St. Simon’s Basic School

St Simon’s Basic School is a fully certified Early Childhood Commission-approved facility providing a quality academic programme for 70 students ages 3-6 years old. Operating on an annual budget of JA$2.6 million, the school serves children from high-needs communities; school contribution per student is kept to a minimum subsidized fee of JA$12,000 per year to ensure access to those families who truly cannot afford it. We understand the transformational power of education and remain passionate about our goal to sustain this window of opportunity to a better and brighter future for our students. In addition to the core academic programme, particular attention is paid to the overall social and psychological development of the children. There are computer classes, physical education sessions and a vibrant creative arts programme. We deliberately designed our programme to unearth and nurture the talents of all our children and encourage them to use their gifts for positive impact in their community and the world. These are the future champions of our Ministry. The school is managed by a 12-member Board appointed by the Church. The Principal and a Teacher Representative attend the monthly meetings and regular reports are submitted to the Church Committee and the Ministry of Education. The institution is run on the foundation of trust, integrity and faith. Total transparency is a requirement for all stakeholders. Founded in the 1960s, St. Simon’s Basic School is the flagship outreach project of St. Luke’s Church and has been recognized as being among Kingston’s top 10 model schools at the early childhood level. While community historians dispute the actual start date, placing it earlier to the mid-1930s, one thing remains undisputed – this school has had a positive impact. Our students are often among the top performers matriculating to primary schools and remain beacons of good behaviour and hope wherever they go. It has always been a yeoman effort to ensure the sustainable running of the school but the COVID19 pandemic has worsened the financial need. 

Many already vulnerable families, are suffering significantly from the fallout – lost jobs and income are on the rise. While recognizing the challenges of the time, we all agree that education can’t wait. We invite you to support our mission to provide a quality education, meals and other forms of support to our small treasures. No gift is too small. We look forward to your support.

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