Leoni Golding founder and still principal of the Pineapple Basic School decided to quit her job as a teacher at Ewers Basic School to pursue a career in nursing. This never materializes because the parents of the children she was teaching would not allow her to leave the profession, Hence the start of the Pineapple Basic School. We started in an unfinished building with one room having dirt floori
ng; cardboards were used to cover the dirt so it would be safer for the students in attendance. This building was loan to us by Miss Geraldine Mignott who later sits on the school board as chairperson for ten years (1996– 2006). Pineapple Basic School started the first official school day on January 15th 1990 one week after the regular school term, with a population of 57 students. 32 were girls and 25 were boys with two teachers. Registration for the next school year was more than anticipated; therefore, two more teachers were employed for the new term. Space had become a big issue, so the verandah of the unfinished room had to be used for the additional classes. In 1993 an extra space was acquired through the rental of an old barber shop which was on the same premises. Because of the outstanding performance of the students from this institution, the Ministry of Education officially recognized the school as an early childhood institution in 1994. Being recognized the school population continued to grow, as a result additional spaces had to be found. With permission from the relevant authority a piece of land owned by the (U.D.C.) Urban Development Company which was next to the premises, been unoccupied was used for another addition in 1995. The student population was still growing consequently another addition was made in 1997. Over the past 20 years a number of graduates have gone on from this school with track records of becoming highly professional people such as teachers, nurses, business owners and other professions. This school is one of the main feeder schools for the Ocho Rios Primary School. These are the facilities that presently exist at the school. We have eight classrooms, two bathrooms, one for boys and one for girls, a canteen, a library and an office. The school population is over 183 students, seven teachers, one trained teacher and 3 auxiliary staff serving students from the community and other surrounding areas of Ocho Rios.
