School cleaning attendants are true pillars of the educational community. These quiet heroes work behind the scenes to maintain environments that support learning and the well-being of students and teaching staff.
Despite the low profile of their role, their impact shines through in every classroom and every sparkling clean common area.
Sylvie Paquette and Gashem Falah, contract supervisors at Roy. (and veterans of the trade), give us an inside look at the reality of being a school custodian. This way, you'll know if this career is right for you!
What you'll learn in this article:
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The nature of the job
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The type of person we're looking for
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Work schedules
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Salary
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A typical day in the life of a school custodian
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The small wins that feel great at the end of a shift
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The reality of the job
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Become a school cleaning attendant at Roy.
The nature of the work
The job of commercial cleaning attendant in schools is an essential profession in our society. These true quiet heroes work day and night to keep school environments spotless and healthy for our students. Their unwavering dedication helps create an atmosphere conducive to learning, in which teachers shape the leaders of tomorrow.
👀 The type of person we're looking for
We're looking for people who are:
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Sharp and motivated: you need to appreciate the fast pace of working in schools and be able to enjoy everyday challenges.
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In good physical shape: the job requires performing a variety of more demanding tasks: moving desks, operating heavier equipment, carrying out major summer cleanings, etc. It's convenient — you won't need to go to the gym to stay in shape.
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Meticulous and proud of a job well done: a good custodian finds satisfaction in delivering quality work. If the idea of restoring the shine to a floor worn down by a school year excites and motivates you, we'd love to meet you.
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Caring : kindness is a must to be part of the team. At Roy., everyone treats each other with care.
No commercial cleaning experience is necessary to join our team. We offer paid training to our new hires to teach them the basics of the job.
Work schedules
Regardless of the size of the school, a custodian is always present during the day to look after the upkeep and smooth running of the building during regular class hours.
Work teams are also on duty to cover evening and night shifts (as needed) to clean the buildings and prepare classrooms for the arrival of teachers and students the next day.
Salary
At Roy., starting wages for school cleaning attendants are governed by a Quebec decree that sets the hourly rate at $19.74 or $19.97, depending on the tasks performed.
A day in the life of a school custodian
School cleaning attendants follow a work route specially designed to optimize their time and efficiency. This game plan allows them to be organized and methodical in their approach to cleaning.
Every detail is carefully planned by the contract manager, allowing our cleaning pros to carry out their tasks with greater ease and confidence.
School custodians have two clearly defined missions. During the school year, they handle regular cleaning, keeping the premises clean and welcoming for students, teachers and staff.
When summer vacation arrives, our custodians spring into action to carry out deep cleanings, giving the building a fresh new look ahead of the new school year.
Daily tasks will look like this
During the school year, cleaning attendants in schools carry out a series of tasks essential to maintaining a clean, safe and functional environment for students, teachers and staff.
Daily tasks to perform
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Cleaning classrooms: sweeping, vacuuming, cleaning desks, boards and surfaces.
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Maintaining hallways and corridors: sweeping and cleaning hallways and washing floors.
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Cleaning washrooms: cleaning sinks, toilets, mirrors and restocking sanitary supplies.
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Managing common areas: cleaning the cafeteria, the library, etc.
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Waste collection: regularly emptying trash bins and recycling bins.
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Etc.
Summers will look like this
Once students and staff head off for summer vacation, our team of commercial cleaning attendants gets to work carrying out the BIG clean in schools. From floor to ceiling and every nook and cranny, our cleaning pros mobilize to make sure schools are perfectly clean and welcoming for the August back-to-school season. Everything is meticulously cleaned from top to bottom.
« Contrary to what one might think, summer isn't a slow period for school custodians. It's quite the opposite! We need extra help to carry out the big clean and get the buildings ready for the new school year. »
- ✓Sylvie Paquette
Tasks to perform
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Emptying classrooms and taking out desks;
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Steam cleaning carpets to remove bacteria and dust mites;
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Cleaning walls;
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Stripping, waxing and polishing floors to give them a great shine;
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Putting classrooms back in order;
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Etc.
The small wins that feel great at the end of a shift
« Our cleaning attendants feel a real sense of pride at the end of their shift when they see the extent of the work they've accomplished. There's something so rewarding about seeing classrooms gleaming with cleanliness and floors shining brightly after they've passed through. Their effort and dedication translate into visible results! »
- ✓Ghasem Falah
The reality of the job
Like any job, being a school cleaning attendant comes with its own particularities. Our goal is to be honest in our description to give you a realistic view of this humble profession.
👍 The perks of the job
On one hand, the work done by school cleaning attendants provides a great deal of personal satisfaction. Seeing the results of your work and its positive impact on the educational community is rewarding.
Rewarding perks at a glance
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Recognition from teachers and students
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Positive impact on the educational community
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Job stability
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A sense of belonging to the school and its team
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It's fast-paced, but time flies
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Development of skills specific to this type of contract
🤝 What can be more challenging
On the other hand, it's important to recognize that the work can be demanding. Days can be busy, especially during deep-cleaning periods or special events at school. This faster pace will make your shifts go by more quickly.
Challenges of the job at a glance
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More physically demanding nature of the work
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Heavy-duty tasks to perform
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Faster work pace (but time flies!)
Come work at Roy.
Do you want to make a real difference in Quebec's educational community? Join our big, caring and welcoming family!
At Roy., we work tirelessly to offer our employees the best work experience. We provide a range of employee benefits, paid training at Campus Roy., and we put our employees' happiness at work at the heart of our priorities.
The best part is that we're always looking for ways to improve things for our employees to offer them a distinctive employment experience. In addition to our new recognition on the list of Canada's best-managed companies, we have a few accolades to our credit that highlight our commitment to our teams' well-being.
Roy. is recognized as one of the « Best Workplaces Managed by Women in Canada », « Best Employers in Quebec in 2022 » and « Best Workplaces for Mental Wellness in Canada ». We also won the Workforce Training and Development award in 2022 at the Mercuriades!
Discover our job openings in the school sector now.
