The Shelton Fire Department this week awarded several local students for posters and essays dealing with fire prevention.
Poster Contest
The two first place Fire Prevention Poster Contest winners, a fourth grade and a fifth grade winner, were announced during the annual Shelton Fire Prevention Contest Awards Ceremony held on Jan. 20 at Shelton City Hall.
Overall City of Shelton Winners is as follows:
4th Grade – Nicholas Neubauer
5th Grade – Anastasia Ryskin
Their posters will now advance to a state level contest.
Following opening remarks from Mayor Mark A. Lauretti about the importance of this annual contest, all finalists, who included a first and second place winner from the each 4th and 5th grade representing each of Shelton’s six public and two parochial schools, received a cash award of $75 and $50, respectively.
In addition to cash awards, fire department personnel presented all students at the awards ceremony with a T‑shirt depicting the contest theme “Fire Prevention Everyone/Everyday.”
The annual poster contest 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 this 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 1,000 posters were submitted this year from Booth Hill, Elizabeth Shelton, Lafayette, Long Hill, Mohegan, 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. 14, 2009 with City Aldermen and fire department personnel as judges. All first place posters will be displayed over the next year at schools, public buildings, and events.
Essay and Public Service Announcement Contest
Mayor Lauretti also presented a medal and cash awards for the sixth-grade essay and public service announcement contest. In addition to a $100 cash award for their classroom, the Essay Contest Plaque traditionally passed on from year to year to the winning classroom.
1st Place
Mrs. Cumming’s Class at Sunnyside School.
Student Authors: Connor Struyk, Sophia Barranco, Taylor Doolan, and Jarrod Sinibaldi
Judges liked the graphics used with the text in the essay to explain how fires could be prevented.
2nd Place
Mrs. D’Amico’s Class – Elizabeth Shelton School
Student Author: Kenny Schif
Judges liked how Kenny told a story and then drew lessons on fire safety from it.
3rd Place
6th Grade Class – St. Lawrence School
Student Author: Danny Gillick
Judges liked the way Danny used the rhetorical device of asking fire safety questions and answering them.
Ted Pisciotta, Assistant Chief for Fire Prevention, thanked all students, teachers, parents and principals for the enthusiastic participation from all schools.
Students of 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.
Chief 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, Chief Pisciotta also finds the contest helpful to measure the effectiveness educational programs of the fire prevention bureau.
From reviewing the nearly 1,000 posters and essays it becomes apparent where we have made a great impact and have identified
areas where special focus may be needed to improve our educational efforts.
For more information about fire safety, the public is encouraged to contact the Shelton Fire Prevention Bureau at 924‑1555 or on the web at www.ctconnect.com/sheltonfire or www.cityofshelton.org.
