All I Ever Needed to Know

We are so excited about our upcoming Mardi Gras Gala coming up on February 2oth! Click here to find out more!

All I Ever Needed to Know

As a teacher of students with developmental and intellectual disabilities, I always strive to find a way to teach important skills and ideas in a way that is easy to understand and fun to learn. Not only is it challenging, but it is also very rewarding.

How great it is to see a young mind grow and achieve, no matter how large or small the success. I am constantly humbled, however, when I realize that many of life’s greatest lessons I have learned from my students. I am talking about life lessons; about love, respect, compassion, joy, forgiveness, self-discipline, and faith, to name a few. One such lesson was taught to me by a most gracious and patient teacher, my student Gabriel.

Gabriel is a happy-go-lucky young man, always in a good mood and always willing to help others. One day as I was teaching my class, I told one of my students to put their backpack out of the way of others who were coming into our class…I guess I never realized that my instructions must have sounded more like orders, but after making the request, I heard a soft quiet voice say; “pleeease” from the back of our small classroom. It was Gabriel, and instantly I knew he was right. I should have said: “please” when asking the other student to retrieve their backpack. I quickly corrected my mistake and restated my request adding the word “please”. Instantly, Gabriel flashed a big smile in my direction.

Over the course of the next week (or two), Gabriel patiently reminded me to say: “please” when I was making requests of others. Each time I acknowledged that he was right, apologized to the class and quickly corrected my mistake while thinking to myself; "When will I learn?!"

Then one day, while making a request of a student in class, I remembered to precede the request with the word “please”. As soon as I had made the request, I looked at Gabriel; he smiled and triumphantly gave me the thumbs up.
My heart was warmed as I realized I had indeed learned a very important lesson; one that I have not forgotten.

Blessings,

Amy Campbell

P.S. Gabriel is a member of The Arc of Katy and holds down 2 jobs in our local community.

“To teach is to learn twice” ~ Joseph Joubert ~ French moralist and essayist

Mardi Gras Gala coming up! February 20th!

The Club at Falcon Point's 3rd Annual Charity Gala "Mardi Gras" benefiting The Arc of Katy will be February 20, 2009 at seven o'clock in the evening. I hope you will take time out of your busy week to make this event a priority. You will not be disappointed!

The event will feature Cocktail Hour~Exquisite Cuisine~Entertainment~ Premier Reserved Seating and a Silent Auction. Dress will be Festive Attire.

Individual tickets are $100.00

Green Sponsor ~$500.00 includes 2 tickets; Company Name in Program; 1 Round of Golf for 4 Players at the Club at Falcon Point; Sponsorship of 1 Arc Participant

Purple Sponsor ~ $750.00 includes 4 tickets; Company Name on Sponsor Board & Program; 1 Round of Golf for 4 Players at the Club at Falcon Point; Sponsorship of 1 Arc Participant

Gold Sponsor ~ $1,000.00 includes table for 8; Company Name on Sponsor Board & Program; Red / White Wine on table; 2 Rounds of Golf for 4 Players at the Club at Falcon Point; Sponsorship of 2 Arc Participants

To purchase tickets or sponsorships, please call: The Club at Falcon Point, (281) 392-7888 or e-mail Lisa Bechtold - lisa.bechtold@ourclub.com

Address for The Club at Falcon Point:

24503 Falcon Point Drive
Katy, Texas 77493

To Give Is To Receive

In the book titled "Love is Letting Go of Fear" by Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D., the author explains about the law of Love. He states that "when we give our Love away to others we gain, and what we give we simultaneously receive."

When we give with no expectations of return, we are increased in ways that only a giver can understand.

The Arc of Katy is blessed with many wonderful volunteers that give in so many ways.

Kristin Thompson was a volunteer this past summer in The Arc of Katy's Adult Activity Day Camp. I am pleased to share her reflections below as well as the picture collage she created from her experience with The Arc of Katy:

My experience volunteering at ARC was the most influential part of my summer. The camper’s attitudes changed my attitude as well. Their outlook on life was always non judgmental and friendly; it demonstrated the way I try to look at others. My experience was very beneficial to me and I hope to the campers as well. The various fun events I participated in with the campers such as playing board games like Candy Land or Sorry, watering the garden, making cookies, or practicing “Under the Big Top” was always a joy for the me and the campers. Their appreciation was always shown through their hugs and smiles when playing with them. It was an experience I will never forget and want to continue this every summer.

