Greetings PRM Families,

Welcome to March! We have always held a special fondness for March here in our community of PRM. It represents new beginnings in nature and the slow exodus of winter into our beloved spring. We see this same transformation in our students as they begin to shed the skin of another year and become even more confident young learners. It is a wonderful sight to see in the halls of PRM, as we overcome some of the chaos of an epidemic and forge ahead. We are growing through it, not just getting through it.

PRM is growing in more ways than the sheer number of students that we are so fortunate to serve. We continue to work on our building expansion and feel the excitement of the new spaces we will have to continue our work with our students. As mentioned previously, we continue to develop and implement our Montessori Curriculum and provide continuous training for our staff in this regard. Many of our staff members have dedicated time and energy to our goal of the Montessori experience here at PRM.

It is truly an exciting time here at PRM. We are where we are because of our dedicated staff and community. Everything that happens at PRM comes from a true passion and drive to provide all of our students with a welcoming safe community where they can not only learn, but love to learn. Thank you for your continued support of our community.

Love,

Principal Simpson

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

7:45am-2:15pm

• Read-A-Thon ~ March 2nd - March 9th - prmrocks.org/readathon
• No School ~ Monday, March 7th
• LSDMC Meeting ~ Wednesday, March 9th @ 3:00 -4:30pm
• Foundation Meeting (Virtual/In-person at CHH) ~ Wednesday March 16th, 6:30p
  
• CPS Board Meeting ~ Monday, March 7th @ 6:30pm
  
• PRM Equity Group (Virtua/In-person at CHH) - Thursday, March 17th, 6:30p
• Spring Break ~ March 28th-April 1st
• Spring Dance for All ~ April 22nd 6:00 - 8:00pm
• Staff Appreciation Week ~ May 2nd - May 6th

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.

During the winter months, 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

• Hello there. We have enjoyed celebrating Black History month and learning about so many influential black people, past and present, who make a big impact on our world. This is something that we talk about throughout the school year.

• We appreciate those parents who were able to attend parent/teacher conferences for the third quarter. We are always grateful to collaborate and get feedback from the parents and caregivers of our families.

• We are looking forward to more spring weather, so that we can get out to recess more and more. As weather continues to fluctuate, please be sure that your child is dressed warmly enough to enjoy their time outside. Additionally, our partners from Imago return to teach the Outdoor Education special the week of March 8th. Please be sure that your child wears shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty on their OE day (if you don’t know when it is, contact their teacher).

• Remember that Summer Scholars sign-up deadline is March 11th.

• Enjoy the extra time with your kids over Spring Break!
  

• 6-9 students have continued to learn about the contributions of African-Americans in our nation’s history during Black History Month.

• Mar. 3rd or 4th, 3rd Grade students will visit The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to learn more about the history of African-Americans in our country.

• Additional field trips for the year include:

* Bi-Okoto Mar. 11th $1 cost, if parents want to donate extra to support

other students where it may be a financial burden, donations are

welcomed, check with your classroom teacher.

*Children’s Theater: The Wiz Jr. Apr. 8th

*The Cincinnati Museum Center: Dates vary per class, be on the

lookout from your child’s teacher.

*The Cincinnati Zoo: May 25th $5 cost

6th grade will be going to camp soon. Look out for information about this fun tradition!

OST testing is coming very soon. ELA classes will test either right before or right after spring break. Math will be later in April.

5th grade is invited to apply for Breakthrough Cincinnati this summer!!

Reach out to Ms. Wagner with questions.

We are looking forward to some warmer weather.

Mrs. Anderson's homeroom is looking forward to winning the Read-A-Thon for the third year in a row!!! We appreciate the competition headed our way.

Our wonderful reading specialist Sarah Kleymeyer has put together a short video explaining the Every Child Reads initiative as well as a slide deck with resources parents may utilize to support their readers at home. Our goal is to have 100% of our first graders reading by the end of their first grade school year.

Every Child Read By the End of First Grade Video

Every Child Reads Resource Link

We are excited to announce that Summer Scholars will be returning to Pleasant Ridge Montessori this summer! Summer Scholars is a wonderful opportunity for all students to participate in academic and enrichment activities, such as art, technology, dance, and more!

Summer Scholars is a four week program beginning June 1 and ending June 28. Students can sign up for full or half days and will receive breakfast and a hot lunch. Sessions run Monday through Friday from 7:45-4:00pm.

