PRM School Rocker

Greetings PRM Families,

As we turn the page to October, we're thrilled to see the progress and achievements your children have made so far this year. Quarter 1 ends on Friday, October 17, 2025, and Quarter 2 begins on Monday, October 20, 2025. We appreciate your partnership in supporting students' focus and well-being as we make this transition.

We're also excited to share a significant milestone: our new ages 9–12 classroom opened on Monday, September 29, 2025. This addition is a testament to our commitment to maintaining appropriately sized classes and strengthening our Montessori program. We thank our staff and families for their support in making this possible!

Our office support staff is conducting a Focus sweep to address concerns that some families are not receiving automated calls and emails through the Focus platform. If you are not receiving messages, please call the main office and ask for the senior support specialist assigned to your child's grade level:

• Ms. Jasmine Hughes – Ages 3–6 team
• Mrs. Carla Cobbins – Ages 6–9 team
• Mrs. Ciara Harper – Ages 9–12 team

Your role in your child's education is crucial. Regular communication with your child's teacher(s) to discuss academic progress, encouraging your child to follow the school rules, and ensuring they are prepared for school each day are all vital steps toward success.

• Review the Student Handbook available on prmrocks.org or by using this link.
• Check Focus and Canvas frequently for updates on assignments and progress.
• Stay in touch with teachers through quick messages to celebrate progress or address needs early.
• Support routines at home with consistent bedtimes, on-time arrival, and a ready-to-learn mindset.

We are a team on this journey. Our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) and Foundation meetings take place on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm. Your presence at these meetings is essential, as we discuss and make decisions that shape our school, from fundraising for new resources to planning school events.

Our commitment is unwavering: every child grows, every day. We are dedicated to ensuring that every student at PRM achieves success. We value your partnership on this journey and look forward to your continued support!

With gratitude,

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.

Wednesday, October 1 – Wear Black to “Blackout Bullies”

Thursday, October 2 – No School – Teacher Classroom Workday

Monday, October 6 – ILT Meeting @ 2:45pm at PRM (Staff Wellness Room)

Wednesday, October 8 – LSDMC Meeting @ 3:00pm at PRM (Library)

Wednesday, October 8 – PTO Meeting @ 6:00pm at PRM (Library)

Wednesday, October 8 – Foundation Meeting @ 7:00pm at PRM (Library)

Thursday, October 9 – Restaurants Supporting PRM – Café Alma

Thursday, October 16 – Picture Day (students may be out of uniform for photos – to order online use mylifetouch.com and Picture Day ID – EVTSD4HMG)

Friday, October 17 – End of First Quarter

Monday, October 20 – ILT Meeting @ 2:45pm at PRM (Staff Wellness Room)

Wednesday, October 22 – Unity Day (wear an orange shirt to take a stand against bullying)

Thursday, October 23 – Trunk or Treat from 6:00-8:00pm at PRM

Wednesday, October 29 – Wear Colorful Socks to “Stomp Out Bullies”

Friday, October 31 – Staff Appreciation Lunch

We are excited to share the results of the 2024–25 Ohio State Report Card for Pleasant Ridge Montessori! These results reflect the hard work of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the strong support of our families. Together, we are building a school community where every child can grow and succeed.

Report Card Highlights

• Achievement: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 Stars) — Students are meeting grade-level expectations, and we are focused on continued growth.
• Progress: ⭐⭐ (2 Stars) — While many students are making gains, this score shows that we must continue to focus on ensuring all students make at least a year’s worth of growth. This is one of our biggest priorities moving forward.
• Gap Closing: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 Stars) — We are narrowing achievement gaps among student groups, a reflection of our commitment to equity for all learners.
• Early Literacy (K–3): ⭐⭐⭐ (3 Stars) — Our youngest students are making significant progress in reading. We will continue building strong foundations through Montessori lessons, Wit & Wisdom, and Fundations.

What This Means for Our School

These results celebrate our progress and also guide our next steps. As a school community, we are committed to:

• Providing high-quality Montessori and district-aligned instruction.
• Strengthening early literacy instruction to ensure all students read on grade level.
• Focusing on student growth by providing targeted small-group and individualized supports.
• Building strong home–school partnerships to help children succeed.
• Maintaining a safe and positive school culture where every student can thrive.

Your partnership makes a difference. From reinforcing learning at home to staying engaged with your child’s progress, you play a vital role in our success. Together, we are helping every PRM student reach their fullest potential.

