When the students leave Myross Bush School at the end of the day, most of them don’t think too much about what happens next.
But once the classrooms are empty, Gilbert’s work begins.
Working quietly behind the scenes, he moves through the school cleaning classrooms, bathrooms and office areas, making sure everything is fresh, tidy and ready for students and staff the following morning. Because he works outside school hours, many students have never had the chance to meet him. It’s easy to forget there is a real person cleaning their learning spaces each day.
Earlier this year, Gilbert noticed some classroom equipment wasn’t being treated with the care it deserved. Principal Wendy Kitto felt it wasn’t fair for him to arrive each afternoon and spend time tidying up mess before he even started his cleaning work.
“Although we’d talked about Gilbert, the kids didn’t know who he was because they’d all gone home when he arrives,” says Wendy.
Wendy wanted students to understand that their classrooms don’t clean themselves — there is a real person coming in every day to make sure they are ready for learning. She decided it was time for students to meet Gilbert properly, starting with a class that needed a reminder about showing manaakitanga (respect) for their learning environment.
She put up a notice in the classroom that introduced Gilbert and explained the important work he does each afternoon:
“When you are heading home, Gilbert is arriving at school ready to make our school sparkle. He is busy every afternoon wiping our tables, cleaning our door handles, empties the bins, vacuums the floors and cleans the toilets. Letʼs help Gilbert by making sure our classrooms are tidy at the end of the day… itʼs not fair on Gilbert”
Putting a face to the clean classrooms helped students become more aware of the effort that goes into keeping the school looking its best. It also helped build a connection between Gilbert and the students, who now recognise the person behind the work.
“It’s made all the difference. They all know who we’re talking about now and he comes in a bit earlier now so some of the kids get to see him and say hi,” says Wendy.
The school is now hoping to see the same improvement in the boys’ toilets, something Wendy laughs is no easy feat.
The timing is important, as Myross Bush School has recently had significant upgrades, including new bathrooms, windows, carpet and furniture. The school is looking fresh and modern, and Wendy wants to keep it that way for as long as possible.
“You can get all the building upgrades but keeping it looking and smelling new is the key,” says Wendy.
But Gilbert’s got it all under control. Wendy says he consistently delivers a high standard of cleaning and has become a friendly and familiar face for staff.
“He does a really good job cleaning the school,” says Wendy. “He’s efficient, and always polite and friendly.”
He is also happy to adjust his schedule when the school has after-school events, working around whatever is happening on the day. For Wendy and the teaching team, that flexibility is hugely appreciated.
Gilbert may not be in the classrooms when students arrive each morning, but after meeting him, they now understand that their school doesn’t clean itself overnight. They’ve changed their habits and are showing more respect for the person who works hard to clean up after them every day.