PRM School Rocker

Greetings PRM Families,

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2024! We were excited to welcome the PRM community back for the second half of the 2023-2024 school year on January 2nd. The love and energy our staff has for the students is tremendous. Thank you for being excellent partners on this journey.

As a reminder, second quarter report cards will be sent home on Monday, January 8th. This is an excellent opportunity to sit down with your children to set goals and rejuvenate them for the second semester. Teachers do a reset with students to assist them with the transition back to the learning environment and prepare for a fresh push toward success. Hearing the same message of support, goal setting, and perseverance is valuable in meeting our student growth goals.

We still have many students coming to school late every day. Please do your best to ensure your child is at school by 7:40am. Classroom instruction begins promptly each day. We don't want students missing learning and community-building time due to late arrival. Please support us by ensuring your child is on time for school daily.

The new year will bring our community many beautiful gifts of togetherness, spirit, and good health. I look forward to all the experiences 2024 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 & Asst. Principal Brown

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

7:40am-2:10pm

Tuesday, January 2~School resumes, beginning of 3rd quarter

Thursday, January 4~Coffee with PTO President at Coffee Cup Café 7:30am

Wednesday, January 10~LSDMC Meeting @ 3:00pm (virtual)

Wednesday, January 10~ PTO/Equity Group Meeting @ 6:30pm at PRM

Monday, January 15~No School, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Wednesday, January 17~Foundation Meeting from 6:30-7:30pm at CHH

Friday, January 26~No School, Staff Profession Development Day

Saturday, January 27~Annual Silent Auction Party @ 7:00pm at The Fermentorium

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.

The Cincinnati Public Schools Magnet and High School lottery is now open for all high schools, magnet schools and programs, siblings, and out-of-neighborhood applications through March 1, 2024.

For the past two years, CPS placed and assigned students from PRM to Clark Montessori High School. CPS is no longer offering this option to families due to Clark Montessori High School's limited available seats, making sure the process and prioritization remains aligned to existing board policies. Returning to this process ensures the application submission remains equitable for all and follows the east-west designation based on the student's home address. Please note applications are not processed in a first-come-first-served order.

All rising 7th-grade students interested in Clark or any other high school must apply through the lottery. To register for the lottery, you must create an account in Focus - CPS' new student information system for the 2024-2025 school year. Instructions were sent home with students in Wednesday folders December 6th.

In addition, we will soon announce a parent meeting in partnership with district officials to discuss further, answer questions, and provide application assistance. Stay tuned for meeting dates and times.

For more information or to begin the lottery application process, please visit www.cps-k12.org/lottery or contact CPS Customer Care at 513-363-0123. If you have direct questions for PRM, please call us at 513-363-4400 during school hours. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

3-6 News:

The 3-6 team is excited to begin the third quarter of this new calendar year, 2024. Please send your student a warm coat, hat, and gloves daily, as the weather is now colder. We will be going out for recess each day as weather permits. Kindergarten students will go to the museum center on Thursday, January 25th. We are excited about this field trip opportunity. Look for permission slips soon. There is no school for students on Monday, January 15th (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) and Friday, January 26th (Staff Professional Development Day). Please contact your student's teacher with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your continued support.

6-9 News:

The 6-9 Team is eager to get back to working with our communities! We hope that all PRM Families had a wonderful holiday break. The weather is getting chilly - please send your student with winter clothing: coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and appropriate shoes. Our Outdoor Education classes have ended for the season, but many classrooms continue studying botany and zoology during their cultural lessons. Middle-of-the-year assessments are being completed, and student groups are being adjusted appropriately to help each child receive the best instruction. Please contact your student’s classroom teacher if you have any questions.

9-12 News:

The 9-12 team is excited to begin the second half of the year strong! We are spending time reviewing student procedures and expectations for the classroom, hallways, etc. Our focus is to limit distractions and maximize student learning! Please ensure you check the weather daily and send your child to school with appropriate clothing (coat, hat, and gloves). Students will be outside for recess... weather permitting. Additionally, ensure your child has their planner and fully charged computer with them every day at school. Lastly, reach out to your children's homeroom teacher with any questions.

News from the Specialist Team:

Library:

9-12: After a brief hiatus where we focused on preparing students for the PRM Spelling Bee tryouts, we will return to our focus on creative writing. This quarter, we will look at figures of speech and introduce ideas like personification, metaphor, and hyperbole.