Kristin

If you would like to donate to the scholarship fund for The Arc of Katy's Adult Activity Day Camp, please CLICK HERE TO DONATE :)

AC

Arc of Katy - Camper's point of view

Contributing to the blog today is Sarah Fugitt, a wonderful young lady and high school junior who was a "camper" in the Arc of Katy Day Camp this past summer.

In her own words:

Hi my name is Sarah. The Arc of Katy means a lot to me. Last summer was my first time at the Arc. Mrs. Rosemary is very nice to all of the kids. It is very fun and you get to met people with other disabilities there too. You get to play games and during the summer time we got to go to the garden and water the plants. There are also volunteers that help out too. Everyone helps out with things like whenever it’s time to go home we have to clean out the room and move stuff into another room. This summer is going to be my second time there at the Arc. It’s a safe place to be at because when you are upset or just need to chill out, they will let anyone go into a safe area and just relax. We also go to a gym and jog ten laps to get our exercise and maybe do some basketball too. It was very hard and scary for me at first, but when I saw a few of the kids in my school there, I was fine. I go to Taylor High School by the way. There are lots of kids from different high schools and there were people who are all ready out of high school. Now I know a lot of people there. They do dances and things like that during the school year. The volunteers are great. They get to help us or play with us. If no one knows Mrs. Jennings, she is like the sweetest and the kindest person you would have ever known.


Sarah fugitt

Thank you Sarah for your comments! AC

New Years Dance

Fun was had by all last night as the Arc of Katy celebrated the New Year with the National Charity League at the Living Word Lutheran Church in Katy. Each month during the school year, the National Charity League sponsors and volunteers with The Arc of Katy to provide dances, bingo nights and all out fun times for our Arc of Katy "kids". Actually, our Arc of Katy"kids" are anywhere from high school age to age 60. Special thanks to the Living Word Lutheran Church for always providing the space for these fun events!
Now that's community at work! :)

Check out the photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thearcofkaty/?saved=1

AC

Community - You'll love Katy

It has always been a joy to live and work in Katy. As part of The Arc of Katy I am always amazed and pleased to see how our Katy community works together to support a need in the community. So many people come together to support The Arc of Katy and we are truly so very appreciative. We are thankful and blessed by people like Ann Hodge and the Katy Chamber of Commerce, The Katy Family YMCA, the National Charity League, Katy ArtReach, Consolidated Communications, The Club at Falcon Point, The Katy Rotary Club, Lori Gunn and Katy Lifestyles and Homes magazine. Without the Good Lord and the caring hearts of the people like those listed above, we would not be where we are today. The Arc of Katy is growing because the need is growing, but we would not be able to provide such opportunities for our citizens with developmental and intellectual disabilities if it weren't for people and groups like the ones I just mentioned. I know that I have most likely left someone off the list that deserves to be mentioned, so I will add them in another post. I hope that if you have not seen our Arc of Katy day camp in action, that you will make time for a visit. It is a wonderful top-notch program and is providing meaningful activities 4 days a week for our Katy citizens with developmental and intellectual disabilities. If you would like to make a visit, call our Executive Director, Rhonda Johnstone and make an appointment. Her number is: 832-754-9802.
Today is a beautiful day in Katy, get out there and make the best of it! :)
AC

Mardi Gras Gala coming up

Hi and welcome to the new blog from and for The Arc of Katy.

Currently we are getting ready for our second annual Mardi Gras Gala coming up in Feburary 20, 2009. This is such a fun event. Last year we had a blast and we plan for it to be even better this year!

We need help collecting silent auction items and also the decorating/planning committee could use some extra volunteers. Of course any and all monetary donations are always accepted. You can always comment directly to the blog, or contact our Executive Director, Rhonda Johnstone: rjohnstone003@comcast.net .

Also, the mailing address for The Arc of Katy is:

P.O. Box 6133

Katy, Texas 77491

Let us know if you want to help or if you would like us to mail you an invitation to the Gala.

Thanks,
AC