We hope to have some cooler weather as we are now officially in the fall season. Remember to have your student dressed appropriately for the morning weather as all 3-6 classes go outside by 8:30am for our morning recess. Also, a reminder to check your student's blue folder for important information that will be coming home from school. Kindergarteners will be starting our WIN (What I Need) Intervention Block in October. Some students will go to another teacher for 30 minutes each Monday – Thursday, so if your student starts talking about other teachers, this month, this is why. Kindergarteners should be going on our first field trip in late October (details to follow, directly from your child's teacher). And as always, please reach out to your student's teacher if you have any questions.

We are off to an excellent start this October. In cultural studies, the students will learn about the months of the year, the seasons, and the Sun and Earth, as well as invertebrates and the roots of plants. In math and geometry, we will continue with lessons in addition using the short bead stair and the dot game, as well as multiplication with the golden beads and the stamp game. All grade levels will work on measurement and data activities, as well as further studies in basic concepts of geometry. In language, the students will continue working on phonics, dictionary study, antonyms and rhyming words, as well as abbreviations and articles in grammar lessons. All 6-9 classes will also take a field trip to Blooms and Berries this month to explore the farm and to enjoy wonderful, outdoor fall activities.

Quarter 1 is in full swing, and it was wonderful to see so many of you at conferences. We truly value the chance to connect with families and celebrate the great start to the year. Students have now completed their beginning-of-the-year testing, and we are excited to launch our WIN (What I Need) block in October. This will provide students with targeted opportunities to develop and refine their skills.

October is also shaping up to be an exciting month of learning beyond the classroom walls! Our students will be heading out on several field trips, including visits to the Aronoff Center and Greenacres, as well as a River Explorer opportunity. These experiences bring our curriculum to life in such meaningful ways. If you are interested in chaperoning, you will need a purple badge from the district. Reach out to your child's homeroom teacher for more information.

Last but certainly not least, we are thrilled to welcome Ms. Lori Pinkerton to PRM! The students in her classroom are collaborating to create a new and exciting learning community. Please join us in giving her a warm welcome to the PRM community. And as always, please reach out to your child's homeroom teacher if you have any questions.

This quarter, students completed the Paper Square Challenge to create collaborative classroom quilts. How many ways can a person design a square using only construction paper, scissors, and glue? The creativity of our students is simply outstanding! Also, this month:

Kindergarten students are experimenting with various art materials and learning how to combine them to create original works of art. The first quarter continues to focus on developing fine motor skills and confidence for this age group of students.

6-9 students are creating tissue paper collages inspired by stained glass windows found in historic cathedrals and homes.

9-12 students learned about the history of the game tic-tac-toe and are now creating themed tic-tac-toe boards out of clay.

We have been lucky to have Ms. Kira, a UC student teacher in training, join many of our classes to work with students this semester. The art room loves visitors! We are grateful to all the parent volunteers who have given their time. If you are interested in volunteering, you can sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4BACA729A0FA7-50660052-artroom#/

This month, all of our students are getting into the Halloween spirit! Every grade level is playing Halloween-themed games that build teamwork, movement skills, and sportsmanship while keeping things festive. From Kindergarten through 6th grade, we’re making Physical Education a place to celebrate the season with energy and excitement.

As we finish out the month, we’ll begin our volleyball unit, where students will learn the basics of passing, setting, and working together on the court.

And shoutout to our 1st Quarter Pacer Test Winners! Announcements and awards will be given out on Friday.

9-12 students have been learning exchange rates to see how far they can stretch their budgets. We will soon learn how to book flights and the differences between one-way, round-trip, and multi-city trips. We are nearing the time when we will have our first Prefects in Hogwarts, and many students have been diligent in completing their Fantastic Beasts cards.

6-9 students are learning how to read maps, use compasses, and understand and read map keys.

Kindergarten students are following the scope and sequence from their classrooms and learning a new letter sound each week.

Happy October! In our 9-12 classes, we will focus on developing our skills in Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides by creating a Virtual Field Trip that we will share with the class once it is finished. This falls under our "Empowered Learner" strand of standards.

In 6-9 classes, we are spending more time practicing logging into our computers independently and learning how to use our mouse correctly. In between this practice, we are studying the engineering design process through digital and hands-on tools.

Kindergarteners are doing wonderfully, learning the keyboard and memorizing the location of the keys. We will continue that for the next few weeks, then we will move on to typing our name.

Winter Choir rehearsals are now taking place every Tuesday, from dismissal until 3:30pm. Winter Choir is full for this year. If your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grader is signed up, please ensure that you pick them up at the music room door (located behind the school) by 3:30pm on Tuesdays.

Our musical this year is Moana Jr.!! Permission slips and information sheets will be available by the second week of October. Auditions for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders will be on Thursday, October 23.

PRM has been invited to participate in an Arts and Languages Festival on Thursday, October 16. Students in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade may participate, as space allows, and if they do not attend Strings class (as we are learning the songs in our 9-12 music class). This after-school field trip culminates in an evening concert at Rockdale Academy. Students should see Mrs. Wahl for a permission slip if they are interested and able to attend.

