Introducing Ms. Kirrena’s Primary School at Joy Village!
Ms. Kirrena’s Primary School is a small, full-day learning program for grades K–2.
The program is designed to provide a strong academic foundation in reading and math while also supporting the social, emotional, and cultural development of each child.
Students receive intentional, structured instruction in literacy and numeracy, with a focus on helping them become confident readers and problem-solvers. At the same time, learning is grounded in real-world experiences, cultural understanding, and meaningful connection.
Black history and culture are integrated throughout the year as a natural part of learning, helping students build both academic skills and a strong sense of identity.
The small group setting allows for individualized attention, ensuring that each child is supported, challenged, and able to grow at their own pace.
This program is ideal for families looking for a learning environment that is both academically strong and deeply intentional in how children are taught and supported.
About the Instructor
Kirrena Gallagher is the founder of Ms. Kirrena’s Primary School and has extensive experience working with young children in intentional, relationship-centered learning environments.
Her approach to education focuses on building strong academic foundations while also nurturing the whole child socially, emotionally, and culturally.
She is known for integrating Black history and culture into everyday learning in a way that is meaningful, consistent, and affirming. Her classrooms are designed to help children develop confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of identity alongside their academic growth.
Academic Approach
The Primary Program is built on a strong academic foundation with a focus on literacy, math, and whole-child development. Students in the Primary Program are expected to develop confidence in approaching new and challenging tasks, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, social-emotional awareness and the ability to navigate relationships, and a deeper understanding of themselves, their culture, and the world around them.
For reading, instruction is grounded in a phonics-based approach aligned with the science of reading. Students are explicitly taught how to read starting with sounds, blending, and building into confident, independent readers.
For math instruction, the Singapore Math curriculum is used to develop deep number sense and problem-solving skills rather than memorization.
Academic learning is intentionally connected to real-world experiences, cultural understanding, and social-emotional development. Black history and culture are woven throughout the curriculum not as a separate unit, but as a meaningful and consistent part of how students learn, think, and engage with the world around them. The goal is to develop students who are not only strong academically, but also confident, aware, and connected.
To enroll in Ms. Kirrena’s Primary Program, complete the following steps:
Read through Ms. Kirrena’s handbook linked below.
Contact Ms. Kirrena to learn more about the school and schedule a visit.
Once fit is determined, you will be given the password to complete the enrollment application below.