PRM School Rocker

Greetings PRM Families,

As we approach the time of year set aside for giving thanks, we want to express our sincere gratitude to our school community for all of your encouragement, patience, and support thus far. We are still facing some very challenging times as a united community. We are working so hard every day to meet the growing needs of our school as we focus on Academics, Behavior, and Culture.

Thank you for once again making our Think Pink event a great success! We will host our Montessori Journey Night event on November 8th. You will find details about this and other upcoming events in this newsletter.

Midterm week is the week of November 6th. We will be sending midterm report cards in Wednesday folders on November 15th. Please continue to nurture and build a strong partnership with your child's teacher so that we are able to have outstanding student outcomes.

We need your help. We 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. Every minute counts. Our school social worker, Allie Quinter, will be reaching out to families to support them with resources and to create Attendance Improvement Plans.

We sincerely hope you will continue to intentionally show love and care for your family and those you are connected to. Celebrate the meaning of Thanksgiving and how much we have to be grateful for. We appreciate each and every one of you. Stay safe and cherish each other.

Love,

Principal Simpson & Asst. Principal Brown

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

7:40am-2:10pm

NOW through November 17th~Buddy Cards for sale (prmrocks.org/buddy-cards-for-sale)

Friday, November 3rd~No School for PRESCHOOLERS only

Sunday, November 5th~Daylight Savings Time Ends – change clocks back 1 hour

Monday, November 6th~ILT Meeting @ 2:45pm at PRM

Tuesday, November 7th~No School, Election Day

Wednesday, November 8th~Montessori Journey Night 5:00-6:30pm (Adults Only)

Wednesday, November 8th~LSDMC Meeting @ 3:00pm at PRM (Media Center)

Wednesday, November 8th~PTO/Equity Group Meeting @ 6:30pm at PRM

Thursday, November 9th~Second Quarter Midterm

Friday, November 10th~No School, Veterans’ Day (observed)

Wednesday, November 15th~Foundation Meeting from 6:30-7:30pm at CHH

Thursday, November 16th~Bengals Spirit Day for Thurday Night Football

Friday, November 17th~Grandparents and Special Friends Day from 7:45-9:30am at PRM

Monday, November 20th~ ILT Meeting @ 2:45pm at PRM

Wednesday, November 22nd-Friday, November 24~ No School, Thanksgiving Break

Save these future December dates:

Thursday, December 7th~Parent Teacher Conferences from 3:00-6:00pm at PRM

Saturday, December 9th~PRM Handmade Market from 10:00am-3:00pm

Wednesday, December 13th~Gingerbread House Party from 6:00-8:00pm at PRM

Thursday, December 14th~ Winter Music Performances at PRM

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.

This Friday, November 3rd, will be the last day at PRM for Ms. Gloria Walker and Ms. Angel Strayhorn. They will be moving on to other goals and opportunities. Be sure to wish them well as you encounter them this week.

We will be down to one office staff member until our vacancies are filled. Please be kind and considerate as we work through these challenges. We anticipate having District support from the Clerical Resource Team, but we are not sure what that will look like at this time. Your patience is appreciated.

Effective November 27, 2023, we will no longer be able to serve breakfast from the kiosks at each arrival entrance. Students will be required to go to the cafeteria and get breakfast from the cafeteria line. This was an unexpected requirement from CPS Dining Services. They are phasing out the use of all kiosks to ensure proper oversight of servings.

This will be a major change to our morning arrival routine. In the coming weeks, we will be working to reassign staff for supervision purposes and work with ILT to ensure the coming changes don't significantly impact instruction. We will also develop additional communication to share with families. Please look for more information to come.

PowerSchool is the computer system used by Cincinnati Public Schools to keep track of student information. It helps parents be an active part of their children's education and keep track of academic progress on a daily basis.

• PowerSchool Login

PowerSchool, launched in 2009-10, is used by principals, school office staff, teachers, counselors, Central Office staff, parents and students.

