NESTLED in the Kingston 20 community of Patrick Gardens, Auburn Basic School has been around for over 30 years, and has remained an early childhood institution of choice for residents in and around the community.

Chairman Reverend Ronald Grey, who has been with the school for over 20 years, said the secret to the school’s success lies in the Church of the Nazarene’s involvement and the dedication of the teachers.

“The church has sponsored a viable school and the society is benefiting. When the students leave here, they usually excel wherever they go and parents will spread the word and others send their children here for a good start,” Grey said.

Apart from serving nearby areas like Washington Gardens, Duhaney Park, Pembroke Hall and Maverly, the school also attracts students from as far as Seaview Gardens, Spanish Town and Old Harbour.

The institution, which has a staff complement of 10 and a student population of approximately 200, utilises an integrated curriculum to educate the children.

Pernell Clarke-Richards, senior teacher and longest serving staff member, said part of the curriculum includes using games in the lesson format to develop the students’ gross and fine motor skills.

“The fine skills include the use of the hands and the gross skills include use of the feet. We try to incorporate indoor and outdoor games so that the students grasp what is being taught,” the 26-year veteran said.

According to Clarke-Richards, the purpose of games in the integrated lesson format is to ensure that the students are not bored and learn in a method conducive to their age group.

“Children learn through play and when it is done this way you find that they easily remember what you’ve done, understand better, and some may even go home and relay the information to their parents,” she said.

The lesson format includes oral lessons, literacy, numeracy and science. At class three, which is the last level of early childhood education, Clarke-Richards said the students are exposed to basic level Spanish.

She said the spiritual development of the children is also a main priority.

“We ensure that they have their daily devotions, are exposed to Bible stories and are taught Christian morals,” she said.

Outside of the classroom, the school has an active sports programme which has exposed students to swimming and football, apart from the regular exercise programme done in physical education class.

All staff members at the school are certified in early childhood education, with a few holding bachelor’s degrees.

Importantly, Clarke-Richards said the school does not change staff regularly so parents and grandparents know each individual and there is a level of trust in the community.

She said the dedication goes as far as teachers giving extra lessons and early classes, developing lesson plans and maintaining an active parent teachers’ association to ensure the holistic development of each child.

Clarke-Richards added that one of the main goals of teachers is ensuring that the literacy level of the students is not below average.

“We get them reading at an early age and expose them to books tailored for their age group and we find that when they move on to the primary level they don’t have a problem adjusting,” she said.

The school has four levels — kindergarten, class one, two and three. Apart from the discipline required from students, they live steadfast to the motto, Excellence Always, to enable the progressive development of the school.