6-9: I'm very excited to begin piloting our Reading Lab concept with grades 1-3. Working with the reading intervention specialists, we will divide these classes into 3 groups of reading readiness. Each group will focus on the needs of those students based on iReady scores, and once the skills from their assigned group are mastered, they can move to the next group. Ms. Jackie will be creating a reading curriculum specifically for those identified as gifted in reading. She and I have rearranged the library and removed all but 8 of the computers to help eliminate distractions!

Kindergarten: We've spent the first 2 quarters focusing on letter recognition and spelling. Now, we will turn to phonics and the beginning stages of reading!

Outdoor Education:

While we won't be together in the garden this month, students can work with an Imago educator to learn about compost in their classrooms. Students will learn what happens when food waste ends up in the landfill, how compost bins work, the microbiomes that live inside and outside compost piles, and how they work to turn our waste into nutrient-rich soil that can be used to grow more food.

Gifted & Enrichment with Ms. Bonfield:

Spelling Bee - Congratulations to the following spelling bee classroom winners!

These students will participate in our school bee later this month. The winner of the school bee will move to the next level of the competition to try to earn a spot at the regional level.

1115 Esposito - Zia Threadgill (3)
1118 Joyce - Isabel Elliott (3)
1121 Shekaran - Tyler Phillips (3)
1133 Guimaraes - Quinn Felder (3)
2201 Vogel - Wren Dronen (2)
2202 Cleveland - James Bennett (2)
2203 Doughman - Warren King (2)
2204 Crump - Judey Ellis (3)
2212 Lofquist - Shepherd Quay (3)
2213 Arbuckle - Noah Gentry (2)
2214 Taylor - Asa Kochanowski (3)
2215 Pathak - Lucy Frankenhoff (3)
2220 Williams - Bowen White (4)
3301 Wolfinger - Parker Hardy (4)
3302 Frost - Cat Chambless (5)
3303 Moorhouse - Darius Washington (6)
3304 Houlehan - Yukari Hammons (6)
3312 Havens - Brayden Diamond (6)
3313 Mulvey - Ivy Syroney (6)
3314 Drewry - Ian Hoekzema (5)
3315 Gibson - Jackson Connor (6)
3319 North - Emily Mansfield (6)

Brain Bowl - Congratulations and good luck to the following students who will represent PRM in the district Brain Bowl matches and tournament this year.

6th Grade - Nolan Grutz, Simeon Kyrlach, Michael Kauffman, Michael Lie, Audrey O’Brian, Ivy Syroney, 5th Grade - Nate Cox, Benjamin Durrenberger, Eleanor Marlow, Layla Rowley, Charlotte Sorenson and 4th Grade - Dot Birmaher, Grace Lie, Connor McCarthy, Leo Woerner

Gifted Notification Letters Coming This Month - I will send out updated gifted notification letters this month. All students who are identified as gifted in any area will receive a notification letter from me. If a student has a new identification based on fall or winter testing, I will include it along with any previous identifications.

Winter Gifted Referral Testing - Gifted referral testing will take place during February. Parents may submit a request for testing directly to the district or can contact me for more information.

Second and Sixth Grade District Letters - Parents of all second and sixth-grade students should have received a letter from the district with results from fall gifted testing. The letters included information about admission criteria for Spencer Center, Cincinnati Gifted Academy West, and/or Walnut Hills High School.

PTO & Equity:

Happy New Year from your parent leadership groups. PTO and Equity Group will meet on Wednesday, January 10th, from 6:30 to 8:00pm. The Equity Group discussion on the topic of sensitivity in language will be led by Amanda Bennett. Joining us for this meeting is a great way to kick off the new year and join the community supporting PRM. Free Childcare and raffle for participants.

Thank you to those of you who participated in our Staff Appreciation Meal in December. The next Staff Appreciation Meal, in coordination with Parent Teacher Conferences, will be on February 22nd – save the date! Also, thanks to those who came to PRM's Gingerbread House Making Party. It was a great success and a fun send-off to the winter holiday break.

Please note that PTO & Equity Group meetings typically occur on the second Wednesday of each month. However, February's meeting will be the exception – the meeting has been moved up a week and will be held on Wednesday, February 7th, at 6:30pm.

Do you drink coffee or hot tea? The PRM Coffee Cup Café is open to adults on Thursday mornings at 7:30am. Come learn about the wonderful Coffee Cup Program at PRM and meet Eva Borho, PTO President, while you wait for your beverage on 1/4, 1/11, 1/18, and 1/25.

