Norma Fisher-Doiron ~ Distinguished Principal

2009-05-28T10:19:00.003-04:00

Mrs. Fisher-Doiron was honored on May 27th by the Southeast School community. Southeast parent, Gordon Clark, thanked Norma for creating a dynamic and welcoming school climate for the parents, students and staff. He presented her with a set of books for the school library from the PTO. Third grade students Lydia and Ryan thanked Mrs. Fisher-Doiron for all she does to "make Southeast School a fantastic place to learn". She received a fragrant basket of herb plants from the students. Spanish teacher and Mileage Club coordinator, Diane Hutton, highlighted the accomplishments of our students by presenting Mrs. Fisher-Doiron with a "muy grande" check for $125.60 for Special Olympics raised by our NDP for our NDP program. Finally, Kindergarten teacher Pat O'Connell Buckley spoke of Norma's wonderful leadership and presented her with a lovely pen and ink/water color painting of Southeast School. You can see Mrs. Fisher-Doiron with the artist, Southeast staff member Katherine Davidson, posing with the painting here. We ended the evening by viewing a Photo Story slideshow that led us through Mrs. Fisher-Doiron's amazing trip to Washington D.C. accompanied by school mascot Ethan Eagle.

Recognition for Norma Fisher-Doiron at 7:15

2009-05-27T16:15:00.004-04:00

A reminder to the Southeast community that the recognition for Norma Fisher-Doiron will be held this evening at our annual Celebration of Learning. Join us in the gym at 7:15 for a short recognition ceremony featuring Southeast parents, staff and students. Mrs. Fisher-Doiron will share a brief slideshow about her trip to Washington D.C. We will also announce how much we have raised so far in our NDP for NDP drive to benefit Special Olympics as well as other fun surprises! You will enjoy an evening of celebration of all the hard work your children have done with their teachers and classmates this year.

Celebration of Learning--May 27

2009-05-17T14:43:00.002-04:00

Southeast School's Project Night or Celebration of Learning is coming up next week--Wednesday, May 27th. All Southeast families and alumni are invited to attend. We encourage you to visit with Mrs. Fisher-Doiron and see a slide show of her trip to Washington, D.C. Please post a comment on this blog of your favorite memories of Southeast School or of Mrs. Fisher-Doiron.
Don't forget to bring some change to add to our NDP (nickels, dimes and pennies) for our NDP bucket. All the money raised goes to the Special Olympics in honor of Mrs. Fisher-Doiron.

NDP for our NDP Update!

2009-05-04T14:53:00.003-04:00

Third grade math students counted up some of the nickels, dimes, and MANY pennies (also some quarters and one half dollar) for the NDP for our NDP program. Southeast School has collected 135 nickels, 223 dimes and 3,240 pennies along with 122 quarters and 1 fifty cent coin. Those 3721 coins add up to $92.45 to donate on behalf of Mrs. Fisher-Doiron to the Special Olympics. We are still going strong, collecting money as we do our laps in Mileage Club, Running Club and Kindergarten recess. So stay tuned for more NDP for our NDP updates!

Mrs. Fisher-Doiron published in Principal Magazine

2009-04-15T08:29:00.003-04:00

The May/June issue of Principal magazine features The Gifted and Talented Child. Mrs. Fisher-Doiron wrote an article with Southeast's enrichment teacher, Mrs. Irvine, entitled Going Beyond the Basics to Reach All Children. Check out this link to Principal to read the article.

Celebration of Learning--May 27

2009-04-13T14:20:00.001-04:00

This year's Celebration of Learning/Project Night at Southeast School will be held on Wednesday, May 27th from 6:30-7:30 p.m. This year we will include a celebration in honor of Mrs. Fisher-Doiron as part of our evening event. Members of the Southeast community, including former staff and students, will be invited to stop by to congratulate Mrs. Fisher-Doiron. Visitors will be able to view a Photo Story movie that Mrs. Fisher-Doiron created about her trip to Washington D.C.

NDP for our NDP!

