Greetings PRM Families,

The 2024-25 school year is off and running! Our staff has been hard at work building relationships, teaching expectations and procedures, and providing access to high-quality, on-grade-level Montessori instruction. We are collecting baseline data to be able to tailor instruction to meet the unique needs of each student. Thank you for being awesome partners as we pursue outstanding student outcomes with our learners.

We have so much to celebrate with the opening of our new building addition and newly renovated cafeteria annex, music room, and library. In addition, we have some incredible student academic growth outcomes to share. For the first time in PRM history, we will have a three-star (grade C) Ohio State Report Card rating in overall student achievement! Our growth trends over the last two years have also adjusted our designation as an eligible EdChoice voucher school. This is no small feat! We thank our teachers and support staff for their commitment to growing every student! PRM is more than what the Ohio State Report Card says, but we do recognize that it is one indicator of the amazing work we are doing every day. We are "here for kids." (See the graphic below for reference)

Our arrival and dismissal have improved tremendously since the start of school. Thank you for adhering to our guidelines and procedures so that we can get students into the building as quickly as possible each morning. Be sure to secure a daily dismissal plan with your child's teacher and stick to it. Dismissal changes due to appointments must be communicated in writing to the teacher by no later than the morning of the day the change is needed. Please do not call our office during dismissal to have your child's dismissal adjusted. There is no early dismissal after 1:30pm.

I am thrilled to introduce our administrative team:

• Ms. Amber Simpson~ Principal
• Ms. Christie Brown~ Assistant Principal (full-time)
• Mr. Craig Gray~ Assistant Principal (part-time)
• Ms. Paige Matthews~ Senior Support Specialist
• Mrs. Ciara Harper~ Senior Support Specialist
• Ms. Jazzmine Hughes~ Senior Support Specialist

Remember, we are all in this together. Don't hesitate to contact us with your questions or concerns. Please check prmrocks.org for announcements regarding school/community events. We value your partnership and are honored to work with you!

Love,

Principal Simpson

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.

Now through September 19 – Mum Sale online at www.prmrocks.org/flowers/

Thursday, September 5 – Open House, Hands Across PRM & Ribbon Cutting @ 4:45pm at PRM

Wednesday, September 11 – LSDMC Meeting @ 3:00pm at PRM (Media Center)

Wednesday, September 11 – PTO/Equity Group Meeting @ 6:30pm at PRM (Library)

Monday, September 16 – Outdoor education classes start for 3-6 and 6-9 students

Monday, September 16 – ILT Meeting @ 2:45pm at PRM

Monday, September 16 to Friday, September 20 – Midterm week

Wednesday, September 18 – Foundation Meeting from 6:30-7:30pm at CHH

Monday, September 23 – No School – CPS Professional Development Day

Thursday, September 26 – Parent Teacher Conferences 3:00-6:00pm at PRM

Friday, September 27 – Staff Appreciation “Chili Cook Off” 10:00am-1:00pm (save the date)

Thursday, October 3 – No School – Records Day

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 available at the Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church. You may park your car and escort your student to the proper arrival entrance. Students may not walk to or from the church parking lot 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. The police officer on duty will be giving citations if this happens.
• When dropping off students in the car line, please ensure they are ready to exit the car 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 1:50pm. The gate will not open until 1:55pm. You can minimize frustration 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.
• You may park at the Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church to walk over to pick up your child in the front.

Greetings PRM Community,

Our gracious partners at Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church are once again permitting us to use their parking lot to help facilitate morning and afternoon drop-off/pick-up. We want to respect and honor this partnership by adhering to the following guidelines:

• Use of the lot is only for those using the park and walk option for morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. If entering the school office to conduct business, you must find parking on our campus or on the street.
• Do not park in any of the yellow-striped spots. Those are leased by the new apartment complex being built on Lester.
• White-striped parking spots facing Montgomery Rd. and those in the top portion of the lot closest to Montgomery Rd, are reserved for PRM staff overflow parking.
• Use of the church lot and other parking options for special events will always be communicated.

Please be respectful to our partners at Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church and our school staff as we continue to share our resources for the good of the community.

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

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.

3-6 News:

We are off to a great start for the 2024-25 school year. Our littlest learners have been practicing the routines and procedures of our school. We are beginning to develop these habits. Please ensure your students arrive on time to school by 7:40am. Please check and empty blue folders daily. Please dress students appropriately for the weather. We go outside twice a day: once in the early morning and once toward the end of the day. Please read to your child daily and talk about what you read. It is vital for language development, early literacy, and so much more! Kindergarteners will complete their iReady diagnostic assessments this month and will go on a field trip to Blooms and Berries on September 27.

