Our Model
At Primary Hall, we’re committed to setting our students on the path to college beginning in Kindergarten. Our curriculum, aligned to the New York State Next Generation Learning Standards, is intentionally designed around our IMPACT values to provide a challenging, goal-oriented, and joy-filled education.
The Primary Hall Difference
College Begins in Kindergarten
At Primary Hall Preparatory Charter School our main objective is to ensure that students from Buffalo’s East Side are prepared with strong foundational skills in literacy and mathematics that will then provide access to and success within rigorous college preparatory middle and high schools. That’s why our students engage with challenging material every single school day and work towards individualized goals. Our students receive over 175 minutes of literacy instruction and over 110 minutes of math instruction each day.
Longer School Day & Year
We have a longer school day than traditional neighborhood district schools and we have more days in the school year. This provides the instructional time needed to ensure our students are on the track to college while also ensuring our students have access to a more well-rounded education through offerings such as mindfulness practice, physical education, and dedicated time for character development. Our doors open at 8:15 AM for Breakfast and Instruction ends at 3:40 PM.
Positive Character Development
In cultivating the whole child, we know that students need more from school than literacy and numeracy, even as they profoundly need those academic skills. Primary Hall students will engage in daily positive affirmations with their class, participate in two mindfulness sessions daily, and weekly Community Meetings as a school body. During Community Meeting, we recognize students for embodying our IMPACT values and their academic achievement, thereby instilling pride in self, community, and our capacity to be successful as students and as people.
Mindfulness Matters
We embrace the importance of mindfulness. Our school’s innovative mindfulness and yoga practices will support all our students in focusing their attention and building self-awareness. We believe that a strong understanding of self and our own emotional regulation is the first step in building a strong foundation for social-emotional learning.
Culturally Responsive Teaching
We are committed to ensuring each of our students feel that their identities are seen, valued, and affirmed at Primary Hall. Our curriculum is meticulously crafted to reflect the diverse identities of our students and community. We prioritize recruiting, hiring, and retaining a diverse school staff with a commitment to leveling the playing field for all of Buffalo’s students.
