About Us

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Many schools face budget limitation and some children struggle to pay their tuition. Riverside Basic School in Montego Bay Jamaica is a prime example of these struggles. 

The mission of this foundation:

Create  a  Library

Upgraded toilets

Build a Playground

Install air conditioners

Create a a lunchroom

Buy folding chairs

Paint interior and exterior of school

Repair electrical system

Install cleaning stations

Improve technology

Create a budget to pay teachers

Create a fund to help struggling students pay tuition

Create a fund to buy toiletries

Create a fund to provide free lunch for children

The kids need a environment that is performance based to achieve educational success. I am passionate about teaching children. I spent 11 years teaching K-9 in the Philadelphia public school system. I vacationed in Montego Bay, Jamaica in July 2024 and met a parent who is struggling to pay her daughter's school fees at Riverside Basic School.  I believe in giving back. That's how my journey to start this foundation began. 

RIVERSIDE BASIC SCHOOL- MISSION STATEMENT

To provide quality education that will produce balance men and women for the future

RIVERSIDE  BASIC SCHOOL - Vision Statement

· Children are the future as we provide a balance and nutritious diet and a child friendly atmosphere which will enhance successful learning and outstanding achievements.

· To have qualified and trained practitioners working together in a safe and conducive environment.

· Working with state of the art teaching and learning material to stimulate and motivate the holistic being

· The development of good and honest relationship with parents, teachers and children

ECI Profile

The Riverside Basic School was started in the year 1959 by Rev. Cato, his wife Mrs. Cato and other members of the Riverside Open Bible church. Where, they saw the need for a basic school as there were members who had children who needed an education at an early age. The school started with eight (8) children and one (1) teacher at the back of the church in a single room structure without door toilets one for boys and one for girls.

As the years progresses the school open its doors to members of the community and adjoining communities whose parents were not members of the church. The children were required to pay a fee.  Due to the growing number of children the church had an extension on the school where there were two (2) classrooms, where the numbers now increase to twenty (20) children and two (2) teachers.

Miss Hamilton, Miss Scarlet, Miss Commeron, Miss Gordon, Miss Cammeron, Miss Patsy Lewis, Mrs Yvonne Walker, Mrs Rebecca Kriton, Mrs Merlene Allen, MrsCaroline Gordon,Miss Pauline Leslie, Mrs Joan Barton, Mrs Paulette Bernard, Mrs Paula Hanson, and  Ms Sherene Coke are all the teachers and principals up to todays date.

As the years progresses the school has done major construction where it now boast a two story concrete building. On the downstairs there is a classroom for three year olds, the principal’s office, and two toilets, one for boys one for girls and a wash room with a double sink for hand washing. On the upstairs there is a large hall used for meeting and for story sharing, three spacious classrooms, one for three year olds, one for four year olds and one for five year olds, a library, a computer room, and a sewing room for the church. The church and the school are in collaboration where the children from the school, church and community are allowed to use the library and computers for assignment and research at no cost. Members of the community are allowed to sit CXC subjects such as Mathematics, English language, Principle of Business, Accounts, Social Studies for a fee. However, there is an ongoing beginner’s computer class for young adults and adults for one hundred dollars an hour. This classes are taught by the pastor’s wife and other qualified members of the church. The school is protected by a perimeter fence and a gate. The church assists the school by subsidizing the electricity bill.

In November 1979 the Rev. Stoddart took up the pastoral job of the church and also the chairman of the school board. He tried to keep members of the church in the teaching position for the school.

In November 1982 The Rev. Stoddart who was  the pastor of the church and chairman of the school board asked Mrs. Merlene Allen a member of the church to come by the school on a daily basis to learn all she can in order to be a teacher one day. There were two teachers at the school. Mrs. Allen chance came sooner than she expected.

On January 1983 Mrs. Allen turn up for work only to know that she was to be the only teacher at school. She had to do the registering of new children and teach the day’s lesson. There were twenty five students on roll. This went on for approximately two weeks. Then an experienced teacher was employed who then became the principal and an assistant teacher. The principal worked for four years then resigned, and Mrs. C Gordon was employed. Mrs. Allen was given the role of the principal since 1989. Ms. Sherene Coke the trained teacher was approached in July 2020 and asked to apply for the position of principal. She comply and was awarded the position of principal which now effect on August 17, 2020.

The Riverside Basic s started as a community school as it was privately owned by the church. The teachers were paid from the fees collected from the students. Students were then asked to pay a fee of one dollar ($1) weekly and lunch fee of ten cents (10C) for lunch.

The lesson was taught straight from the PECE Manual Lesson Guide for Basic Schools on a daily basis. This manual would provide pictures and activities for each day’s lesson.

A few years later the ministry gave recognition to the school and teachers were given a subsidy of eighty seven dollars ($87) per month with an additional fee from the school. Nutrition and material grants were given to the school for the children.

A curriculum guide was used to replace the PECE Manual and a lesson plan was required to be written and taught daily. The school was entrusted to Mrs. Marzouca as their Education officer, where she would make her visit once or twice per year. Workshops were held every first Friday of each Month at the Holy Trinity Church at Westgate. At the workshop teachers would do demonstration teaching, give lectures and make teaching aids, such as charts and other activities.

Over a period of years the school has seen a number of Education Officers who would encourage the teachers to go and upgrade their education in order to be qualified for the maximum subsidy the government was paying to pre-trained teachers. The requirement at the time was at least three JSC subjects.

The basic school is now required to meet the standard of the Early Childhood Commissioner who is now responsible for all basic schools. The Riverside Basic was registered and was required to meet the set requirements such as a building that is safe with adequate space for children, indoor and outdoor facilities and equipment, a programme that promote healthy life style for children and cater to their daily needs, good administration staff that are properly trained, eg. College trained in the field of early childhood education or is a certified NCTVET, levels 1,2 or and 3.

To date the school is been given nutrition and material grants and teachers are given a subsidy from the government on a monthly basis. Teachers are been paid a fee from the school. The children are required to pay school fee twice per year. 

There are eighty eight (88) students on role, four teachers including one college trained, and one in training, a cook and a janitor.

There is a canteen where hot meals are prepared five days per week for a fee. The school prepares twenty to thirty students for graduation each year.

Teachers are required to write a weekly and a daily lesson plan using the curriculum guide book as a guide. Lessons are taught using trashables, resource persons, resource materials, such as charts and hands on activities.  Children are allowed to play outside at break, lunch and outdoor time.

There is an erected swing with four swingers and three planted tires which the children used at every given opportunity.