year-round for Christmas.

 

She enjoyes doing arts and crafts with our many volunteers on Saturdays and swimming

in the Brookwood Pool.  Her favorite color is pink and she enjoys chicken and tacos

for lunch in our cafeteria.  She has new house parents and also enjoys their cooking!

 

We love you Melissa!  Thanks for being such a ray of sunshine at Brookwood.  :)

 

...Photos and article by Beth Self, Communications Specialist

Meet the Teacher...

Say "hello" to Carla Farr, Finishing Shop Teacher!

 

 

Carla has been working at Brookwood for around 3 years, first as a Transition Assistant, then cross-trained in the shops.  She worked at Katy ISD prior to coming to Brookwood, in the Special Education department.  Carla lives in Katy and has been married for 19 years.  She has two daughters, and is a brand new grandmother to "Grace."  Her favorite thing about working at Brookwood is spending time enjoying the citizens and the smiles they put on her face while working with them.  In her spare time at home, she enjoys playing with her new grandaughter!

 

Thanks for answering the call to serve at Brookwood, Carla!

 

 

...Photo and article by Beth Self, Communications Specialist

 

believe...

Alexis working hard on one of brookwoods plaques.

...from Renee Farr, Teacher in the Finishing Shop.

Ceramics Highlights by Peggy Housman, Production Manager

 Bonnie and Jenny with Proud Ceramics Teacher April, showing the plates they painted.

 

Starzy, Teaching in Ceramics, loves her work!

 

Cards and Crafts photos from Peggy Housman...

CC working on a bread bowl.

 

Jennifer working in Cards and Crafts.

Stonecasting photos by Peggy Housman, Production Manager...

Brookwood Intern Jack, painting with Jeff (JJ) in Stonecasting.

 

Charlie focuses on his painting job at Brookwood.

 

Gabriel painting in Stonecasting.

 

Jeremy & Jeff (JJ), painting buddies in Stonecasting.

 

Mary Chandler, the Crafts "Go To" Assistant, helping to paint in Stonecasting.

 

Shannon painting in Stonecasting.

 

Stonecasting Teacher Forough Tamaddon, working with Shannon.

 

Stonecasting Teacher Sherman working with Wayne, master of pouring our Stonecasting products!

 

Wayne in action!

 

Teacher Brenda Slaughter helps paint in Stonecasting.

 

Well done, everyone!