6-9 News:

The 6-9 team is thrilled to be back in action this school year! We’ve settled into our routines, met new friends, and are excited to reconnect with familiar faces. Many classrooms are delving into the universe, and exploring students' place within it. Our first field trip to the Cincinnati Nature Center will give students a chance to learn about local plants and animals - an experience we’re all eagerly anticipating. We’re also looking forward to beginning outdoor education later this month with Imago. This month, we’ll start fall testing with iReady for math and reading, and our focus will be on responsibility, highlighted through read-alouds and peer acknowledgments. Additionally, we’re excited to continue our work on nouns and capitalization. Here’s to a great start to the school year!

9-12 News:

The 9-12 communities have been hard at work building relationships, setting classroom expectations, and reviewing rules and procedures over the past few weeks. Additionally, students have been taking their beginning of the year assessments. Your child's teachers should have all their scores ready for first quarter conferences on Thursday, September 26th from 3:00-6:00pm. You should receive information about scheduling a conference in the coming weeks. Please make sure you have all of your information correct in Focus (we are no longer using PowerSchool). If you have any questions about Focus please contact the school office. We are looking forward to a fun and exciting school year! Please reach out to your child's homeroom teacher if you have any questions or concerns.

Music with Ms. Maria:

Each year in music, students will explore movement, play instruments and sing. In Kindergarten we focus on music foundations like steady beat, musical opposites (loud/quiet, high low, etc.) and using our voices. The 9-12 theme is Music and the Arts. We are currently studying opera and are looking at cartoons that use familiar opera tunes. In 6-9 we are focusing on the elements of music and are currently practicing steady beat with beanbags. After school opportunities, including our winter choir (1st-3rd grade) and our spring musical (Alice in Wonderland Jr. 4th-6th grade) will be available for students who want to perform on stage. More information will be sent home in Wednesday folders in another month or so. I am looking forward to a great musical year. Musically, Ms. Maria Kitsinis

ART with Ms. Kate:

Hello PRM Community,

I am Ms. Kate, the Visual Arts teacher. Art is all about expression, learning new skills, and problem solving. In art, students can expect to try new art mediums and discover their personal styles. Our focus this year is on the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. The 9-12 students are starting off the year focusing on pattern and themes in artwork. 6-9 students are working on optical illusions and understanding how color and simple lines can create the illusion of form and movement. Kindergarten students are exploring different art mediums through stations before diving into more formal art projects. The art room is a bustling place. I can often use help working with students, organizing materials, and setting up displays with student work. If you are interested in volunteering in the art room, you can check out available times here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4BACA729A0FA7-50660052-artroom?useFullSite=true#/ Volunteering does require an orange badge which will need to be acquired from CPS central offices.

Technology with Ms. Brewer:

Hello PRM Community! I recently moved to Cincinnati from Louisville, Kentucky and I am excited to be joining the team this year. I will be teaching technology to students in our newly designated technology classroom. Students will explore how technology is ever-changing in our society, while practicing using the computers responsibly and effectively. This year we will focus on research, design, communication, and STEM. Our first unit is Digital Citizenship through the platform Canvas. I look forward to working with all of our amazing students and families here at PRM. Sincerely, Ms. Brewer (breweka@cpsboe.k12.oh.us)

Library with Mr. David:

Dear Parents,

Our library is buzzing with excitement this year as the kids are absolutely LOVING our Hogwarts theme! They've been sorted into houses and are taking it quite seriously, proudly earning points for their houses. It's wonderful to see how this has motivated so many of them to read for pleasure!

We're also thrilled to share that the library has grown to over 8,400 books this year, thanks to the generous donations from parents, the community, and funds raised from our annual handmade market. In addition, we've updated the space with brand-new shelving, tables, and chairs!

This year, our 6-9 and 9-12 students will be diving into various genres of literature, starting with biographies. As we transition into mythology and legend, students will have the opportunity to transform the biographies they’ve written into Tall Tales. I’m excited to guide them through different genres, some of which they may have never explored before. We’ll be doing plenty of writing and tapping into our creativity throughout the year!

If you have any questions or would like to donate to the library, feel free to reach out to Mr. David at churchd@cpsboe.k12.oh.us. You can also check out his library wishlist on Amazon here: Library Wishlist.

Thank you for your continued support!

