Year 2002 Sixth Grade Essay/Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest Winner

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On January 29, 2003 Mayor Mark Lauretti presented metals and cash awards to three students, Jenna DePasquale, Alex Dripchak, and Jay Ghassem-Zadeh, all of Mrs. C. Margait's 6th Grade Class from Booth Hill School.  These students and Mrs. Margait were awarded first place for the Sixth Grade Essay/Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest.  In addition to a $100 cash award for their classroom, the Essay Contest Plaque, which is traditionally passed on from year to year to the winning classroom, was presented to Mrs. Margait.  The Bureau is thankful for the volunteer essay/PSA judge from the New Haven Register newspaper.  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.

 

Ted Pisciotta, Assistant Chief – 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 also areas where special focus may be needed to improve our educational efforts.