Greetings PRM Families,

Welcome to 2022! Wishes for a Happy New Year go out to each and every one of you. At PRM we are so excited to welcome your children back to the second half of the 2021-2022 school year. I cannot express the amount of love and energy our staff has for the students in our community. Thank you for being wonderful partners in this journey.

As a reminder, second quarter report cards will be sent home on Friday, January 7th. I often find this a wonderful opportunity to sit down with students to set goals and rejuvenate them for the second semester. Teachers also do a reset with students in order to assist them with the transition back to the learning environment and prepare for a fresh push towards success. Hearing the same message of support, goal setting, and perseverance is a valuable tool for the success of your child.

We still have a large number of students coming to school late every day. Please do your best to make sure that your child is at school by 7:45am. We also need to make sure that all students have a mask to wear at school. We continue to run low on our supply of masks because we are giving out nearly 100 or more each day. Covid is still here and our mask mandate is still in place. Please support us by making sure your child is on time to school and has a mask.

It is my hope that the new year will bring our community many wonderful gifts of togetherness, spirit, and good health. I am looking forward to all of the experiences 2022 has in store for us. Again, be sure to view the dates for upcoming events included in this newsletter so that you can plan to participate in as many events as possible.

Love,

Principal Simpson

Email: simpsoa@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Phone: 513-203-9087

7:45am-2:15pm

• 2nd Quarter Report Cards Go Home~ Friday, January 7th
• Staff PD Day~ Monday, January 10th--No Students
• LSDMC Meeting~Wednesday, January 12th 3pm
• Foundation Meeting (Virtual/In-person at CHH)~ Wednesday, January 19th 6:30p
• CPS Board Meeting~ Monday, January 10th and 24th 6:30p
• PTO Meeting Virtual~ Wednesday, January 12th at 6:30p Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/zyr-fqrq-och
• PRM Equity Group (Virtua/In-person at CHH)~ Thursday, January 20th 6:30p Google Meet Code: meet.google.com/pem-dmon-ktm

Dear Families,

We continue to monitor community health data and Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) staff and teacher absences related to COVID-19. Following a board discussion Monday evening, we have decided to continue in-person learning. We will review COVID-19 numbers and CPS staffing again at our January 10 Board of Education meeting.

Due to staffing shortages, it is possible that we will have to close schools on a school-by-school basis. As a result, families and staff should be prepared in the event a school quickly shifts to distance learning.

Please remind your child to bring all belongings home with them at the end of each day. This includes electronic devices, backpacks, coats and food.

Safety Reminders:

• Stay home if you are feeling sick and call the COVID hotline

• Wear a mask

• Wash hands frequently

• Maintain 3-feet minimum social distancing

• Don’t share food or drinks

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing when not wearing a mask

• Wash face mask daily

General Reminders:

Community-Based Health Clinics:

● All clinics are currently open; check the CPS website https://www.cps-k12.org/families-students/health-wellness/school-based-centers/locations for the most up-to-date information.

Updated Quarantine Guidelines for Staff and Students:

● The CDC has reduced quarantine times for some individuals with COVID-19.

o 5 day quarantine period from onset of symptoms

o Students and employees may return to school/the workplace on day 6 if they have no symptoms

o Masks are highly recommended by the CDC on days 6-10 and already required as part of CPS protocol

Please support us by honoring our school uniform policy. We have a very liberal uniform policy that offers a variety of choices and encourages school spirit. We are noticing many students who are coming to school out of uniform each day. All students in grades K-6 are required to be in uniform every day unless a special dress day has been communicated to families.

As the temperature changes classrooms may be cool. Students are not permitted to wear coats in the classroom. Solid color sweatshirts or PRM sweatshirts are permitted.

Please refer to the attachment below for pictures of what is and is not allowed. You may also refer to the full uniform policy on pgs. 3-6 of the Student Handbook.

Cincinnati Public Schools is now a one-to-one device district. Every student has been assigned a device for use to support and enhance instruction. Students need to have these devices every day. They also need to make sure they are charged and bring the charging cord with them to school.

The devices are the property of Cincinnati Public Schools. The Acceptable Use Policy is reviewed with students and has been included below. All activity on the devices is monitored for content and safety. Please support us by monitoring student use at home to ensure that it is school-related. Personal devices should be used for leisure and game playing.

Students are being charged for damages and lost chargers this year. Chargers for both laptops and iPads are $50. Damages to screens, spills on the keyboard - any damage that is determined to not be accidental, will be charged to their student fees. Please refer to the AUP/MDA that all students sign at the beginning of the year.