Students are back in the garden this fall, learning and growing with Imago! The Fall Welcome Unit has students getting their hands dirty with exploration stations, including a mud kitchen, fort building, decomposer bed, and discovery station.

Imago is also excited to announce the launch of the Outdoor Explorers Club (OE). Participating students will meet with Imago’s educators every Tuesday from 2:00-4:00pm in Room 2201. Pickup is at 4:00pm behind the school, by PRM's school garden entrance. The first meeting will be on Tuesday, October 7th, and the first semester OE will go until December 9th. For the second semester, OE will resume on March 3rd and continue until May 19th. Please use this form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPs-K20S-YYC7ZI9UnqP9sKPkr6NkjDh-J3gajitLpnkmdig/viewform?usp=header) to register your child. For any questions, please email Zoe at zvanasse@imagoearth.org

Here is the link to my October newsletter, which includes information about enrichment offerings, such as next month’s Spelling Bee and tryouts for Brain Bowl.

https://secure.smore.com/n/u3y246

All 3rd-grade students are currently preparing for the Third Grade Ohio State Test (OST) both within their classrooms and with the Reading Specialists. Students are hard at work practicing reading and comprehension strategies and how to apply them to the test. The OST dates will be October 20-24. You will receive information from classroom teachers about the test soon. Visit the site, What is the OST to learn more about what precisely the OST entails. Here are two ways that you can support your third grader at home in preparation for the OST:

1. Visit the Students and Families TIDE Practice Site for sample tests and practice questions.

2. Encourage typing practice – the OST is administered on the computer. Students must be comfortable with typing, as they will be expected to write a multi-paragraph essay. Students receive typing practice in the classroom and in technology class, but they can also practice at home by typing out paragraphs. Emphasize the importance of adding punctuation, capitalization, spacing, and proper spelling.

Also this month, PRM will begin school-wide W.I.N. blocks, or What I Need, taking place on Mondays through Thursdays, alternating a week of reading with a week of math. During these 30 minutes, students will participate in intervention or enrichment with a teacher or paraprofessional. Instead of new instruction, during WIN, students will participate in lessons based on their skills and abilities. Students are placed in groups based on various data points, including their beginning-of-year Acadience Benchmark scores, their iReady Diagnostic scores, their Developmental Spelling Assessment levels, and the fall 2025 Ohio State Test results (for students in grades 3 and above). New to WIN this year, students who qualify as gifted for Superior Cognitive Ability will receive specialized enrichment extension activities developed in collaboration with our excellent Gifted and Talented Educator, Ms. Jackie Bonfield.

The first PTO meeting of the year was such a blast—we loved seeing so many families come together to support our school community! Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening a fun and productive experience. We can’t wait to keep the momentum going. Please mark your calendars and join us for our next PTO meeting on Wednesday, October 8, at 6:00pm.

We’re also excited to share that the PTO will be hosting a Staff Appreciation Lunch on Halloween (10/31)! This is a fantastic opportunity to show our teachers and staff how much we value all they do. Keep an eye out for more details and volunteer opportunities coming soon—we’d love your help in making this event a special one.

LAST CALL to connect with your student's Room Parent:

A PRM Room Parent is a parent volunteer who serves as the primary liaison between the teacher and the families in each classroom community, also helping to communicate other ways for families to connect with the larger PRM community. Use the link below to let your Room Parent know how to best communicate with you so you don't miss any classroom-specific news or upcoming PRM events – https://forms.gle/g1ZWX2quEEf35YUK6

Please reach out to Room Parent Champion Jen Jarman at jenjarman@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.

We had a great first meeting in September and loved seeing new faces around the table. This past month, Foundation finalized funding for Imago to ensure our outdoor education classes and Outdoor Explorers club continue, and we wrapped up a successful Fall Mums Sale. With your help, we sold 296 mums and raised $1,591.50 to go towards our annual funding needs. Thank you to our champions for all their work making this fundraiser such a success - from establishing the new vendor relationship, advertising, and ensuring a smooth pick-up process. We are excited to announce that the Poinsettia Sale is back this year. Flowers will go on sale in early November, with pick-up planned for early December. We're also looking forward to our first "Restaurant of the Month" fundraiser at Cafe Alma on Thursday, October 9, where a portion of the proceeds from the day will be donated to PRM. And last but certainly not least, Foundation is looking for a new volunteer to champion a reimagined Silent Auction this fall (think no baskets...). If you're interested, please join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, October 8, at 7:00 p.m. in the PRM Library, or contact us via email at prsfpres@gmail.com.

