Our Goal
Through innovative educational systems, we provide resources and support that encourage children to find their purpose in life. Our mission is to create impactful programs that uplift communities and inspire hope in every child we serve.
Our Founder
Daphne May Case (nee Thomas) was born on July 9th, 1933 to parents, Gadwin and Daisy Thomas in the parish of St. Catherine,Jamaica. The 4th of 12 children, Daphne attended Mount Nebo All Age School where she took and passed the first year exam. She accepted the Lord at a young age and attended and taught Sunday School at Mount Nebo Baptist Church in Guys Hill.
Because of her dedication to caring for the children and her effectiveness as a Sunday school teacher, Daphne was recommended by her pastor to teach the youth at the Church school. Thus, her career as an educator skyrocketed.
Despite being a young mother of six, undeterred, she pursued her career in early childhood education and later established the foundation for early childhood education with the opening of the Sydenham Basic School.
History of Sydenham Basic School
The Sydenham Basic School started in September 1971 by Principal and Founder, Mrs. Daphne Case. The school was originally located at the Sydenham Community Center and later temporarily relocated to her veranda at 5 West Avenue, Sydenham to facilitate improvements made to the community center. In 1972 when the Early Childhood Education program initiative was started, Mrs. Case returned to school to become an Early Childhood Education teacher under the guidance of Myrtle Johnson, Senior Education Officer. Sydenham Basic
School was then registered in the program, hence the birth of the first early childhood education program in the community. Sydenham Basic School’s student population increased exponentially as this was the only remaining basic school in the community. Students in attendance came from all surrounding areas including McCook’s Pen, Willowdene, Hopedale, Old Harbour Road, Spanish Town, Homestead, Windsor Heights, Horizon Park and Villa Nova. Because the attendance grew at a great rate, the principal added two teachers to assist in the classrooms.
The school became a household name, and everyone wanted to send their child to the Sydenham Basic School. As
the student population continued to grow, Mrs. Case realized she would soon exceed capacity in the present location. When the opportunity to lease the property directly across the street from her home arose, she and her husband acquired the space and did the improvements to make the place a suitable learning experience for the
children. This land was later acquired by Factories Cooperation; however, Mrs. Case did not accept defeat, she negotiated with the new The Sydenham Basic School have seen many students who not only graduated high school but also college and university and have achieved great success. Some of those students, include her son Earl and daughter
Michelle, and some of her grandchildren.
and was allowed to continue to occupy the space and pay the new tenant ‘pepper seed rent.’ This continued until the land was bought by Mr. Y.P. Seaton. Letters were sent to Mr. Seaton requesting assistance to maintain
the space, but his responses were few, far between and negative. Again, the school was slated to be relocated. Today the school is proudly housed in a new building constructed by Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and
attendance is exceptional as the name Sydenham Basic School is synonymous with none other than the Founder, Mrs. Daphne Case.