The system is accessed through a website, so it can be viewed from computers at home, work, or the local library. There also is a computer in every CPS school building for parents to use to check PowerSchool, and a computer is available in the Customer Care Center in CPS' Education Center, 2651 Burnet Avenue, 45219 (Corryville).

Information about your child is private and password-protected. You cannot see other students' records, and other parents cannot see your children's records.

• Student Information Available in PowerSchool (see below)
• Create a PowerSchool Parent Account
• How to Sign Up for PowerSchool (see below)
• PowerSchool User Guide
• Virtual Tour of PowerSchool

How to Sign Up for PowerSchool

• Parents register for PowerSchool accounts by filling out Account Registration Forms. This may be done online or in person at your child's school.

  • Account Registration Form Online

Activating Your Account

To activate your PowerSchool account, parents or guardians come to the school office in person and show official photo identification, such as a driver's license or state ID. This step is required to protect your child's information from being given to someone pretending to be you. Account activation must be done at the school even if you registered online.

Using Your Account

You will receive a login, password, and a set of instructions on how to log on and navigate through the PowerSchool website.

Getting Help

For assistance with your PowerSchool Account:

Call the CPS Help Desk at (513) 363-0390, from 7 a.m.– 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, during days when school is in session, or Email the Help Desk

**You can find more information about PowerSchool and the information you can see by visiting this CPS website link.

The Lottery (Magnet, Sibling, High School, Out of District) will all be done in Focus (new platform) this year starting on December 1, 2023. Instructions will be shared with parents in November. Parents and guardians will be directed to FTS for any issues they have.

Parents need four pieces of information to participate in the Lottery: first name, last name, birth date, and PowerSchool ID. Schools will support with providing the PowerSchool ID to parents. A letter will be backpacked home in November.

PTO & Equity:

PTO and Equity will meet at PRM this month in the cafeteria on Wednesday, November 8th, starting at 6:30pm. If you have been wondering about volunteering or how to get more involved, then this is the meeting for you! CPS District Parent Engagement Champion LaRonda Thomas will be our special guest during the Equity Meeting starting around 7:00pm.

Childcare is provided, as well as snacks and drinks. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

We will also have a raffle with multiple winners for the November meeting. Local Nonprofit, Lifting Up Community Kindness, donated a hand-crafted set of earrings from a local Indigenous artist to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. These earrings will be raffled to one lucky winner, and other items will be available for raffle too; they must be present to win.

Parent champions and volunteers are an essential part of making PRM special. Coming up, we have two big events where we need help – can you be a volunteer?

On Friday, November 17th, we will host Grandparents and Special Friends Day from 7:45-9:30am at PRM. Volunteers are needed the night before and the day of the event. Please reach out to Allie Goodman at ALGoodman3@aol.com if you are interested.

On Thursday, December 7th, we will feed the PRM Staff to express our appreciation for all their hard work. If you would like to volunteer in person to help support the lunch or if you would like to contribute to the event with food, please use the below link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084FACA82FA7FDC43-45448593-chili#/

And remember, the best way to stay connected is at PRMRocks.org. If you haven't already done so, now is the perfect time to subscribe to emails https://prmrocks.orgemailupdates/.

Foundation:

The Foundation is looking for businesses to sponsor the great things we have going on at PRM! If you are connected to a business that might be interested in supporting our school, please share with them this 2023-2024 PRM Sponsorship Guide.

Who is hungry for some pizza?? Larosa's Buddy Cards will be on sale through Friday, November 17th. Order yours today at https://prmrocks.org/event/buddy-cards-for-sale/ or via the flyer, which will come home in your student's Wednesday folder.

The Foundation meets in person on the third Wednesday of the month at Community Happens Here at 6:30pm. All are welcome to join us on November 15th! Reach out to prsfpres@gmail.com with any questions.

ILT:

The instruction leadership team meets on the first and third Monday of the month. ILT is currently working on the ONE Plan, which includes setting goals, academic and otherwise, for the school. ILT reviews the plan regularly to ensure PRM is on track.

