PRM School Rocker

Greetings PRM Families,

We are blooming with excitement as we enter the final stretch of the 2024-25 school year. This year has brought many triumphs and challenges. Through it all, we remain a thriving school community committed to every member's growth and social-emotional well-being. It is our unwavering commitment to finish the year strong in celebration of the many achievements we have met, ensuring your children's growth and well-being are our top priorities.

The Ohio State Test cycle has begun for grades 3-6. Testing is happening throughout April and the beginning of May. Grades K-2 will take the spring iReady Diagnostic in reading and math and the end-of-year Acadience assessment for literacy. This assessment cycle determines our school's rating on the Ohio State Report card. It is an opportunity for our students to shine and showcase the wealth of knowledge they have gained this academic year. The teachers have diligently prepared them with sample test questions and effective test-taking strategies, ensuring they are well-equipped for the assessments. You may also familiarize yourself with the assessment by going to Practice Tests - Ohio State Testing Portal.

OST Testing Strategies

Students must come to school each day with their CPS devices fully charged. Please ensure your child is at school by 7:40 a.m. daily; every minute counts. It is imperative that all students are present every day and on time during the OST and end-of-year assessment cycles. Please do not schedule medical appointments or vacations during this time. Our school social worker, Allie Quinter, will contact families to support them with resources and create Attendance Intervention Plans.

The 4th Quarter conferences will be on Thursday, April 17th. Please mark your calendars and look out for sign-up information in the next few days. Specific details about summer learning will also be shared in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your unwavering support and understanding. Your involvement is what makes PRM the best school community, and I am proud to lead us on this path forward. PRM, you ROCK!

Love,

Principal Simpson & Asst. Principals Brown and Gray

Email: simpsoa@cpsboe.k12.oh.us

7:40am-2:10pm

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.

April 1st-May 16th – Spring Assessment Cycle

Friday, April 4 – Last Day to order Spring Flowers (www.prmrocks.org/prm-spring-flower-sale-2025/)

Monday, April 7 – ILT Meeting @ 2:45 at PRM

Wednesday, April 9– LSDMC Meeting @ 3:00pm at PRM (in the library)

Wednesday, April 9 – PTO/Equity Group Meeting @ 6:30pm at PRM (in the library)

Monday, April 14-Thursday, April 17 – Fourth Quarter Midterm Week

Thursday, April 17 – Parent Teacher Conferences and Volunteer Fair 4:00-7:00pm at PRM

Friday, April 18 – No School – Records Day

Monday, April 21 – ILT Meeting @ 2:45 at PRM

Wednesday, April 23 – Foundation Meeting from 6:30-7:30pm at PRM (in the library)

Friday, April 25 – Family Spring Fling 6:00-8:00pm

Saturday, April 26 – Flower Sale Pick Up 10:00am-2:00pm at PRM

Monday, May 5-Friday, May 9 – Staff Appreciation Week

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 as we close out the school year.

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

Parents may submit a concern to the CPS Customer Care Department using this form.

We are in the home stretch of this school year! As always, contact your child’s teacher with any specific questions or concerns and make note of the following upcoming dates.

Fourth quarter conferences will be from 4:00-7:00pm on Thursday, April 17, at the end of midterm week which runs from April 14-17. There is no school for students on Friday, April 18. iReady spring diagnostic for kindergarten takes place on April 22 (math) and April 29 (ELA) and then on Wednesday, April 30 the kindergarteners have a field trip to the Cincinnati Zoo.

*Acadience spring testing will also occur for kindergarten students, but the dates are TBD.

The 6-9 Team is just as confused by this weather as you and your students are! Please ensure you check the weather and that your child is prepared for outdoor recess and their weekly Outdoor Education lesson.

Classrooms are putting time and energy into preparing for our end-of-the-year assessments. Starting next week, 3rd graders will begin their OST Language and OST Math tests this month. Students will also start working on their iReady end-of-the-year assessments in reading and math. And finally, we have our Acadience assessment to complete. PRM will collect lots of information to share with you for our 4th quarter conferences on Thursday, April 17th.

Don't worry—it isn't all testing in our environments. Many classrooms are going to welcome caterpillars for an authentic learning experience of a life cycle. As we enter the spring season, classrooms are diving into their zoology and botany lessons. We also have field trips to Green Acres and the Zoo coming up.