The big news in the last ILT meeting was that PRM has enough students for an additional 9-12 community! Please help us welcome this new community, including both the teachers and the students. It was decided that the remaining parent-teacher conferences for this school year will be held on December 11 from 4:00-7:00pm, February 12 from 3:00-6:00pm, and April 23 from 4:00-7:00pm – mark your calendars. Additionally, the school will introduce WIN (What I Need) blocks in October, running for 30 minutes a day, Monday through Thursday. Students will be grouped by abilities and will work with teachers and paraprofessionals on math and language lessons on alternating weeks. Our parent reps on ILT this year are David Woerner and Heather Willins. ILT meetings take place on most first and third Mondays of the month at 2:45pm at PRM.

Last month’s LSDMC meeting got us off to a strong start for the school year. We reviewed our committee bylaws, discussed how Title I funding is being allocated, raised questions about how attendance and enrollment impact our community, and discussed challenges and plans for supporting our 9–12 students and educators.

At the district-wide LSDMC meeting last month, we also received essential updates on how parents and staff can and cannot engage in discussions about political topics in light of the upcoming November levy.

If you’d like to learn more, please reach out to our parent representatives (Jen Fisher, Mike Burke, and Beth Sullivan) or join us for the next LSDMC meeting on Tuesday, October 8, at 3:00pm in the PRM library. All are welcome!

Fall sports will wrap up this month. Our four volleyball teams will compete in the end-of-season tournament the weekend of October 11th and 12th, while our twelve soccer teams will conclude their regular season games the weekend of October 18th and 19th. Our little roadrunners will celebrate a great introductory season of soccer with a donut party at Drake Park on October 4. A sincere thank you to all our volunteer coaches who are helping to make our fall seasons a success!

The winter sports season is right around the corner, and basketball teams will begin practicing in November. Registration closes on October 5 at 11:59pm. If a desired team is already full, please email prmathletics@gmail.com to add your athlete to the waitlist. We can only open additional teams if we have at least six kids on the waitlist, as well as two additional coaches.

Cub Scouts kicked off in September with the whole pack joining for a trail hike in French Park and working on our first Adventures of the year. If you're looking for something to do while your kids are off from school on Thursday, Pack 25 will host our Rain Gutter Regatta, and everyone is welcome to build and race their own recycled boat! In October, Pack 25 will meet as Dens to work on our Adventures and hold our annual Halloween Fun Night in the Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church parking lot. Email cubpack25prm@gmail.com for details or to sign up.

Girl Scouts: If you are interested in Girl Scouts at PRM but do not have a troop, you and your daughter are welcome to attend a meeting on Tuesday, October 14, at 6:30pm at the Pleasant Ridge Library. Questions should be sent to Diane O'Brian at dianeobrian@gmail.com

• Pleasant Ridge Montessori Library - There are numerous programs and events taking place at the local library. Explore all the programs and activities happening by clicking the link. Cincinnati Public Library Link: https://cincinnatilibrary.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?_gl=1*1g09vbr*_ga*MjE2NzQ1MzAzLjE2OTA5OTE4NTU.*_ga_G99DMMNG39*MTY5NDAyNTc1NC4yLjAuMTY5NDAyNTc1NC4wLjAuMA..*_ga_QQ6PLFKMN0*MTY5NDAyNTc1NC4yLjAuMTY5NDAyNTc1NC4wLjAuMA..&locations=PL

• Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Yeatman’s Cove from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Click on the link to see more information. Breast Cancer Walk link: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?pg=entry&fr_id=105613

• Queen Bee Half Marathon and 4-miler. This event will take place on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Central Parkway, near Hard Rock Casino. The half-marathon will start at 7:30 am, and there will be two start times for the 4-miler: 8:00 am and 8:30 am. Click on the link below to volunteer, register, or view the route map to cheer on the participants. Queen Bee: https://queenbeehalf.com/

• CRC Pleasant Ridge and Pleasant Ridge Montessori Ghoul Fest: Trunk or Treat is Friday, October 11, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This is a free event open to the public, so come on out and have some holiday fun.

• YMCA Blue Ash Boo Fest- is Thursday, 17 30, 2024, from 6 pm-8:30 pm. It's located at 5000 YMCA Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45242. This is a Trunk or Treat filled with family activities for all. Open to the community!

• Who Dey Halloween- Thursday, October 9th from 5-8pm sponsored by Delta Dental of Ohio - This family-friendly event at Paycor Stadium welcomes fan of all ages and encourages you to dress up in your most imaginative costumes.

• Thursday, October 9, 2025

  Time: 5:00 - 8:00 PM

  Location: Paycor Stadium (1 Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH 45202)

  TICKETS

  Tickets are $15 (max 4 per account) Click link to purchase your tickets

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.

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.

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