PRM School Rocker

Dear PRM Families,

Welcome to another exciting school year at Pleasant Ridge Montessori!

I hope you and your family have enjoyed a wonderful summer filled with opportunities to rest, recharge, and create lasting memories together. As we prepare to welcome our students back, our entire staff is eagerly anticipating another incredible year of learning, growth, and partnership.

This year's school theme is Better Together. At PRM, we know that the greatest success for our children happens when families and educators work together with a shared commitment to helping every student thrive. Guided by our motto, One School. One Student. One Future. We Make a Difference...PRM; we remain committed to providing an engaging Montessori learning environment where every child is challenged, supported, and celebrated while developing the independence, curiosity, and confidence that will serve them throughout life.

I am especially excited to welcome Mr. Craig Gray back to Pleasant Ridge Montessori as our Assistant Principal. Many of our returning families already know Mr. Gray from his previous time at PRM, and I know you will join me in welcoming him home. His leadership and dedication will be tremendous assets as we continue moving PRM forward together.

The first day of school for students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 is Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Preschool students will begin on Monday, August 24, 2026.

Breakfast will be available beginning at 7:30am and will be served free of charge to all students. Students should arrive ready to begin learning promptly at 7:40am, as instruction begins immediately each morning.

One of the things I treasure most about Pleasant Ridge Montessori is the incredible partnership we share with our families. Whether you are joining us for the first time or returning for another year, please know that you are an invaluable part of our school community. Your involvement, encouragement, and partnership make a tremendous difference in your child's success and in the strength of our school.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education. It is truly an honor to serve your family. Together, we will continue to cultivate a joyful, inclusive, and academically rich Montessori community where every child is known, valued, challenged, and inspired to reach their fullest potential.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our Parent Orientation Meetings, Open House, the Million Father March, and throughout the school year.

Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and support. To stay informed about school news, events, and updates, please ensure you regularly check our school website, email communications, join the PRM PTO-sponsored Facebook group, and attend upcoming meetings. Here's to an outstanding 2026-2027 school year! Better Together.

Love,

Principal Simpson

Email: simpsoa@cpsboe.k12.oh.us

Event updates throughout the month will be available on www.prmrocks.org/calendar

*You can also subscribe to the calendar on your device - find the green “subscribe” button on the top right side of the calendar page.

Our Parent Orientation Meetings provide an excellent opportunity to meet your child's teacher, learn about classroom expectations and Montessori practices, receive important beginning-of-the-year information, and discover ways to partner with us throughout the school year. Because we want parents to have the opportunity to fully participate in the discussion, these meetings are intended for adults only.

Our annual Open House is one of PRM's favorite traditions and the perfect way to begin the school year. Families will have the opportunity to:

• Meet teachers and staff.
• Visit classrooms.
• Drop off school supplies during designated times.
• Learn about community resources and volunteer opportunities.
• Visit the uniform exchange and spirit wear tables.
• Connect with other PRM families while celebrating the start of another exciting school year.

We are proud to once again participate in the Million Father March on Wednesday, August 19, from 7:15–8:00 a.m.

We invite fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, mentors, community leaders, and all positive male role models to help us welcome our students on the first day of school. By lining our entrance walkway and greeting students as they arrive, you will help create an unforgettable start to the school year while demonstrating the power of positive community involvement.

Whether you are a father or simply someone who makes a difference in a child's life, we hope you will join us as we cheer on our students and launch another amazing school year together.

We are excited to welcome several outstanding educators and staff members to Pleasant Ridge Montessori. Each brings unique talents, experience, and a passion for serving children, and we are thrilled to have them join our school community.

Please join me in welcoming:

• Mr. Craig Gray~Assistant Principal
• Ms. Alexis Argast~Montessori Kindergarten Teacher
• Mrs. Lucy Morrow~Ages 6-9 Teacher
• Mrs. Monique Jacob~Ages 6-9 Teacher
• Mr. Brady Davis~Ages 9-12 Math/Social Studies Teacher
• Mrs. Erica Sumpter~Ages 9-12 Math/Social Studies Teacher
• Mr. Anthony (Tony) Fisher~Ages 9-12 Intervention Specialist
• Mrs. Latosha Brown~Math Specialist
• Mr. Eric Price~Security Assistant

When you see our newest staff members during Open House or throughout the school year, please introduce yourself and help them feel at home. One of the greatest strengths of PRM has always been our welcoming and supportive community, and I know our new team members will quickly discover what makes Pleasant Ridge Montessori such a special place.