Warmly,
Mr. David and the Library Team

Physical Education with Coach Cash:

Hey everyone, I’m Coach Cash, and I love working with children and sports. I am committed to helping students discover enjoyable physical activities and develop a lifelong appreciation for a healthy lifestyle. This month we will do a variety of sports such as basketball, volleyball and other gym activities promoting teamwork.

Outdoor Education with Imago:

Imago is again looking forward to starting outdoor education classes with 3-6 and 6-9 students on Monday, September 16th! This month we will be exploring the garden, cooking up tasty treats using food we've grown over the summer, and learning how to use gardening tools so we can keep the garden looking beautiful. This Friday, September 6th from 6pm-8pm, Samantha and Zoe will be hosting a garden party and work day to get the garden ready for the school year. Hope to see you there!

Gifted & Enrichment with Jackie Bonfield:

New year and new space for PRM’s gifted program!

I am excited to announce that our program is expanding in multiple ways.

1. A new room, and it is a full-size classroom! Stop by room 1115 to visit.

2. A new Math Acceleration Program. I am collaborating with Alexa Fulmer, our math specialist, and Dr. Mandy Cole, the CPS Lead Gifted Specialist to design and implement a program to meet the needs of our exceptionally high math achievers.

3. More space means more service and enrichment opportunities for all identified gifted students at PRM. I am finalizing my schedule this week and plan to phase in my pullout groups over the next two weeks.

More information will be shared soon, so be looking for an email and online permission form soon. Parents are welcome and encouraged to reach out with any questions. Contact me at bonfiej@cpsboe.k12.oh.us

Welcome to the 2024-25 school year! There are a number of leadership groups listed below, who host monthly meetings where everyone is welcomed and encouraged to attend. PTO focuses on building community partnered with the Equity Group that meets to discuss diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in a safe space with the intention of inspiring unity and building bridges at PRM. Foundation focuses on large scale initiatives and fundraising. Boosters supports our athletic and academic teams. ILT leads on instructional decisions and in school events and LSDMC makes bigger decisions about how the school runs. Please consider getting involved in a group that supports you and your interests.

PTO & Equity

The first meeting of the year will be on Wednesday, September 11th at 6:30pm in the library. Please enter through the back parking lot doors. From 6:30 to 7pm, we will hear updates from Principal Simpson, CLC, Foundation, Boosters, LSDMC and ILT. Around 7pm, we will have an ice breaker, as well as an opportunity to ask and answer questions and learn something new.

To stay up to date on all of these groups as well as PRM events be sure to sign up to receive emails from the PRM Rocks website at: https://prmrocks.org/emailupdates/

Foundation

The Pleasant Ridge School Foundation (the "Foundation") is the nonprofit arm of PRM, which allows PRM to accept tax-deductible donations and fundraise (such as the annual Fall mum fundraiser going on now!). The Foundation is made up of parents/guardians, staff and community volunteers who develop large scale initiatives to benefit the school, the students and the staff. The Foundation meets in person on the third Wednesday of the month at Community Happens Here at 6:30pm. Join us for the first Foundation meeting on Wednesday, September 18th! Please reach out to prsfpres@gmail.com with any questions.

Boosters

PRM Boosters works to ensure that all athletes are given an opportunity to participate in extra-curricular sports. We offer a variety of sports throughout the school year and also support our Brain Bowl team. Fall sports are already in full swing – volleyball teams have started league play which runs through mid-October and we have a record number 5 teams, including our first ever boys’ volleyball team! Be on the lookout for home games at PRM to come and cheer. Soccer kicks off their season this weekend, September 7, and we have 11 teams, across first through sixth grades. Boosters is also supporting tennis through the Cincinnati Tennis Foundation each Saturday morning. And last but not least, are our littlest roadrunners (in preschool and kindergarten) will begin learning the basics of soccer starting in mid-September, for 4 consecutive weeks. Coming soon will be basketball registration from Friday, September 20 through Sunday, October 6 – and be sure to sign up early as some teams will “sell-out”. We also need a new cheer coordinator in order to start that season this fall – are you interested? Watch for emails and posts with other updates. Go Roadrunners!

ILT

The Instructional Leadership Team is designed to share in the instructional decisions to improve student achievement at PRM. The ILT is composed of at least 60% teachers. A Team-Leader represents each team of teachers. The principal, two parents and two non-teaching staff members also serve on ILT. During the school year the ILT makes decisions about issues that impact instruction and events that take place during the school day – items such as proposed changes to school programing or updates to the school calendar. The ILT typically meets on the first and third Monday of the month at 2:45pm at PRM.

