S.T.R.I.D.E.S. Fun: Color Plumes On a Mile Stretch

The early November Sayville S.T.R.I.D.E.S. Community Event—A Color Mile Run/Walk—brought nearly four hundred children, teens, parents, and Sayville School Administrators, faculty, and staff together at the Middle School fields on a frosty Saturday morning.  It was an enthusiastic turnout for the second Sayville S.T.R.I.D.E.S. feel-good community activity of the year. This outdoor event involved physical activity for the participants—a mile-long run around the Middle School fields while being bombarded by non-toxic colored corn starch—to highlight three S.T.R.I.D.E.S. characteristics: self-esteem, resilience and strength.

Sayville School District Student Services Director Jillian Makris and District Social Worker Jess Ciardullo planned the event to give the Community another opportunity to show solidarity. The idea was to have a fun frolic around the fields through each color station. Both the runner/walkers and the color powder throwers—Middle School and High School student volunteers—squealed with laughter at the antics. At the finish line, many faces blushed with purple, yellow, blue, pink, and green while sharing beaming smiles. 

So many helped to make the S.T.R.I.D.E.S. Color Mile Run/Walk a success. Tremendous support in the forms of funds, fare, a reassuring presence, or trinkets to make the day memorable were thanks to the Great South Bay Coalition, Sayville Chamber merchants including the Sayville Running Company, Cornucopia, TD Bank and Brightview Senior Living, the Sayville Library, the Sayville Ambulance, Sayville Food and Nutrition, and the PTAs/SEPTA. In addition, Mrs. Makris appreciated the “total team effort” from Sayville’s security staff, buildings and grounds and custodial staff.

“The Color Mile was a great way to bring our Sayville Schools Community and our larger community together for a fun family event,” Mr. Makris stated. “As a district, we believe these events are integral to fostering a true sense of community and bringing S.T.R.I.D.E.S. beyond the classroom. For the event, we highlighted three of our S.T.R.I.D.E.S. characteristics—self-esteem, strength and resilience—which was accentuated by affirmational signs around the field and some kid-friendly activities. It was great to see the students' sense of pride when they finished the run and all of the smiles. And, a large group of our high school and middle school students came to help run the event which was amazing. They took a leadership role and did a great job. We are looking forward to doing more events in the future.”

To view over one hundred photos from the event, click on This COLOR MILE Photo Album link.