The school is also working on plans for the Spelling Bee and how it will be held this year. Please see Mrs. Bonfield's update for more information about the Spelling Bee. The next parent-teacher conference date is Thursday, December 7th, from 3-6pm at PRM.

LSDMC:

The Local School Decision Making Committee comprises representatives from the school staff, principal, community members, and parents, and it acts as the primary governing body of the school. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 8th, @ 3:00pm in the Media Center. All are welcome to attend!

The LSDMC group last met on October 11th and began to discuss the school's One Plan, which includes goal setting for student achievement on the state report card, the Community Learning Center, and the PBIS team. Once completed, the One Plan must be approved by all members before submission to the district. In addition, the group received an update on the district-wide Ad Hoc Committee meeting, which focused primarily on the future creation of a central corridor Montessori High School. There was also an ask for a new PRM volunteer, who would be charged with coordinating parents to assist special teachers who are without paras in their classrooms. Lastly, the PRM Equity Group representatives will present at the district-wide LSDMC meeting on Wednesday, November 15, from 6:00-7:00pm at the board office.

Boosters:

Fall sports have officially wrapped up! Little Roadrunners had a record-breaking season, with over 90 kids participating this fall. They culminated the season with donuts for everyone after the final game. Congratulations to our older athletes who participated in soccer and/or volleyball for their outstanding seasons! Teams celebrated with a pizza party provided by Boosters. Winter sports (basketball and cheer) will begin in November and run through February. Stay tuned for scheduled home games to cheer on our Roadrunners!

3-6 News:

In the month of November, we have several days off of school, please see the dates above or on the PRM Rocks Calendar. It is our hope that you enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with your family and/or friends. The 3-6 team looks forward to continuing all of the wonderful learning and growth happening with our students this month. Please help us by ensuring your student is on time to school each day by 7:40am. Please make sure they are dressed appropriately for the weather, especially with cooler mornings ahead of us. And as always, be sure that you are reading to your student daily. The library branch in Pleasant Ridge is a great way to vary your options of books. If your child tells you about an awesome book they heard of at school, you can put that book on hold and have it delivered to the most convenient library branch for you.

**November 3rd there is no school for preschoolers.**

6-9 News:

The 6-9 team is continuing to work in our classrooms on providing instruction to our first, second and third graders. Communities have really enjoyed our field trips and are eager to visit the Aronoff Center in November.

We ask that you help your child as best as possible dress appropriately for the changing season. Students will still continue to go outside for recess and Outdoor Education each week. Many children are complaining because of the cold. If you help by sending your child with a coat, gloves, a hat and/or a scarf then we can make sure the child brings those objects outside! We know it can be tough but having warm clothing here at school is a big help, thank you.

9-12 News:

This year is flying by! IOWA and CoGAT testing are now over for our 6th graders. Thank you to everyone who donated snacks for testing. The students greatly appreciated the special treats! We are all looking forward to our field trip on November 14th to the Cincinnati Cyclones game. Students will have learning opportunities tied to science and math concepts as well as lessons tied to anti-bullying. Friendly reminder... please make sure your child is bringing their laptops, chargers, and planners every day to school. We are working hard to build routines with the students at school and having the necessary materials is so important. If your child has lost their planner, new ones are available in the office for $5. Please reach out to your child's homeroom teacher with any questions.

News from the Specialist Team:

Library:

9-12 students are working hard on reviewing/learning parts of speech in preparation for creative writing starting in January!

6-9 students are also learning parts of speech. They have also started incorporating '5 Minutes of Spanish' into their weekly Library lessons. The children are greatly enjoying learning another language.

Kindergartners are continuing to review letters but now they are reading and spelling words WITHOUT Mr. David's help! They are getting so good!

Art with Ms. Kate:

Kindergarten students just finished their self-portraits and have begun creating fall inspired artwork. They are using leaf shapes and cool colors to create a watercolor painting and will learn about color theory by mixing primary colored model magic to create 3D leaves.