Please take time to carefully review the enclosed 2026-2027 PRM Student Handbook. It contains important information regarding attendance, arrival and dismissal procedures, transportation, school uniforms, communication expectations, technology use, school safety, volunteer opportunities, and student rights and responsibilities.

Please remember:

• Review your child's transportation plan before the first day of school. Dismissal changes must be submitted in writing to your child's teacher by 9:00am. Emergency dismissal requests will only be accepted through the office before 1:30pm.
• Ensure your emergency contact information in FOCUS is current so we can reach you quickly if needed.
• Students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 are expected to wear the PRM school uniform beginning on the first day of school. If your family needs assistance obtaining uniforms or school supplies, please contact our office. We are committed to helping every child begin the year ready for success.
• Watch for important communications each week through your child's Wednesday Folder and the email address associated with your FOCUS account. Students in grades 4-6 will also use planners to strengthen communication between home and school.

Please help us by following these procedures:

Arrival

• Arrival begins at 7:30am. Please do not arrive before 7:30am so that our staff can park and get in place.
• The park and walk option is not available at the Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church. You may secure legal parking on the street or in public parking lots to utilize the park and walk option to escort your child to the proper arrival entrance. Students may not walk to or from desigated street parking locations without a parent. Keep the positive energy flowing. We are in this together!
• Please be mindful of your speed. The School Zone speed limit is 20mph. Please keep your speed to 15mph when driving on campus. Citations will be given for violations.
• There is no drop-off on Montgomery Rd. This is not safe. Police will be contacted to give citations if this continues to happen.
• When dropping off students in the car line, please ensure they are ready to exit the car safely from the passenger side with all their belongings. We want to keep things moving as efficiently as possible.
• Families dropping off a PreK student must merge to the right side of the carline for morning dropoff. The staff will complete the safety check and escort the student and any siblings to the PreK entrance.

Dismissal

• Dismissal is from 2:00-2:10pm. Please do not arrive for the carline before 1:30pm. The gate will not open until 1:55pm. You can minimize frustration and pollution by not arriving too early.
• Be sure to select a daily dismissal method for your child and stick to it. Dismissal changes must be communicated to the teacher in writing 24 hours in advance or the morning of the change. Students will be sent home the normal way if this communication is not received. There is no early dismissal after 1:30pm.

• Please watch out for our staff as they support traffic flow on Montgomery Rd.
• Be prepared for your child(ren) to be loaded into your car on the passenger side only.
• Please pull forward once your child(ren) loads the car. You may buckle them in further up the driveway.
• There is absolutely no parking at the Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church. You must locate legal street or public parking to walk and pick up your child in the front.

We must be consistent in acknowledging and enforcing our school uniform policy. Our uniform policy is liberal enough to include several options for families. All PRM Spirit Wear is considered part of the school uniform.

While we don't like to take time away from instruction to deal with uniforms. We must all be consistent to ensure this doesn't become a major issue during the school year.

Please see the policy below and in the PRM Student Handbook.

As many of you know, Cincinnati Public Schools recently approved the district's budget for the 2026-2027 school year. As part of that budget, several district-approved furlough days have been incorporated into the school calendar. We encourage families to review the district calendar carefully and plan accordingly, as students will not report to school on those scheduled days.

Please keep the electronic link to the Code of Conduct handy for your records. There will not be paper copies printed this school year.

All parents/guardians are asked to submit this form to acknowledge receipt and review of the Code of Conduct.

Cincinnati Public Schools:

513-363-0123

Cincinnati Children's Hospital PIRC intake line:

513-636-4124

Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect:

513-241-KIDS

Suicide Prevention Hotline:

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Crisis Textline:

Text 4HOPE to 741741

Disaster Distress Helpline:

1-800-985-5990

Domestic Violence Hotline via Women Helping Women:

513-381-5610

Our Character Program centers around:

Respect, Ownership, Compassion, Kindness and Safety, Safety, Safety!

Below are the three school-wide expectations that we expect students to follow throughout all parts of our learning community. Please support us by reinforcing these at home.

• Be Respectful
• Be Responsible
• Be a Problem Solver

Email: simpsoa@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Website: www.prmrocks.org
Location: 5945 Montgomery Road
Phone: 513-363-4400