Thursday, January 14, 2016

Shelton fire prevention poster, essay contest winners applauded

First place poster in fifth grade drawn by Selin Ho.
SHELTON – The two first place Fire Prevention Poster Contest winners, a fourth-grade and a fifth-grade winner, were announced Tuesday during the annual Shelton Fire Prevention Contest Awards Ceremony at Shelton Intermediate School

Overall City of Shelton winners are:
4th Grade - Griffin Marcinczyk, Elizabeth Shelton School
5th Grade - Selin Ho, Perry Hill School
Each of their posters have advanced to a state level contest. 

First place poster in fourth grade created by Griffin Marcinczyk.

Assistant Chief Ted Pisciotta congratulated students and thanked parents, teachers, principals, school staff, and firefighters for their efforts.
Mayor Mark A. Lauretti spoke about the benefit of this annual contest and his gratitude for all the many individuals that support this fire safety program. He commented that fire safety education is important to save lives, prevent harm, protect property, and keep everyone safe. 
Fire Marshal James Tortora and Chief Fran Jones also congratulated all the winners for a job well done. 
All first and second place winners from the fourth and fifth grade representing each of Shelton’s public and parochial schools, received a cash award of $100 and $75, respectively, from Lauretti. The two, Overall City of Shelton winners, were each presented a cash award of $125, a certificate, and a medal.

Contest launched in 1984 
The annual poster contestlaunched in 1984, is designed to develop fire safety awareness in youngsters and to encourage them to take the message home to their families. 
It is jointly sponsored by Connecticut FAIR Plan, representing the insurance industry in the state; the Connecticut Fire marshals Association; Connecticut Board of Education and the Office of State Fire Marshal. 
The local contest is administered by the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau. 

Approximately 900 posters were submitted this year from Booth Hill, Elizabeth Shelton, Long Hill, Mohegan, Perry Hill, St. Joseph, St. Lawrence, and Sunnyside schools. 
Each student who submitted a poster will receive a Certificate of Appreciation and a pen from the Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Committee. 
Judging was held on Dec. 16, with representatives from the Board of Aldermen as judges. All first place posters will be displayed over the next year at schools, public buildings, and events. 

Lauretti also presented cash awards and certificates to winners of the Sixth Grade Essay/Public Service Announcement Contest. 
Classrooms, and each student author, received a cash award of $100, $75, and $50 for first, second, and third place, respectively. 
The Bureau is thankful for the volunteer essay/PSA judges: reporter Ethan Fry from the Valley Independent Sentinel, and Patricia Villers (that's me) from The Valley Voice blog and website. I must say I always enjoy reading the creative essays written by the sixth graders. 

Since the contest began in 1996, its purpose has been to promote fire safety by having students research the topic while writing their PSA. 
The fire department/fire prevention bureau would like to use the essay to help remind adults and children how important fire prevention is to Everyone/Everyday. This year’s winners are:
1st Place
Ms. Ibsen’s class, Perry Hill School
Author:  Joe Schiappa

2nd Place
Mr. Federowicz’s class, Perry Hill School
Author:  Ella Dzujna

3rd Place
Mrs. Coffin’s Class, Perry Hill School
Authors:  Nicole and Natalie Plavec

Participants in both the poster and essay contests depicted many of the essential elements of preventing fire from ever occurring and of preparation and planning required to be ready for fire. 
Pisciotta is hopeful that the messages of posters and essays will be shared with everyone in the community to help further reduce needless damage to property, injury to persons and loss of life that can result from fire. 
In addition to spreading information about fire safety, Pisciotta finds the contest helpful to measure the effectiveness of educational programs of the fire prevention bureau.  
From reviewing the nearly 900 posters and 20 essays it becomes apparent where the bureau has made a great impact and has identified areas where special focus may be needed to improve educational efforts.

For more information about fire safety, the public is encouraged to contact the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau at 203-924-1555 or on the web at www.cityofshelton.org, where all winning posters and essays may be viewed by finding the Fire Prevention Bureau under “Public Safety.”  
For direct access go to: www.sheltonfireprevention.org.

This is a press release from the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau. 


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