Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
In recognition of Fire Prevention Week, last Monday (Oct. 8) Maple Grove Elementary welcomed staff of the Towns of Hamburg and Corning Volunteer Fire Departments for a morning of fun and learning about the departments and various equipment.
As teaching principal Dawn Nonn explains, the tradition is rooted within a strong, 10-year relationship with the departments.
“Bringing the fire fighters in to spend time with students has been a fire prevention week tradition for the last 10 years or so. The kids really enjoy the interaction each and every year, even if they just participated the year before. The intent behind the firefighters visit is two-fold,” she adds.
Along with setting up various stations where students engage in various activities such as hands-on learning about various department apparatus and equipment demonstrations, the entire school also participates in a fire drill while department personnel look on; providing tips or coaching when necessary.
The benefits for students are also two-fold, according to Nonn.
“By engaging in these activities, students receive a better understanding of why we have fire drills and really helps to alleviates any fear they have. The equipment firefighters use can appear large and rather intimidating to some students, but the hands-on learning with the firefighters really helps alleviate that,” Nonn explains.
“And there is always the possibility of the experience opening the door for a career path,” she adds. “We alternate between the fire fighters visiting us every October and staff and students going to visit them at the fire department. The experience of visiting the fire department is very beneficial also. It’s a fun time every year that just provides so much to the students.”
The relationship doesn’t stop there, however. In addition to the October activities, firefighters return in February to kick off the “Fired Up for Reading” program. Then through the months of March and April, a firefighter visits every week to read with students for an hour. At the culmination of the program in May, the firefighters throw a pizza party for the students,
“We are very lucky to have community connections and partnerships such as the one we have with Hamburg and Corning Fire Departments,” Nonn adds. “From not only a safety aspect, but their willingness to come in and work with our students to further develop their reading skills. That really means a lot to staff and students. It’s a great feeling to know them and have them so close by. We know if anything were to ever happen they would be here in a heartbeat and take care of us.”