Transportation will be available for full and half-day sessions to eligible students.

This summer, let’s give your child an extra boost to succeed. To confirm participation, please return this form to your student’s school by March 11, 2022.

We look forward to another great Summer Scholars program! Please contact the front office if you have any questions.

Summer Scholars Registration

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, March 17th 6:30pm

Parent Group Update

• Welcome

• PTO Meeting Sign In Sheet CLICK HERE

• Approval of January Minutes

• Introduction of PTO Officers

• Missy Kyrlach, President

• Antoinette Moore, Vice-President

• Diane O’Brian, Secretary

• Susana Chamlee, Financial Secretary

Foundation

• Don’t forget to check out Foundation a group that works to fundraise money for PRM, they meet the third Wednesday of the month.

• Donate any gently used books to Mr.David for the library.
  Amazon.com

It's reading time! We will celebrate and encourage reading with the 4th annual PRM Read-a-thon, March 2nd through March 9th, prmrocks.org/readathon!

Other upcoming fundraisers to look for are the Spring Benken flower fundraiser, silent auction and the summer flamingo fundraiser!

Community events will wrap up the year with the Spring Dance for All on April 22nd. Shrek the musical by PRM students is coming at the end of April. Details coming soon! As we approach the end of the year, we will need to look forward to next year to elect parent group officers and ask for champions to volunteer to head up community events next year!

WE NEED YOU! Please consider coming to PTO and hearing about the different opportunities! They can be small things on your own or bigger things with a group of people putting on an event! We work together! Also, consider becoming part of the fundraising arm of PRM, the Pleasant Ridge School Foundation!

Volunteer Opportunities

• Spring Dance (outdoors) champions/coordinators

• 6th grade recognition champions (5th grade parents?)

• Field day volunteers

• Officers for next school year: PTO Vice President , LSDMC Rep, ILT Rep, Staff appreciation lunch April (sign up genius)

• Contact Lindsey Felder if you want to help on a committee to get a pedestrian scramble. lindseycolatrella@gmail.com

Boosters:

• Registration for all spring sports has ended. If your athlete is signed up, you should be hearing from coordinators and coaches in the next couple weeks. Most sports will begin practicing sometime mid to late March.

• Coming up… Registration for fall sports will begin this spring! Watch for dates to register for fall soccer and volleyball in late April/early May.

Questions, please contact PRMAthletics@gmail.com

• Will review PRM Budget at March LSDMC meeting

• District-Wide LSDMC meeting focused on how LSDMC will be part of the roll-out for the district’s new Anti-Racism policy at the building level

• Supporting the advocacy efforts of PRM Traffic and Safety group

March 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 the Boosters who provided the staff with healthy snacks for our 3rd quarter Parent/Teacher Conferences.

• It was a true sight to see all of our students, staff, and parents who came out to do various celebrations and activities prior to the Super Bowl. PRM truly turned orange and black for the day. Check out the cute competition video that we submitted to the district. Click on the link and enjoy: PRM-Bengals Competition Slide Show 2022

• Black History Month- was so nice. The students had an opportunity to learn about one African American person a day during their morning meeting session. The students also came to school on February 28th dressed as one of their favorite African American figures or role models.

• Read Across America is going great. It is nice to see our students reading and enjoying it. Some classes were outside enjoying the nice weather, some were in the hallway, while others were relaxing on the floor wrapped in blankets while wearing their crazy socks. It was such a fantastic kick-off to our Annual Read A Thon which started today.

• Brain Bowl- Our PRM team is off to a great start and we would love for you to come and enjoy them to. Checkout the remaining Brain Bowl Competition. (The schedule is located below.)

• High School Lottery- The lottery is open until March 11, 2022. The CPS Early High School Montessori Lottery (In-District Residents-students who already attend a Montessori school and would like to continue on the Montessori track) has already taken place and is now closed and you should have received your results. If you did not do the early lottery you can still do the open High School lottery by clicking on the link below. Once you submit your application you will receive your results by April 29, 2022. (Approximately 30 after the lottery has closed. If you have any questions or need any additional information feel free to contact CPS District Office 513-363-0123. High School Lottery Link: https://www.cps-k12.org/enroll/7-12highschool

• TEAMWorks- is starting back for March-May. They are looking for 2nd and 3rd-grade students who can participate in their program after-school from 2:30-6:30 pm Monday through Friday at Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church. Here is the link to register: https://form.jotform.com/220334932257150 (We also have paper copies in the office as well.)

