The Santoy Basic School was started in the community of Santoy, Hanover, Jamaica, West Indies by Miss Urslyn Malcolm on February 15, 1956 in Mr. Simeon Morlese’s Zion Church building situated on the Morlese’s premises, approximately three (3) chains down the road from where the present school building is located. Miss Urslyn Malcolm started the school with nine (9) children on roll. During that pe
riod the school was known as “Miss Malcolm School”. One day in the year 1973, while Miss Malcolm was conducting her regular class, she was visited by Mrs. Hasley-Allen, a representative from the Ministry of Education. Hasley-Allen was at this time the Education Officer in the Ministry of Education for the Basic Schools in Western Region. Hasley-Allen informed Miss Malcolm about workshops that were held in the Region and encouraged her to attend them whenever they were being held. She also instructed Miss Malcolm to improve on certain areas of her regular operation of the school as well as to get another individual to work with her. In September, 1974 Miss Novia Parkinson was employed by Miss Malcolm. They both started working together with Miss Parkinson as Miss Malcolm’s assistant. They worked together and made several improvements to the operation of the school. The school was however relocated to the Santoy United Church Building for a short period of time due to the poor building condition of the original location. In 1977, the school was officially recognized by the Government of Jamaica and the school was renamed Santoy Basic School. After the school was officially recognized, it was returned to its original location after improvements were done to the Old Zion Church building on the Morlese’s premises. As the years went by, the number of students on roll increased to sixty-nine (69). With such large amount of students to attend to, additional teachers were needed. Various teachers shared their expertise and knowledge along with Miss Malcolm and Miss Parkinson. The teachers who taught at the Santoy Basis School during this time along with Miss Malcolm and Miss Parkinson were Miss C. Williams, Mrs. Gibbs, Mrs. Vernon and Miss M. Smith (from 1992 to currently). As the years went by and students increased, Miss Parkinson ventured out to seek assistance in obtaining a permanent school building to house the Santoy Basic School since the Old Zion Church Building was no longer suitable to accommodate the school and it had to once again relocate, this time to the Santoy Community Centre. During the late 1990s she got some assistance from visiting guests of Hedonism II hotel in Negril through the aid of Mrs. Smith, a then employee of the hotel. Miss Parkinson was introduced to Dave Sly, a returning guest to Hedonism II, who was very impressed and willing to assist with obtaining a permanent school building. Through their contribution and the guidance of the hotel, the construction of the Santoy Basic School's permanent building was started at a new location on lands in Santoy owned by the Social Development Commission (SDC), adjoining the Santoy Community Centre. The School's building has been expanded over the years and continues to serve the community of Santoy very well. The motto of the Santoy Basic School is 'Prayer and Work Conquers All'.
