Statewide Fire Prevention award presented to Bayonne Board of Education and Bayonne Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau:

BFD_NJFPPA_Award

At a ceremony in Tinton Falls, N.J., the New Jersey Fire Prevention and Protection Association presented an award to representatives of the Fire Prevention Bureau and the public school system for their work in fire safety. Pictured from left to right: Judy Czuba, Fire Official Chris Czuba, Patricia Dziubek (Vice Principal, Midtown Community School), Fire Inspector Robert Veverka, Dr. Patricia McGeehan (Superintendent of Schools), Joyce Lynch (Fire Prevention Bureau), Fire Inspector Craig Buonomo, Ravikha Nayakrit (Fire Prevention Bureau), Firefighter James Keenan, and Fire Chief Gregory Rogers.

Fire Department and Board of Education Receive Award for Joint Safety Efforts

 Mayor Mark A. Smith announced that the New Jersey Fire Prevention and Protection Association (NJFPPA) presented an award recently to the Bayonne Fire Department – Fire Prevention Bureau and the Bayonne Board of Education. At a ceremony in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, the NJFPPA recognized the Bayonne Fire Prevention Bureau and the Bayonne Board of Education for the outstanding collaborative fire prevention and safety services that the two entities provide. This was the first time a joint award had been issued by NJFPPA celebrating such teamwork.

Mayor Smith said, “On behalf of the City of Bayonne, I would like to congratulate the Fire Prevention Bureau and the Board of Education for winning this award.  We are very proud of the statewide recognition that their outstanding programs have earned for our community.”

Public Safety Director Jason O’Donnell said, “Preventing fires saves lives and property.  The Fire Prevention Bureau and the Board of Education both deserve our thanks for the great job that they do each year.  I would like to congratulate them for the honor that they have received from the state.”

Fire Chief Gregory Rogers said, “I wish to extend my appreciation to the Fire Prevention Bureau and Board of Education members for their passionate and persistent attention to fire safety. The long-standing relationship and teamwork that we enjoy has served our students and citizens well, and this prestigious award validates those efforts.”

Dr. Patricia McGeehan, the Superintendent of Schools, stated that the Bayonne School District considers fire prevention a serious subject.  “The Board of Education has been actively involved with the Fire Department for over 38 years, in order to educate our students about fire safety.  The schools participate in the Learn Not to Burn Program and the FIRE Bowl Competition, and contribute to the Fire Prevention Poster Contest.  The fact that Bayonne has been the recipient of many awards in these programs, demonstrates the outstanding commitment and dedication of our school district.” 

Patricia Dziubek, Assistant Principal of Midtown Community School and coordinator of the Learn Not to Burn Program and the FIRE Bowl Competition, also attended the New Jersey Fire Prevention and Protection Association Annual Dinner to receive the award on behalf of the Board of Education. “This was the first time that both the local Fire Prevention Bureau and the local school system were jointly selected and honored, and is a testament to the outstanding collaborative effort that has been demonstrated in the community.”

 The Fire Prevention Bureau and the Bayonne Board of Education have been working jointly for decades with safety programs for the students, and have enjoyed repeated success in many state contests. Bayonne students were awarded first place recognition by the State of New Jersey for the Fire Prevention Poster Contest three times in the past five years, and have also won first place, at the state level, an astounding seven out of eight times in the Fire Bowl Contest.

The New Jersey State Fire Bowl contest is a game show-style competition similar to the popular TV show Jeopardy. Fire Bowl involves grammar school grades six through eight. The competing students study fire safety guides throughout the year, and are asked fire science questions during the competition. The contest originates in their city, and culminates in multiple cities competing for the state prize.

The Fire Prevention Poster Contest is a major undertaking involving the entire school system throughout Bayonne (from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade), and takes place on an annual basis. The students create posters reflecting the fire safety theme for that year and are judged based on creativity, originality, design, and message quality. The students are awarded prizes donated by sponsoring businesses and individuals, and then qualify for the Hudson County competition. Winners at the county level go on to compete at the state level for top prize. The winning poster selected by the state is duplicated and circulated throughout New Jersey in large quantity and serves as the State Division of Fire Safety’s safety message.

The New Jersey State Fire Prevention and Protection Association was founded in 1962, and serves as a collective voice for fire prevention in the state. The Fire Prevention and Protection Association has played a prominent role in sponsoring and providing significant input in the adoption of legislation affecting fire prevention and protection, and founded and co-sponsors the statewide fire safety poster contest, which has over 20,000 entrants each year.

 

 

 

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