Lastly, please contact your classroom teacher if you have any specific questions about these upcoming events or the end of the year.

The 9-12 floor is gearing up for state testing! We are excited to see all of our students' progress and growth! Please make sure that students come to school well-rested and with full bellies. We will have snacks and mints provided. We also know that many students do get a little testing anxiety. If you are concerned about your student and anxiety around testing, please make sure to communicate with your child’s classroom teacher so they can help alleviate any worries.

Many of the 9-12 classrooms will attend field trips to the Cincinnati Observatory this month. You can expect permission slips to be coming home soon. There will also be a field trip for our 5th graders to see “Frozen Jr” at the Children’s Theater at the beginning of May. Those permission slips will also be sent home in the coming weeks.

Our classroom communities are enjoying our final weeks with our 6th-grade students. The 6th-grade leadership and recognition events will be communicated by classroom teachers, so be on the lookout for those details! We are looking forward to giving our 6th graders a wonderful sendoff!

This time of year tends to be a difficult time behaviorally for many of our students because summer break is just a hop, skip, and jump away. Many of our 6th graders are also experiencing some “Sixth Grade-itis.” We would be very grateful if you could support us in communicating proper behaviors and school expectations. We want our last weeks of the school year to be enjoyable for all, but we have to continue following school rules and procedures.

Thank you for sharing your children with us! We appreciate the partnership!

Dear PRM Families,

I want to share that at the end of this school year, I will transition from my current role as the PRM music teacher to a new CPS Fine Arts Instructional Coach position. This change is an exciting opportunity for me to support and collaborate with all the fine arts teachers across our district, helping to enhance our students' experiences in music, visual art, and more. While I will deeply miss working directly with your children, I am incredibly grateful for our shared support and memories. Our new music teacher is Mrs. Elena Wahl.

Mrs. Wahl has taught music for nineteen years, most recently at CPS's Oyler School. She also serves as District Performance Coordinator. In her spare time, she enjoys music, writing, and cooking, and she's very excited to join the PRM community. You can reach her at wahlele@cpsboe.k12.oh.us.

I look forward to seeing how the music program flourishes during Mrs. Whal's time at PRM. Please feel free to continue to contact me through my CPS email, kitsinm@cpsboe.k12.oh.us.

Sincerely,

Ms. Maria Kitsinis

Dear Strings Families,

Due to scheduling changes at 2 of my 4 buildings, my schedule will be altered to fit as many of my students and classes as possible. I was able to combine and move classes at one of my buildings, so I will only miss 2 days during testing weeks, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This is not ideal, especially with our spring concert approaching on Thursday, May 15. Please help remind the kids of this additional schedule change for the testing weeks ahead. Thank you, and best wishes for the next month!

Please see the detailed concert information below.

Thank you,

Ms. Castle, CPS Itinerant Strings

PRM/Silverton/Woodford/Spencer

PRM STRINGS SPRING CONCERT

Prepared by Ms. Castle, Strings Instructor; castleg@cpsboe.k12.oh.us

WHERE AND WHEN–REHEARSAL THURSDAY DURING SPECIALS

1. Performance–Thursday, May 15, 2025, PRM gymnasium–enter back gym door of the school

2. Student Required Dress Rehearsal/Report Time 5:45 p.m. (parking is limited, so please drop off your student before you park)

3. Concert Presentation 6:30-7:00 p.m.

CONCERT PIECES

1. Rolling Along #19

2. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star theme and variations

3. Ode to Joy (sheet music/#86)

4. TBA

MATERIALS NEEDED–please unpack in the cafeteria annex; instruments will be collected after the concert for the summer

1. Instrument/bow

2. Sheet music, music book, folder, and pencils

DRESS

1. Black or navy dress pants/skirt knee length or longer when seated–no shorts

2. White or black dress shirt/blouse/top

3. Black, navy, or brown dressy/casual shoes

We have five students representing PRM at the District Citywide Art Show. Artwork from schools throughout the district is on view at central offices in Clifton through April 24th.

9-12 students are creating compelling compositions using photographic images. They are practicing drawing in proportion and adding value to works of art using different mark-making techniques. Ceramics projects are making their way home. If the work is thoroughly glazed, it is food-safe. Unglazed work or work where spots were not fully covered on the interior is not food-safe but can be used for decoration.

