Meet Pete Vass - Caretaker and Kind Man
You might have seen him during drop-offs and pick-ups. He is clearly visible in his high-vis jacket, managing traffic and ensuring our students can cross the road safely, always with a big smile and a high five. It's not for nothing that our pre-preps have nicknamed him 'Mr. Kind Man'.
There is a big team of groundsmen, maintenance, porter and cleaning staff in the school who complete a lot of tasks without which the school wouldn’t be running as it is. I have been working at WBS for four years, after I moved away from London. As a caretaker, my responsibilities include the management of other cleaners and porters – I assign them with any specific tasks for every morning before we unlock the whole school. My favorite duty is crossing for the prep school. When the buses and cars arrive, I stand at the crossing and do a “lollipop man” as we call it, to make sure the children get to prep school safely. I also have late shifts sometimes when I lock the school in the evening. Everything from ordering new furniture for the school, coordinating the maintenance and bookings of the buses to running the waste disposal is my duty.
Our team sets up various events that happen in the school, whether it is an exam in our Memorial Hall or Careers dinner in Karslake. Often there are several events happening at the same time, so I work out the logistics, communications, and manage the preparations for that, which can be tricky as nearly all buildings are in use for various school activities. No day is the same for our team, and I enjoy this challenge. For instance, in summer, we deep clean the rooms in our boarding houses, so they are ready for summer activities in the school and of course for our boarders in September.
The biggest and most difficult venue to set up is Speech Day and Carol Service, when twelve of us caretakers must carpet the massive JESC sports hall, put all the chairs, position the projector and sound cables correctly, and build the stage which can take up to a day. During the weekend, many parents and children come for swimming sessions in our swimming pool and one of my duties is to monitor the temperature and alkalinity of the water. There are also many other events during the weekend which we need to set up for.
I enjoy my job, and the level of communication and support from coordinators and educators greatly facilitates both my own performance and that of my team. West Buckland School holds a special place in my heart due to its close-knit community of teachers, students and colleagues. The robust support system in place ensures that individuals receive assistance during challenging times. Although I am not a teacher, I like to think I contribute to our students’ education in my own way. Witnessing the commitment of West Buckland School students to look after our planet inspiring, and it underscores our ongoing journey towards improvement in this regard. Written by Dasha, Year 13.
