Every day, before the first school bus arrives and long after the final bell rings, a dedicated group of individuals works behind the scenes to keep our school running smoothly. October 2 marks National Custodial Worker Appreciation Day, a time for our entire school community to pause, recognize, and celebrate our custodians, janitors, and facilities staff. From prepping classrooms every morning and maintaining safe, hygienic facilities to managing setups for athletics, performing arts, and community events, our custodial team’s dedication keeps our campus safe, healthy, and welcoming for every student, teacher, and visitor.
Maintaining our facilities requires constant effort, detail-oriented work, and a genuine pride in our school environment. Director of Facilities Mike King shared, "A clean school doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because someone cares enough to make it happen every day.”
Upton Middle School Principal Chad Mandarino echoed that sentiment, noting, "They fix the leaky faucet, clean up the mystery spill, set up the chairs for the event, go on the roof for the runaway soccer ball, find time to learn kid's names and give a high-five in the hallway. Our custodians don't just keep our building clean they are a part of our fabric here!"
While National Custodial Worker Appreciation Day is a special time to highlight their impact, our facilities team works hard every day of the year. Our entire community can show gratitude in simple ways throughout the year, such as offering a warm greeting or word of thanks when passing staff in the hallway, doing our part to clean up after lunch, keeping shared spaces neat, or encouraging students to write a quick thank-you note.
To our entire custodial and facilities team, thank you for your unwavering commitment to our school and community. Today and every day, we appreciate everything you do.