If your New Year’s resolution is to stay connected, you are in luck… subscribe now to receive emails from the PRM Rocks Website - https://prmrocks.org/emailupdates/

Foundation:

The PRM Foundation's Annual Silent Auction Party is back in person! Plan to join us on Saturday, January 27th at 7pm at the Nine Giant Fermentorium for food, drinks, and fun at this PRM favorite, adult-only fundraiser! Tickets can be purchased at PRMrocks.org. The Silent Auction itself will run virtually starting Wednesday, January 24th. If you have items to donate to the Silent Auction, please contact prsfpres@gmail.com.

The next PRM Foundation meeting will occur on Wednesday, January 17th, at 6:30pm at Community Happens Here. All are welcome!

ILT:

The Instructional Leadership Team typically meets on the first and third Monday of the month.

ILT will continue to discuss and work on important issues that affect our students during their school day.

LSDMC:

The Local School Decision Making Committee met virtually in December and will meet again virtually in January on Wednesday, January 10th @ 3:00pm. Please check prmrocks.org for the Google meeting link if you’d like to attend. Everyone is welcome!

During the December meeting, the group discussed the results of the district Panorama survey and how the LSDMC can partner with the administration to utilize this data to influence the climate and culture initiative (spearheaded by the Foundation). In addition, the changes to the high school lottery process were also discussed. As per board policy, the LSDMC also completed the annual review of PRM's lead agency (YMCA) and our Resource Coordinator.

Boosters:

Happy New Year! Basketball games for all teams will resume in the new year. PRM will continue hosting home games throughout January and February. Our PRM cheerleaders will root on the 5th and 6th grade teams at select home games. Look for a list of home games posted on the PRM Rocks website at www.prmrocks.org/athletics. Spring sports registration is right around the corner! Information will be finalized at the end of this month, and information about when the sign-ups will be available for all spring sports: baseball/tee-ball, soccer, track & field, tennis, and volleyball will go out in February. Please reach out to prmathletics@gmail.com with any questions.

Hello, everyone. The CLC Center is here to provide various services you may need. Contact our Resource Coordinator- Mrs. Monique Crosby, 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 December. You all truly ROCK!
• A special thank you goes to the Golf Manor Police Department for all the fantastic toys and treats given to our students during the Shop with a Cop event.
• The Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church- Thank you for loving our students with winter accessories, coats, and toys.
• Coat Drive- The committee was full of excitement and joy to be able to pass out coats and accessories to our students. Thank you to all who contributed to this annual event.
• Winterfest was a colossal event with our student performances, book reading, and arts and crafts activities, along with our many partners who came out to help and support us. We had a great time! Thank you also to the committee of teachers who put that together this year.
• The Handmade Market was so wonderful. Seeing all the various vendors and student shops was incredible!
• Gingerbread Making Party- this annual event is always a big hit for our PRM families. Thank you for coming out and creating some beautiful gingerbread houses.
• CPS High School & Magnet Lottery is Open- click on the link to apply: https://www.cps-k12.org/Page/779
• Walnut Hills Entrance Exam Spring Testing- Is your child still interested in attending Walnut Hills? If so, they have some spring testing dates available. Click on the link: https://www.cps-k12.org/whee to sign up and register for one of the testing dates.
• CPS Budget Roundtable Engagement Session- We ask for your input on the 2024-2025 school budget and beyond. There are several workshops left for you to let your voices be heard. Check out the flyer below with all of the available dates and locations.

Resources

• Help is Available for you!

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

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration- There will be a King Celebration at the Freedom Center on January 15th. Starting with a Breakfast and Program at 8 am. The King’s March will be from the Freedom Center to Washington Park at 10:30 am. The event will conclude with a King’s Program at Music Hall starting at Noon.
• 5/3 Community Days @ The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center- Provides free admission to all guests on the 3rd and 5th Sunday of 2024, as well as on MLK Jr Day and Juneteenth. Click on the link for more information: https://freedomcenter.org/53-community-days/ Free Days are: 1/15,1/21, 2/18, 3/17,3/31, 4/21, 5/19, 6/16, 6/19, 6/30, 7/21, 8/18, 9/15, 9/29, 10/20, 11/17, 12/15, & 12/29.
• Kennedy Heights Arts Center: Arts for a Difference- Want to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by engaging in some art-making as a day of service? This is for any child from age 5-12 years old. The cost of this event is $10.00. See the flyer below for more information.
• CPS All-School Expo- If you are looking to enroll your child in CPS but might not know where to start. This event will occur on Saturday, January 27th, 2024, from 11 am-1 pm at the Cintas Center on the Xavier University campus (1624 Musketeer Drive).
• If you are 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
• Skating + Bumper Cars are Now Open-November 4th-February 14th- Click on the link to reserve your skating time. Ice Rink Link: https://myfountainsquare.com/ice-rink/

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