Crime & Safety

TIS Student Emily Bliss Wins Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Contest

Tolland fifth-grader Emily Bliss and fourth-grader Kathryn Heaney were both honored for their fire prevention posters.

Press Release from the Tolland Public Safety Department:

Tolland Public Safety Fire Marshal’s Office would like to congratulate Tolland Intermediate School students, Kathryn Heaney, Grade 4, and Emily Bliss, Grade 5, on their award winning posters in the statewide Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Contest.

Each year approximately 30,000 students participate in the Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Contest. The annual statewide competition is sponsored by The Connecticut Fire Marshals’ Association, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Connecticut Fire Chiefs’ Association, State Board of Education and the Connecticut FAIR Plan (representing the insurance industry). The contest is themed FIRE PREVENTION – EVERYONE/EVERYDAY. Its purpose is to promote child and adult awareness of fire prevention responsibilities. Each year thousands of entries are submitted throughout the state.

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Kathryn’s and Emily’s posters were selected to represent Tolland Intermediate School in the first round of local judging and subsequently won the privilege to represent Tolland County in the second round. At the county level, both of their posters were selected to advance to the state level. In this statewide competition, one fourth grade student and one fifth grade school student from each participating town advances to the county level. This year, the Fire Marshals from each participating town in Tolland County voted to send two fourth grade students and two fifth grade students to the state level.

At an awards luncheon on March 27 in Cromwell, Kathryn, Emily and other county winners from around the state gathered and were recognized for their talent and creativeness. This year was Emily’s second year representing Tolland Intermediate School and Tolland County at the state level. At the end of the luncheon NBC Connecticut news anchor Gerry Brooks who was Master of Ceremonies, announced that Emily Bliss was the overall statewide winner! As a result of her win, Emily’s poster will grace the cover of the 2014 Connecticut Fire Prevention Calendar that is distributed to students in participating schools. This is the first time that student from Tolland was selected as the statewide winner! Both Kathryn’s and Emily’s posters will be on display representing Tolland Intermediate School and Tolland County, at the State Capitol during Fire Prevention week this October.

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In attendance with Kathryn and Emily were their parents Edwin and Carol Heaney, Peter and Carla Bliss, Principal James Dineen, Art teacher Mrs. Bezzina, fourth grade teacher Mrs. Wunsch, fifth grade teacher Mrs. Racco, Fire Marshal Richard Munichiello, and Tolland County Poster Contest Coordinator Doug Racicot. All winning posters on the County level will be exhibited in the 2014 Connecticut Fire Prevention Calendar.


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