Lincoln Avenue Students Test Their GRIT

Lincoln Avenue Elementary School, part of the Sayville Union Free School District, recently hosted its annual GRIT Challenge, where students tested their perseverance, determination, and strength against their classmates. This year, four students set new school records, led by Cody Rickert’s impressive time of 14:31 in the third grade girls’ division.

Each year, Lincoln Avenue Elementary partners with the District’s STRIDES program (Self-Esteem, Trust, Resilience, Independence, Diversity, Empathy, Strength) to host the GRIT Challenge. Students from UPK through fifth grade take on the challenge of hanging from a pull-up bar using only their hands for as long as possible. They set a personal goal, train for it, and record their progress before submitting their final video attempt to the school.

This year’s challenge saw four school record-setters:

• Brock Rickert—2:34 (Kindergarten Boys)
• Finley Wade—5:08 (Fourth Grade Girls)
• Shane McQuillen—6:04 (Third Grade Boys)
• Cody Rickert—14:31 (Third Grade Girls)

All participants received a GRIT certificate, while the top three athletes in each grade earned a medal and had their names displayed on the GRIT School Record Board.

"Grit is the ability to continue working hard even after experiencing difficulty or failure. It’s about resilience—the power to keep going when challenges arise," said Lincoln Avenue physical education teacher Elizabeth Bolger. "It is so important for these students to learn these principles, and this challenge is just one way for us to instill that in them."

For more information on the Sayville Union Free School District, visit the district’s website at sayvilleschools.org. Happenings in the district can also be found on the district’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/saydistrictpr. #CaringAndLearning