Page 11 - Annual Report Letter 21-22
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Giant Steps Annual Report 21 - 22 | info@mygiantsteps.org | www.mygiantsteps.org
Ricky’s
Garden
“Ricky’s Garden” was named and restored to
pristine condition in honor of Ricky Esposito, a
Giant Steps student. Ricky passed away due to
sudden complications of a medical condition
in the fall of 2019, a few days before the new
school year was to begin. The big letters
announcing the garden entrance perfectly fit
Ricky’s personality, who was always welcoming
to everyone he met.
In addition to loving Harry Potter, Star Wars, and
The Big Bang Theory, Ricky LOVED to work in a monitoring plant growth. Students typically
garden. There was a day at Giant Steps when begin preparing the
Ricky convinced his staff that he MUST grow
a plant from a seed. Staff worked together to garden in the spring and use summer to
find a pot, soil, and a seed to make the dream grow tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers,
come true. In the fall of 2018, Ricky grew a pumpkins, and other annual vegetables.
pumpkin garden at home, to his great delight! After Ricky’s passing, his parents approached
If you drive around to the back of Giant Steps, you Giant Steps with the idea of gathering their
will be warmly greeted by a white picket fence friends and family to rehab our (at that time)
with giant blue and green letters announcing dilapidated garden. With much love, the
that you have found “Ricky’s Garden.” Ricky’s Esposito community, in partnership with our
Garden is a gardening initiative run by the Vocational team, created a beautiful garden
Vocational Department that allows students an environment for our students to learn and
opportunity to learn gardening skills such as grow. The Esposito family continues to bless
preparing garden beds, weeding, pruning, and the Giant Steps community.
Ricky was a vibrant student attending Giant
Steps from 3rd through 8th grade. Ricky had
complex needs but was treasured by staff and
his peers. He was known for gracing the halls
with many a costume, bursting into song at any
time, offering a band-aid to anyone if Ricky felt
something was wrong to help you, and making
you feel like you were the most important
person to him. Ricky is fondly remembered by
his classmates (now Seniors at Giant Steps).
If you have attended the Giant Steps 5K walk in
October of each year, you have likely seen Team
Esposito and Bazinga or the fleece puzzle
scarves made by Ricky’s aunt to continue to
support Giant Steps.