6-9 students are preparing to paint their textured clay slabs. The textured tiles were created with handmade stamps, clay tools, and rolled coils. Their next project is inspired by Columbus-based artist Aminah Robinson. Robinson's work focuses on community, history, and storytelling through mixed media.

Kindergarten students are wrapping up their woven creature projects. The upcoming project celebrates spring and the butterflies that will begin to emerge as the weather changes. Their symmetrical butterflies will include all the parts of the insect.

As we near the end of the year, check backpacks frequently for artwork.

Coming soon!

Please view my April updates at this link: https://secure.smore.com/n/68yhu

Included in this April issue:

• Gifted Enrichment Update

• Not returning to PRM? Please let me know.

• Enrichment Schedule Changes

• Conference April 17

• Pictures and Lessons from March

If you would like to receive my monthly newsletters, please send an email to bonfiej@cpsboe.k12.oh.us and I will add you to my mailing list.

Coming Soon!

We are excited to be back outside and in person with your students! Students will continue to learn about what is under the ground and will have the opportunity to learn about moles, fossils, and soil. We will also be working in the garden, and students will have the opportunity to turn compost and plant spring greens.

Everything is starting to look greener this month, and the parent leadership at PRM hopes to start “growing” our team this month! We are hosting our first ever “Volunteer Fair” on Thursday, April 17 from 4:00-7:00pm during Parent Teacher Conferences, and we are looking to recruit people who can give one hour, one event, or one year of dedication to our school. PRM is a large, unique school that benefits from people who are willing to champion roles, projects, and events. If you have ever considered being a part of PRM in this way, we are excited to support you now. Several roles will be available.

Save the date for two more upcoming events. The Spring Family Fling will be on Friday, April 25th, from 6-8pm at PRM, and from May 5-9, we will be celebrating our amazing staff during Staff Appreciation Week. Please refer to the PRM Rocks Calendar or the PTO's Facebook page for more details and information on how to sign up to help with both important and fun events.

Lastly, the Garden Team and Imago are hosting an Earth Day Service Day in the PRM garden on Tuesday, April 22, from 2:00 to 5:00pm. Please meet on the pre-k playground after school pickup for snacks and then plan to walk over to the garden at the conclusion of Carline. This event is open to parents, kids of all ages, community members, etc. We'll be prepping the garden for spring planting and would love to have as many hands as possible to help!

The next PTO meeting will be in the library on Wednesday, February 12th, from 6:30-7:00pm. We will then host a Family Cooking Night immediately following the PTO meeting in the cafeteria starting at 7:00pm. Partners will join us, and it’s sure to be fun for the entire family.

Please enter through the back parking lot doors. Childcare is provided for the PTO meeting only. Questions should be directed to prmpto@gmail.com.

The 2025 Read-a-Thon was a huge success! 270 students participated, collectively logging over 91,000 minutes! We also surpassed our fundraising goal and raised over $10,500 for classroom supplies, staff support, and school-wide initiatives.

Thank you, too, for supporting our Spring Flower Sale fundraiser! Just a reminder: You can pick up your flowers at PRM on Saturday, April 26th, from 10am to 2pm.

FOUNDATION MEETING DATE & LOCATION CHANGE: Please note that the Foundation will meet one week later than usual and at a different location. Please join us on Wednesday, April 23 at 6:30pm in the PRM Library for our monthly Foundation meeting. All are welcome!

Please reach out to Ally Richer- prsfpres@gmail.com with any questions!

A BIG shoutout to our Brain Bowl team who finished their season as the number one overall seed in the tournament! The team lost in a heartbreaker, by one point, to Kilgour in the semifinals. Congrats – great job on representing PRM this year!

Spring Sports are off and running!

Track and Field started their season last weekend with a meet at Covington Catholic. Soccer and Volleyball will have their first games beginning the weekend of April 5/6. PRM will host home volleyball games most weekends through May 10th; check Facebook for additional dates and times. Baseball and Little Roadrunners Soccer will take the field one week later on 4/12.

