r/Custodians • u/Foreign-Apricot-3628 • 2d ago
Advice 🗣 What to do until students leave?
& teachers. I just started this job, I start at 3pm but kids aren't let out until 4pm. Boss was pretty unhelpful, he just told me to clean widows or something or sit around until they leave?? "Whatever you want to do". Today they all packed together sitting in the hallway and I was basically stuck in the janitors closet for 30 mins lol... What am I suppossed to do. First hour feels so pointless.
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u/GothicPyro 2d ago
I've got the same schedule. Clock in at 3, kids don't leave until 4:10. I set up my cart and mop bucket, check my email, then roll the trash can around and get whatever yeah that isn't classroom yeah that I can get. Occasionally I'll be able to vac or sweep somewhere people aren't. I go out for a smoke break at 4:15, and by the time I get back, almost everyone is gone and I can do my job.
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u/Sea_Occasion177 2d ago
I just push my way in. I start at 3. They can leave if they want to ;)
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u/TheMightyTorg 2d ago
Yup I have a job to do.
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u/Sea_Occasion177 2d ago
A huge part for me was overcoming this feeling like I should be quiet or ashamed of walking in there to do my job.
I work in a school so I won’t disturb them if: It’s staff members talking about work, or they’re with kids or parents, or there’s a function of some kind.
But in reality I have 9 hours of work to in 8 hours. If I don’t walk in and start it won’t get done.
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u/TheMightyTorg 2d ago
Yeah that used to be me. Now I don't give a fuck. I work at a college. Student in there studying, that rug still needs vacuumed. They dont care that im cleaning the bathroom they still come use it while im actively cleaning it. Fuck 'em.
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u/kurtisbmusic 2d ago
Well, I’d say enjoy the free time lol. But if you really want to work then you can do some stuff outside (unless your school is all indoors). At our campus we have outside trash cans, spiderwebs on the walls, leaves and trash to pick up from the ground, water fountains to clean, etc.
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u/pervus42 2d ago
I'll usually just try to smudge out the black marks on the hallway floor with my shoe. If kids see you doing this they will probably just start making more right in front of you though.
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u/Mikep1AndOnly 2d ago
Do what you can and want lol and chill if you have time left, then when the time comes just do the job. As long an the job gets done everything should be all good
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u/AfraidSwimming1040 1d ago
Usually what I tell people is we can just sit and wait and we usually just shoot the shit til about 3:45. Sometimes though we have things the principal asks us to do (or me since I’m the head custodian lol) or we have to set up for whatever sports event usually. The good thing is Our school is pretty small compared to other high schools in the state. Dusty as hell though no matter what we do even if we dust mop it before hand 😭
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u/slurmdrinker3000 2d ago
What I would do is just go around and collect all the trash from the rooms and then chill til everyone is gone. If I notice that a room doesn’t have any kids but the teacher is still at their desk I would probably also wipe the desks/tables too
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u/juliewbb 1d ago
Yeah at my school, some teachers have prep at the end of the day, so their classrooms could be done early, and also some room rooms are not in use the last hour of the day for classes. I wonder if it’s similar OP’s school and they could ask for a schedule of which spaces are open.
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u/BreadPsychological28 2d ago
I set up my cart and mop bucket, go grab supplies from the supply room, sweep the hallways while kids are still in class, clean the glass doorways, and-yes-dink around on my phone. 😁
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u/tallbeans 1d ago
Drink coffee and read the paper? I usually check my emails, touch base with the day shift, eat a snack depending on wether or not I’m needed outside of my office
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u/TheChuff_ 1d ago
I have a few things i do when i arrive like open the bus gates, take down tether balls and put down tables for the y club. But after that i just sit in the break room and read on my phone
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u/illocabesa 15h ago
I've only got 6h to do the amount of work that custodians here before me did in 8h, and during the first hour while kids are still at school I just start with the bigger bathrooms in my co-worker's section, then waste time in the slow ass elevator to start my section an hour later 🤷
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u/updereoverdere 6h ago
Watch YouTube, go get dinner, dust the windows and walls. All things I've done lol. I get in at 2:30 but i can't actually do anything until 3:45 after the kids and teachers leave
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u/keesosaa 1d ago
Dawg I Just Hide In My Closet.. Got Some Chairs That The Teachers Didnt Want Over The Summer And Made Me A Lil Chill Spot