Taupō Primary School’s cleaning team is still top of the class after 10 years
Ravinesh and Glenis Chand have been cleaning Taupō Primary School for the past 10 years, ever since they became CrestClean franchise owners. Over that time, they’ve become a familiar and much-loved part of the school community.
To celebrate the milestone, school staff joined the couple for a special morning tea, giving everyone a chance to thank them for all they do.
Principal Zac Taylor and Executive Officer Michelle Golebiowski couldn’t be happier with the cleaning team. Every evening, Ravi and Glenis come in and get the school ready for another day, making sure classrooms and other spaces are clean and tidy for staff and students.
Michelle has been at the school for more than 30 years, so she’s seen plenty of cleaning teams come and go. But Ravi and Glenis are a team she hopes to hold on to.
“Long may it continue,” says Michelle.
Ravi and Glenis have a personal connection to Taupō Primary School, too, as their daughter attended the school. Taupō Regional Manager Kelsey Gibson joined the morning tea and says it was lovely to see the staff show their appreciation for the couple, who have become very much part of the school family.
When Zac arrived at Taupō Primary School seven years ago, Ravi and Glenis shared the cleaning with another team. He was delighted when the opportunity came up for them to manage the cleaning of the whole school.
“It all worked out. Lucky us,” says Zac.
With around 500 students, keeping the school clean is no small job. Ravi and Glenis take it all in their stride, looking after 21 learning spaces, the library and the administration block. They get on with the job without fuss and are always happy to work around the school’s needs.
“They’re so reliable. Very easy to work with and very flexible,” says Zac.
The work continues during the school holidays, when Ravi and Glenis give the school a thorough top-to-bottom clean. These deep cleans can take a good week to complete, but the results are well worth it.
“It’s always fresh and they do little extras. Last holidays they did our rugs and carpets in our junior classes,” says Zac.
Although the students rarely cross paths with Ravi and Glenis because the couple work after hours, they know who they are and who comes in each evening to get their classrooms ready for the next school day.
For Zac and Michelle, one of the best things about working with Ravi and Glenis is how easy communication is. They understand that school life can be unpredictable and that plans sometimes change at the last minute. Even when staff forget to pass on a change, the couple are happy to adjust their schedule and work around what’s happening at the school.
“We’ve never heard a complaint. They’ve never had a grump about it,” says Zac.
“They’re so obliging,” says Michelle.
After 10 years of looking after Taupō Primary School, Ravi and Glenis have earned a special place in the school community. Their reliability, flexibility and positive attitude have made them a team Zac and Michelle are more than happy to have around for years to come.
“We really do have the perfect cleaner – they’re excellent.”