AUP/MDA Agreements:

PreK-3 https://schoology.cps-k12.org/course/1312713696/materials/link/view/5207016827

4-12 https://schoology.cps-k12.org/course/1312713696/materials/link/view/5207018503

• Welcome to 2022! We are excited to be back with the students after a nice long winter break. We are also excited to begin the official Montessori curriculum pilot.

• All 3-6 classrooms will be MAP testing (in Reading) Kindergarten students in January. Some Kindergarteners will also take the iReady Math diagnostic this month, though some others took it in December.

• As always, please be sure that your child is dressed appropriately to go outside for the weather. We will continue to go out to recess in the cold weather, as often as possible. A hat and gloves are a good idea.

• This quarter in math, we will work on addition and subtraction within 10, and continue to work on teen numbers and place value. We will finish up geometry studies as well.

• In language, we are working on segmenting and blending CVC words, identifying medial sounds, and of course handwriting. We will be learning about the conventions of a sentence such as uppercase letter at the beginning, space between words, and punctuation at the end.

• In cultural studies, we will work on a variety of continent studies (based on the classroom) and vertebrate classifications (depending on the classroom).

• Hopefully families had a safe and restful holiday break. There is not a lot of new news from our short couple of weeks of schooling in December.

• Most classrooms ended December with a fun Pajama/Holiday party of sort, where students and teachers were decked out in fun pajama where, enjoying popcorn and cocoa, while watching a fun movie.

• Heading into the 3rd quarter, the 6-9 team will continue continent/biome studies and explore different land and water forms to deepen students’ understanding of geographical phenomenons that govern earth. In history we will focus on the passage of time, clock and various timeline work in the.

• This Quarter, 6-9 classrooms will have our first field trip to Green Acres, where students will learn about Maple sugaring. Be on the lookout for forms from your child’s teacher, as there are different dates depending on the assigned classroom

6th grade math update:

Math MAP testing this week. Students are finishing up their work on algebraic expressions and equations. They will move into ratios and proportional relationships. We also begin our Rubik's cube project. This project is designed to help students make sense of problems and persevere in solving them. The end goal is a mosaic made out of hundreds of cubes!

4/5 Math Update:

We are working on conversions and division strategies for 4th grade, and getting ready to begin multiplication with decimals for 5th grade while reviewing addition and subtraction with fractions.

4/5 Science Update:

Our young scientists are learning that they can investigate anything they are curious about by turning a question into a science experiment.

Classes practiced this with candy canes, as they explored what causes them to dissolve faster before the holidays. 4th graders also wrapped up learning about how fossils give us vital clues about the past, as they created their own fossils. 5th graders developed their mastery on light energy- using their own words to explain why we see colors, or why light bends or reflects. Competence and confidence in science forges science ability and hopefully will pave the path for many science careers!

4/5 Social Studies Update:

Both grades are primarily using the digital platform 'Ohio as America' to understand the changes in human settlements that occurred in our state. Native American history in early Ohio will continue to be our focus for the next couple of weeks. Our students are learning about the indelible, and often eclipsed, the impact of Native American culture on our lives.

4/5 ELA Update:

MAP testing is beginning this week. Check with your teachers for dates specific to your child. We are beginning the Montessori curriculum scope and sequence this month. Major concepts include exploring the influence of point of view in fiction and perspective in informational texts. Students will also be working to fine-tune persuasive writing skills this month and continue their study of sentence analysis.

The PRM Equity Group has started some important work and would love your voice! The PRM Equity group will be meeting in a hybrid format, virtual and in-person. The next meeting will be January 20th at 6:30p.

The PRM community shared a great evening decorating Gingerbread Houses in December! And all enjoyed viewing the Winter Variety Show! If you missed it, you can still view it by going to: https://prmrocks.org/winter-wonderland-winter-variety-show-2021/

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Gingerbread House making Party! It was a blast! Thank you to all who came out to enjoy the PRM Handmade Market as well! These PRM traditions are part of what makes PRM rock! Please come to our first PTO Meeting of the year on January 12th at 6:30p online! See details below! We need a ILT Parent Rep! We need your voice and could use more volunteers for staff appreciation, a possible Spring Dance (picture drive thru at least) and end of the year events like 6th grade recognition, transition day and field day! Look for details coming soon about a Uniform Exchange at Community Happens Here and The Read-a-thon!