6-9 students are focusing on the principle of movement in works of art. We began the lesson by interpreting movement in different works of art by moving our bodies in a way that represented the work. Then we discussed how artists can use line, repetition, pattern, and overlapping to create the illusion of movement in a work of art. Students will then create a work of art using different painting techniques to represent movement.

9-12 students are beginning a clay project. Students are learning about how ceramics are used in different cultures and throughout time. They are creating a design that will be placed on a mold to create a functional and decorative dish - important note: artwork will NOT be food safe.

Design club will begin meeting on Thursday, November 2nd after school. All spots are currently full, but kids can still join the waitlist.

Outdoor Education:

This month students will be learning about how to be prepared to enjoy the outdoors! Students will have the opportunity to do a compass course in the garden, build a survival shelter, and pack a backpack for an outdoor adventure. Students will also work on putting the garden to bed for the winter so that it is ready to go for planting in the spring.

Gifted & Enrichment with Ms. Bonfield:

Did you hear the BUZZ? PRM is participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee!

This year, each 6-9 and 9-12 ELA teacher will hold a classroom spelling bee by December 8th. The 22 classroom winners will then be invited to compete in January at our Schoolwide Spelling Bee.

The Spelling Bee Study List will be included in the Wednesday, November 8th take-home folder.

Please contact Jackie Bonfield, PRM's Gifted & Enrichment Specialist at bonfiej@cpsboe.k12.oh.us for more information.

PRM Brain Bowl

Students in grades 4-6 are invited to sign up for the first round of Brain Bowl tryouts which will be held on Friday, November 17th from 1:05 to 1:50pm in the school library.

A Google signup form will be shared during Library Specials for students who are interested.

The top scoring students in each grade will be invited to the second round of tryouts which will be held on Tuesday, November 29th from 2:30 to 4:00pm.

Hello, everyone. The CLC Center is here to provide you with various services that you may need. Contact our Resource Coordinator- Ms. Monique Johnson, at johnmon@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 at PRM during October. Our Annual October Bash was another big hit. We had so many of our families and community partners who truly helped light up the night. You all truly ROCK!

• The PRM Think Pink Event was on Friday, October 27th, 2023, and we raised $446.66. The winning class is Community 2201-MS. Vogel’s Class. We plan to do an activity with the winning style and our awesome principals. More information about this event will come soon.

• MORE- Students in the program are collecting cans for their Annual Food Drive. The students are asking that people bring in their canned goods now until November 17th.

• Brain Bowl- Students in grades 4-6 are invited to sign up for the first round of Brain Bowl tryouts, which will be held on Friday, November 17th, from 1:05 to 1:50 in the Library. A Google signup form will be shared during Library Specials for interested students. The top-scoring students in each grade will be invited to the second round of tryouts, which will be held on Tuesday, November 29th, from 2:30 to 4:00.

• Thanksgiving Distribution- We are hosting our PRM Thanksgiving Distribution again this year. Parents, if you need a Holiday box, please get in touch with our Resource Coordinator- Monique Johnson, or Social Worker- Allison Quinter. If you would like to help through a monetary donation, we ask that you go to the PRMRocks.org page for more information.

• Coat Drive- Our Annual coat drive is starting soon. Collections will begin November 6th through November 21st. Distribution of winter coats and items will take place in December. We accept new or gently used coats, hats, scarves, and gloves. If you want to donate, you can come by the school and drop your donated items in the box in the lobby. If you would like to receive a coat, please get in touch with Ms. Johnson, our school resource coordinator, at 513-363-4429. There are order forms for shopping in the front office and your child’s take-home folders for next week.

• Freestore Foodbank Holiday Distribution is November 1-24, 2023, from 8 am-4 pm. They provide food boxes for the holiday season for you and your family to enjoy. The Freestore Foodbank is located at 112 E. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

• Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church- Rummage Sale: Friday, November 17-Saturday, November 18th, 2023. All are welcome to come out and shop with them.

CPS has updated the Code of Conduct to include more restorative practices, clearer language around offenses, and suggested responses.

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