Thank you Paul and Trish

Thank you to the Ciccoianni Family for this beautiful personalized glass bottle. The bottle is decorated with math equations and education mantras. Love it! (From 1/2/2019)

Thank you Vince and Doreen

Thank you to my buddies Vince and Doreen for this unique math poster! Love it. Good luck paying this hefty fine. I laminated it at school over winter break.  =)  (From 12/28/2018)

Thank you, Alexis

Thank you, Alexis, for visiting me after your finals and thanks for these treats! (From 12/21/2018)

Thank you, Teresa and Demi

Thank you Teresa and Demi for your gift and friendship. I am blessed to work with such wonderful friends, coworkers, and students. (From 12/20/2018).

Thank you, Anthony

Anthony (c/o 2018) returned to visit. He and Vinny also came early to help me score some multiple-choice questions. Anthony knows that I'm a super fan boy of Michelangelo. This Michelangelo recreation is amazing. Thank you. (From 12/21/2018)

Our hands.

We enjoyed a nice outdoors lunch at The Habit (Yip, Anthony, Kate, Vinny).

A beautiful Friday afternoon in the outdoors.

Anthony in the middle of his retelling of his epic dream.

Very dramatic. =)

Thank you, Elijah

Thank you, Elijah. Just when I'm about to eat clean and cut sugar, I receive a treat like this. It'd be disrespectful not to eat this. =) 
(From 12/21/2018)

ASAP - Mile 80 (New Years Eve Delivery)

A Shoe Adoption Project's final 2018 update: I delivered eight more pairs of new shoes to Dave and Margaret's Youth Services this morning (12/31/2018). This is my finishing kick for the year. The children should be able to have these new shoes for the New Year. According to Dinna (Case Manager Assistant), these children come from India or Central America seeking asylum. Sometimes, they are rescued from ship cargoes in the ocean. There are other cases where the children are rescued from human trafficking situations. Currently, they are staying at the D & M campus facilities in La Verne.

In 2017, we donated 74 pairs of new shoes.
In 2018, we donated 77 pairs of new shoes.
In 2019, this charity will continue its efforts to help children and families in need.

As always, thank you to all of the donors, supporters, and friends of this charity project. Thank you for a great 2018. Happy New Year!

-Ricky

 Champions Apollo Runner (F7) x 1 Pairs for for two 13 year old girls.

*The shipment was supposed to have two pairs, we are short a pair. Not cool.*

 Cross Trekkers Shuffle Runner (M7) x 2 Pairs for for two 15 year old boys.

Champions Gusto Sneaker (F7) x 2 Pairs for for two 13 year old girls.
Champions Gusto Sneaker (F7.5) x 3 Pairs for for two 15 year old girls.

The campus of Dave and Margaret's Youth Services in beautiful La Verne, CA.

ASAP - Mile 79 (Shipment Arrival)

A Shoe Adoption Project update: Our shipment with ten new pairs of shoes arrived. I will attempt to deliver them as soon as possible so the children can have new shoes for the New Year. As always, thank you to all of the donors, supporters, and friends of this charity project. More to follow soon.
-Ricky

PS - I had ordered eleven pairs of shoes, but the shipment had only ten pairs inside the box. The large box was already pretty beat up when I pick it up from Walgreens on Sunday afternoon.  The shoes and shoe boxes were a mess inside. I will follow up with customer services. However, since I really want to deliver the shoes to the children before the New Year and the shoes are not extremely expensive, I may let it slide this time. Two pairs of size 5's from Eloise's donation have already been donated. So we are looking into delivering eight pairs of new shoes in the upcoming batch of donation.  (From 12/30/2018)

Thank you, Diana

Thank you, Diana, for your kinds words and your gift. Diana is one of the top students of the class. It's an honor having such bright students in my classes. (From 12/20/2018).

Thank you, Amber

Amber's first name is the color of her last name. Amber and Ahlitney visited me on Friday morning bringing me gifts (mug and artwork). They're both excellent and talented students with only positive energy. It's my pleasure having them in AP Statistics this year. Amber is also in the Chamber Singing Program and she's a captain for the D-Street Hip Hop Dancing Team. (From 12/21/2018).

Amber and Ahlitney stopped by to visit after their finals.

Amber's signature gift wrap and humor. =)

Awesome coffee mug - Thanks Amber!!!

THE PAWSE -- SEASON 4 -- Episode 8 (XMAS Special)

Thank you, Ahlitney

Ahlitney is an artist. She is in our Chamber Singing Program and an Improv Comedy artist. I had a chance to do a "rap battle" against Ahlitney during our student-teacher comedy show. She painted this piece for me, I love it. I'm very grateful. (From 12/21/2018)

Amber and Ahlitney visiting me after their finals.

Staff Holiday Party 2018

We had good food with teacher friends to close the fall semester. The jazz band and chamber singers performed. The team I was in placed second in the trivia game. The school also honored Dave for all of his years of service. I particularly enjoyed the jazz band and Claudia's performance of "All I Want for Christmas is You." (From 12/20/2018)

Trivia game winning team

ASAP - Mile 78 (Christmas Eve Delivery)

Two Pairs of Filas Rocket Fueled (Kids Size 5's)

A Shoe Adoption Project update: Last week, I received an email from the Case Manager Assistant Dinna asking for help with shoes for incoming youth seeking asylum from Central America and India. That same Tuesday night, I placed an online order of eleven pairs of new shoes for the children. Although that order has not been delivered, I was able to deliver two pairs of shoes the matched the sizes to Dinna on Monday - Christmas Eve. These two pairs of colorful shoes came from the donation by my friend Eloise's friend Ryan. Thank you, Ryan!

Dinna is from the David & Margaret Youth and Family Services (Division of Unaccompanied Children Operations Program) located in La Verne. I hope my order will arrive in time for the new year. More to follow.

The campus of David and Margaret in La Verne

A follow-up on a previous batch of donation: Thank you to Jim and Anna for sending our shoes to their friend Carlos. Carlos will be driving these shoes along with other donations up to Northern California to help the victims of the Paradise area fire. Thank you, Carlos!

Thank you, Mitch

Thank you, Mitch, for this gift. I really don't need gifts from students. Mitch is a thoughtful student and a cross country superstar. (From 12/19/2018)