Boosters will again offer a Spring Volleyball Clinic for all 2nd & 3rd graders interested in learning about the sport. The clinic will be open to both girls and boys and run for four consecutive Wednesdays (4/23 - 5/14). More information and registration can be found at prmrocks.org/athletics starting Friday, April 4. Send questions to prmathletics@gmail.com

Lastly, if you are considering buying Reds tickets this season, PRM will receive $9 from each ticket purchased using this link: https://www.mlb.com/reds/community/rcf/kids-glove

The code required for PRM to be credited is RoadRunners. Last year, we made enough Kid Glove tickets to purchase a new set of baseballs for each of our three teams, so thank you!

The Instructional Leadership Team meets on most first and third Mondays at 2:45pm at PRM. This month’s ILT meetings are on Monday, April 7 and 21. Teachers were asked to start thinking about cell tower requests at the last meeting. The fund is smaller than in some past years, so ILT must make thoughtful choices. The spring OST testing schedule was approved and will be used this month. And WIN blocks will be included for the entire next school year as part of the master schedule. Lastly, parent feedback forms have been sent out for students going through transitions at the end of this year. Parents should respond properly. Paper forms are available.

The Local School Decision-Making Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 9 at 3:00pm in the school library – meetings are always open to all members of the PRM community.

LSDMC meetings continue to be a great space to help process how PRM’s school budget will be affected by state and federal cuts to education. We urge everyone to take action by referring to the Google Doc we created to help identify the issues and support anyone who wants to speak up about their concerns. We will continue to update it regularly. Please consider sending an EMAIL (you can just copy and paste our words) and/or CALLING your state representatives to make your voice known in support of CPS and PRM - it only takes a few minutes! If you have any questions, come to the next LSDMC meeting. No childcare is available, but children can hang quietly in the library during the meeting.

Hello everyone. The CLC Center is here to provide various services you may need. Feel free to contact our Resource Coordinator- Ms. Monique Crosby, at johnmon@cpsboe.k12.oh.us.

• PRM Read Across America Day- We had a great day celebrating books in various ways, including a March Madness Book Competition. The students enjoyed seeing which book won each week.

• Family Cooking Class- We are hosting a cooking class on Wednesday, April 9th, immediately after our PTO meeting at 7 pm. We are partnering with New Leaf Kitchen for this Title I event. We would love for as many of our families to come out and make a delicious meal and drink with us. Each family will walk away with a gift for coming out. We hope you can come out a cook it up with us!

• Earth Day- Is on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Some students will go home with a tree seedling (Eastern Redbud) provided through our partnership with Ohio Valley Forestry Fellowship. Please keep an eye out for additional information on Earth Day Activities that will take place around Cincinnati.

• After-School Programs- As the year is winding down, make sure you connect with your child’s after-school clubs/programs to find out when their last day of programming will be. This will ensure that your child is picked up on time without any confusion. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me- Monique Crosby- Resource Coordinator.

• 2025 Summer Camps and Programs- Have you signed your child up for summer camp? If not, click on the links below to check out some of the camps and programs.

• https://abccincy.org/summer-camps-and-programs/

• https://myy.org/programs/camp/day-camp/

• https://kennedyarts.org/learn/#tab2

• https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/recreation/facilities/recreation-centers/

• Needing Assistance- The Community Learning Center (CLC) is here to assist our students, parents, and community. If you need help with rent, utilities, housing, employment, tutoring, food, clothing, etc., feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help to assist you.

• Tax Day is coming, Tuesday, April 15th- The United Way of Greater Cincinnati provides free tax services. Click on the link to sign up for assistance. Tax Service Help: https://www.uwgc.org/get-help/free-tax-prep

• Free Laundry Services- Laundry Love is offering free laundry services at select locations on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month and every 3rd Saturday of the month. Check out the flyer below for more information.

• Financial Assistance Needed- United Way and the Freestore Food Bank is geared up to help any family in need during the winter months. Feel free to reach out to our Resource Coordinator for more information.

• Looking for something to do?- Check out Michaels, Lowe’s, and Home Depot. They have in-store and online free classes for the entire family. Click on the link and see what you can get into. Link: https://www.michaels.com/classes, https://www.lowes.com/diy-projects-and-ideas/workshops , https://www.homedepot.com/c/kids-workshop

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

Cincinnati Public Schools:

513-363-0123

Child Mental Health Crisis

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