ILT: We have an immediate need for a parent representative on the Instructional Leadership Team! This is a great way to get involved by attending the meetings and reporting to PTO important information. They meet the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month at 2:40 - 4p and are currently meeting virtually. Please email to nominate yourself or someone else at mkyrlach@gmail.com. See more details on the PRM Rocks post, https://prmrocks.org/ilt-rep-needed-voting-at-first-pto-meeting-of-2022/!

The PRM Equity Group has started some important work and would love your voice! The PRM Equity group will be meeting in a hybrid format, virtual and in-person. The next meeting will be January 20th at 6:30p.

Boosters:

• Winter sports have started. Cheer and basketball teams are officially now closed but we have a record number of winter athletes- 117!

• We have 12 basketball teams!!! Practices are starting this week and next. Schedules available on November 22nd. Games will begin the first weekend in December. Coaches are all encouraged to use Team Snap- please download the free app to help with communication.

Upcoming Meetings and Dates:

LSDMC Meeting - Wednesday, January 12th 3pm

Foundation Meeting (Virtual/In-person at CHH) - Wednesday January 19th 6:30p

CPS Board Meeting - Monday, January 3rd, 10th and 24th 6:30p

PTO Meeting Virtual - Wednesday, January 12th at 6:30p Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/zyr-fqrq-och

PRM Equity Group (Virtua/In-person at CHH) - Thursday, January 20th 6:30p Google Meet Code: meet.google.com/pem-dmon-ktm

January 2022

Hello everyone, The CLC Center is here to provide you with various services that you may need. Feel free to contact either our Resource Coordinator- Ms. Monique Johnson at johnmon@cpsboe.k12.oh.us or our Asst. School Community Coordinator- Mrs. Jamie Donaldson at donalja@cpsboe.k12.oh.us.

• We have to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to all of our wonderful volunteers who participated in many of the activities that took place at PRM during the month of December. You all truly ROCK!

• A special thank you goes to the Golf Manor Police Department and The Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church for all the wonderful toys and treats that were given to our students.

• In-Person and Virtual Tutoring finished 1st semester off strong. We were able to tutor over 150 students and we are looking to do it again during the 2nd semester. If you are looking for tutoring services for your child(ren) or would like to become a tutor feel free to contact Jamie Donaldson here at the school at 513-363-4445.

• YMCA of Blue Ash is offering Before School and After School Child Care with transportation to and from school. Looking for more information contact the Resource Coordinator or the Front Office for an application.

• COVID-19 Vaccine & Testing- The Ohio Department of Health has partnered with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital as a community provider. Any person aged 5 and up is eligible to receive the vaccine. They are providing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Walk-ins are welcome or you can make appointments at one of the

three vaccine clinic locations listed below

Vaccination & Testing Locations:

• Any CPS school Nurse

• Walgreen

• CVS

• Little Clinics in Kroger

• Health Department

• Rite Aid

• Doctor’s office

• Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

• Other locations can be found by clicking on the link below. Testing Sites: https://healthcollab.org/testandprotect/

• Freestore Food Bank- they are providing meals every day from 8 am-4 pm. Specialty times during the holiday.

• Dr. Martin Luther King Legacy Celebration- Monday, January 17. The March starts at 10:30 am at the National Underground Freedom Center, making a stop at Fountain Square and ending at Music Hall for a program.

• Looking for something to do- Check out Michaels. 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

Masks are required to be worn in all Cincinnati Public School buildings. They are also recommended during outdoor school events where social distancing is not able to be accommodated.

Be sure that your child has a mask that covers the mouth and nose. Please support us by teaching your child to wear the mask properly covering the mouth and nose except for when eating or during an individual mask break provided by the teacher.

Students who must Quarantine during the 2021-2022 Academic School will follow their teacher’s procedures to make up work similar to as if they were absent because of an illness.

Teachers will post at least every two weeks to their Learning Management System, Schoology* in Student Friendly Language:

• Learning Outcomes

• Materials if available

• Assignments

• Due Dates

It is important to note that students absent due to general illness or appointments will receive make up assignments when they return to school. This Schoology access is not intended to reflect virtual learning or full access to the curriculum. Those seeking a virtual learning option may enroll in the Cincinnati Digital Academy.

See video with reminders of how to access District Schoology Materials, click here.

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

Website: https://pleasantridge.cps-k12.org/about
Location: 5945 Montgomery Road
Phone: 513-363-4400