LSDMC

The LSDMC is the primary governing body of our school and is composed of four major constituency groups; parents/guardians, teachers, non-teaching staff including the principal, and community members. Each group has equal representation and an equal voice in the decision- making process. The LSDMC sets goals, develops a plan for meeting those goals, and monitors progress toward goal attainment by conducting mid-year and end-of-year assessments. The LSDMC makes school budget decisions, submits changes in the school’s programing, and participates in the selection of the principal.

This month’s Local School Decision Making Committee meeting will be held at PRM on Wednesday, September 11 from 3:00-4:00pm.

Scouts at PRM

Cub Scouts are starting the new year of scouting with a hike at French Park on Thursday, Sept 12th at 6PM. We have exciting events this fall including Peterloon a scout-o-ree with thousands of other scouts in October, a Rain Gutter Regatta and the ever-popular Halloween party.

We regularly meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, reach out to us at cubpack25prm@gmail.com for more information!

Girl Scouts: Do you have a girl who is interested in joining Girl Scouts? If so, please contact Diane O'Brian at dianeobrian@gmail.com

The Community Learning Center (CLC) is excited to welcome back our students, parents, and community members for another fun and exciting school year. The CLC is here to provide you with various resources and services that you may need. Feel free to contact our Resource Coordinator- Ms. Monique Crosby (Johnson), at johnmon@cpsboe.k12.oh.us or stop by. I will be happy to assist you.

• We must thank all of our parent volunteers and partners who helped during our Back to School Bash at Volunteer Park. We had a fantastic turnout with some pleased and excited families.
• Thank you to our fabulous PTO for providing the staff breakfast to kick off the school year. The spread of food was terrific, and everyone enjoyed it all.
• Open House/ Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Hands Across PRM- We are so excited about the new expansion, and we want to make sure that our families and community can come in and see what we have to offer here at PRM on Thursday, September 5th from 5-7
• Orange Out Sunday- We ask that all of our students wear their Bengals gear or the color orange to school on Friday, September 6, 2024, to show our Hometown team that PRM has Spirit.
• Health and Vision Screenings for our kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, and 5th-grade students will take place on Thursday, September 5th, at the school. If you do not want your child to participate in this screening, contact Nurse Danyelle.
• Resource Coordinator Appreciation Week is September 16-20, 2024. Please show your appreciation to all Resource Coordinators in the district during this week.
• Do you need a volunteer badge? If you said "Yes," then you are in luck. Our CPS Security Department will do BCI/FBI Checks here at PRM on Thursday, September 26, from 3 to 6 pm. The cost will be $50.00 cash only. Please remember that it is now a district policy to have a purple-issued badge for all field trips.
• Save the Dey—Learn CPR and AED through the American Heart Association, Cincinnati Bengals, and many others on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Two sessions will be offered, and the doors open at 5 pm at Paycor. Click here to register to attend, and the first 500 people will receive a Cincy hat!
• PRM After-School & Extracurricular Activities are getting geared up to start another fun-filled year. Ensure you and your child get involved with many of the fun and educational programs. Please be on the lookout as programs will begin soon.
• Looking for Aftercare for your child- Homebase Aftercare and the YMCA still have openings. Contact our Resource Coordinator through email at johnmon@cpsboe.k12.oh.us for additional information or assistance

Community Resources:

• Help is Available for you!

If you need assistance with food, housing, health care, utilities, jobs, childcare, or other expenses, feel free to contact your child's School Resource Coordinator. They are always available to assist you with your needs or answer any questions you may have.

• Cincinnati Bengals: It's time for some WHO DEY! Check out the schedule below so you won't miss any action.
• FC Cincinnati: The soccer team is on fire, and we want to ensure you can see them light up the field.
• Free Admissions to Cincinnati Museums:
• Cincinnati Art Museum - Free for all exhibits, Thursday evenings & Art After Dark
• National Underground Railroad Freedom Center- Every 5th and 3rd Sunday, MLK day & Juneteenth
• Taft Museum of Art- Sundays & Mondays
• Contemporary Arts Center- Everyday
• 21C Museum Hotel- Everyday
• The Carnegie- Everyday
• Weston Art Gallery- Everyday
• Kennedy Heights Art Center- Everyday
• Pleasant Ridge Montessori Library- Many programs and events are taking place at the local library. Check out all the programs and activities that are happening by clicking on the link. Click here for Cincinnati Public Library events and activities.
• Looking for something to do- Check out Michaels. They have free in-store and online classes for the entire family. Click on the link and see what you can get into. Link: https://www.michaels.com/classes

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