Vernon Fifth Grader Wins Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Contest

VERNON, CT — A fifth grader at Vernon’s Maple Street School has won the top prize in Connecticut’s statewide fire prevention poster contest.

Jamie Fernandez, who arrived at the school in the fall, first won for Tolland County before advancing to the state competition, where three art teachers evaluated the entries. She learned last Friday that her poster was selected as the best in the state.

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Jamie said she entered because she enjoys drawing. “Since I love drawing, I decided to try,” Jamie said. She said it took about two weeks to create the poster, which shows a firefighter dousing a fire and includes the message “Fire Prevention, Everyone/Everyday.” Jamie also said she practiced parts of the design in her sketch book, experimented with color blending and made several drafts before deciding it was ready to submit.

Maple Street School Principal Josh Egan said Jamie has stood out in her first year at the school. “Jamie is an amazing kid,” Maple Street School Principal Josh Egan said. “She is a great friend and an outstanding student. Everybody wants a Jamie in their class.” Egan also said the statewide field was strong, making the result notable for the school. “Her artistic ability blows me away,” Egan said. “I saw her poster when she finished it and I was thrilled with what I saw.”

Egan said Jamie’s win was significant for her family and the school community. “We have this beautiful piece of art and we have a perfect spot for it in the main hallway,” Egan said. “Everybody can see it for years to come.” The poster will be featured on a calendar, while the original will remain at Maple Street School.

Vernon Fire Marshal Dan Wasilewski encourages Vernon fourth and fifth graders to enter the contest each year, and he said the town has built a record of success. “In the last five years we’ve had one other state winner and a Tolland County winner,” he said. After Jamie’s poster was chosen from hundreds of entries statewide, Wasilewski praised the accomplishment. “What an accomplishment,” Wasilewski said. “Of all the entries from kids all over Connecticut, Jamie’s was judged to be the best. How great is that?”

Jamie’s family moved to Vernon from the Philippines, and this is her first school year in America. She said she has made many friends and saw snow for the first time this winter. “My classmates keep saying it’s my fault there was so much snow,” she said. Jamie also said the firefighter in her poster is a girl because she wanted to show that “girls can do anything.” Her win included a cash prize for her, her school and the Vernon fire marshal’s office. The contest is sponsored by the state fire marshal, the state fire marshal association, the state fire chief association, the Connecticut FAIR Plan and others.