2009-03-31T10:40:00.003-04:00

Southeast School has a new program in honor of Mrs. Fisher-Doiron. It's called NDP for our NDP. That stands for Nickels, Dimes and Pennies for our National Distinguished Principal. Does that make you think we are raising money to give to our principal? Actually, we are collecting coins to donate in her honor to the Special Olympics, a cause that is near and dear to her heart. You may have noticed a big yellow bucket in the front hallway at Southeast. Students and staff have been bringing their coins in to drop into the bucket to benefit Special Olympics. Right now you must be thinking "How can I join in the fun?" There are two ways to help:
1. Look in your couch or in your car or anywhere you can find a few coins to put in our NDP for our NDP bucket or
2. Participate in mileage club. Every time a student or staff member completes a lap in mileage club, another coin goes into our bucket.
So join the fun, get some exercise, and help Special Olympics all at the same time!

2008-10-31T13:00:00.008-04:00

On Thursday, October 30th, the Connecticut Association of Schools celebrated Connecticut's Distinguished Administrators at Saint Clements Castle in Portland, CT. Mrs. Norma Fisher-Doiron was among the honorees as Connecticut's 2008 national Distinguished Principal. Mrs. Fisher-Doiron is shown here with Mr. Fred Baruzzi, Mansfield's Superintendent and Dr. Jim Palmer, principal of Annie E. Vinton School in Mansfield. Also recognized were: Amy Clarke, the Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year; Andre Hauser, the High School Assistant Principal of the Year; Sheryl Kempian, the Middle School Principal of the Year; and Donald Macrino, the High School Principal of the Year.
Over 70 people came to cheer on Mrs. Fisher-Doiron as she received her award, including several family members, Mansfield administrators, Board of Education members, parents, community members and most of the Southeast School staff. Guests arriving to the celebration enjoyed music from the Glastonbury High School Resident String Quartet and the beautiful grounds of Saint Clements Castle with views of the Connecticut River. After remarks by CAS Secretary/Treasurer, Janet Garagliano, Scott Gray from WTIC AM 1080, and Barbara Westwater from the CT state Department of Education, guest enjoyed a wonderful dinner. The evening ended with presentation of the awards. Each honoree was introduced with heartfelt quotes from colleagues, staff, parents and students, along with photos of them in their school community. The administrators each thanked those who supported them and ended with some inspiring words for the audience. In the program for the celebration, Mrs. Fisher-Doiron spoke about constructive change in her message:

Constructive change within a school should be initiated only when it ultimately serves to benefit the students. There are many new and creative ideas in education; however these innovations should never be taken on if they are not a good match to the needs of the students within the school. "If it is best for our students then we should do it" are the words I instill in my staff. With this motto it always seems easier to make a hard decision when it is based on what is best for children. Change is more readily embraced by staff as a result of this internalized belief.

About the National Distinguished Principal Program

2008-10-22T22:41:00.003-04:00

The National Distinguished Principal Program is sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education and a corporate partner, AIG Retirement. According to NAESP, the "NDP program was established in 1984 to recognize elementary and middle school principals who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, and character of the students, families, and staff in their learning communities."
The 62 honorees for 2008 include a public elementary or middle school principal from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, along with four from private pre-K-8 schools, one principal from the U.S. Department of Defense Schools and two from U.S. overseas schools.
The NDP recipients were honored in October in Washington, D.C. at a black-tie awards banquet.
For more information on the National Distinguished Principals Program, visit http://www.naesp.org/National_Distinguished_Principals_Program.aspx.

Welcome

2008-10-15T00:41:00.000-04:00

The Southeast Elementary School community in Mansfield Center, Connecticut would like to welcome you to Mrs. Fisher-Doiron's blog. We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Fisher-Doiron has been named Connecticut's 2008 National Distinguished Principal. We hope you will check our blog often to follow Southeast School's year-long celebration of Mrs. Fisher-Doiron's leadership. We invite members of the current and former Southeast School community to post congratulatory notes as well as favorite Southeast memories and stories.