• 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.

• Free Workshops for Parents at the Kennedy Heights Art Center-

Embodied Truth: Kennedy Heights Arts Center’s Artists-in-Residence Daniel Burkholder (Shoeswood, WI) and Kimani Fowlin (New York, NY)

• From March 9-12, Kimani and Daniel will be leading a series of two-hour workshops (select from various times) at the KHAC Lindner Annex, 6620 Montgomery Road. In the workshops, we’ll share personal stories about raising children in this uncharted social climate, using storytelling, easy movement, and spoken word. Childcare provided. The week will end with a performance by the artists and community members and Family Dance Party on Saturday, March 12 at 6 pm. The workshops are free, but registration is required. Register online at kennedyarts.org or call 513-631-4278.

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

• Book Swap Event-PRM has teamed up with Woodford Paideia and Pleasant Ridge Library for a huge event. This event is on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 from 3-6pm at the Pleasant Ridge Library. So bring out those gently used book and swap them out for another book or two. Also, enjoy some light bites and fun games and activities that the whole family can enjoy. (See flyer below for more information.)

• 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

• 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/

BREAKTHROUGH CINCINNATI

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.

• 5 day quarantine period from onset of symptoms
• Students and employees may return to school/the workplace on day 6 if they have no symptoms
• Masks are highly recommended by the CDC on days 6-10 and already required as part of CPS protocol

Hello parents and guardians of Pleasant Ridge Montessori School ,

We are excited to announce that we’ll be migrating our ReadyCheckGo™ COVID-19 testing program from pooled testing to individual PCR testing.

This new program will start Thursday March 10th and continue every other Thursday thereafter.

Trained personnel will monitor children as they swab their own noses, and Color will provide individual results in 1-3 days.

We’ll no longer be pooling tests, so the results you receive will be for your child only.

Already registered your child for testing? No action needed. You’ll start receiving individual results after testing Thursday the 10th.

If you prefer to opt out of the program completely please visit this site https://www.color.com/hipaa-revoke .

If your child isn’t registered for testing, now is a great time to register. As mask mandates and other mitigation strategies lift, testing remains an easy way to keep your child and our school community healthy.

Register for testing by clicking on this link.

You can also view Frequently Asked Questions about individual testing on this page.

Thank you for doing your part in keeping our Pleasant Hill Montessori community healthy.

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.

Severe Weather Procedure — Information for Students & Families

At Cincinnati Public Schools, we want to make sure our students and staff are safe when severe weather or extreme temperatures occur, while maximizing students' time in class.

CPS may close for snow, or for extreme cold or hot temperatures.

When severe weather is predicted, parents should check the CPS website, cps-k12.org, or local television or radio stations, for announcements about school closings or delays.

CPS rarely will dismiss schools early, but it does happen occasionally. Please make sure your child's school office has correct emergency contact information.

We know that start delays and no-school days for snow or extreme temperatures represent an inconvenience to parents, so we do our best to declare them only when necessary.

Schools Closed —

• Decisions to close schools are made only after analyzing much data and consulting various authorities.
• After reviewing all information available, the superintendent consults with senior staff, bus company operators and City of Cincinnati road maintenance authorities, and makes a decision as soon as possible (usually by 5 a.m.).

Two-Hour Delay — Yellow Bus Pick Up ONLY:

• Yellow buses will pick up students at morning bus stops two hours later than normal.
• Students who are driven to school by parents should try to arrive at schools when it is safe. Walkers should arrive when it is safe. No new material will be covered during the two-hour delayed start; teachers will use this opportunity for review and enrichment.
• Afternoon dismissal will occur at each school's normal time.
• No preschool bus service will be available.

High Schools — Operate on Normal Schedules during Two-Hour Delays:

• High school students ride Metro buses (public transportation) to and from schools. Metro bus schedules cannot be adjusted to accommodate CPS' two-hour delay, so high schools will open at the normal times with school staff in the building to supervise students.
• Metro buses will run as close to normal schedules as weather and road conditions permit.
• Afternoon dismissal will occur at each school's normal time.

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