The days are getting shorter. The parks are getting quieter. The roads are getting busier. And the classroom bells are getting ready to ring again. Yes, everybody’s getting ready to go back to school!
All across the country, parents and children are preparing for the new school term. And the schools have been busy preparing too. Everybody remembers their school days. And your school will want pupils to remember their time there for all the right reasons. But if your school is a harbour for bacteria, the parents and pupils are unlikely to forget that either!
A hygienic school is a healthy school. And a healthy school is an effective school. After all, children can’t learn if they are constantly getting sick from the germs in the school.
So what steps do schools need to take to ensure everyone goes back to school without going back to bacteria?
Clean all buildings
When people think of germs in buildings, they often first think about washrooms and kitchens. However, before pupils return, you need to deep clean all parts of the school, including garbage storage areas, locker rooms, classrooms, labs, showers, assembly halls, gyms, and of course the washrooms and canteens. Also, make sure all desks, equipment and work areas are carefully cleaned. Remember, it’s not just pupil areas that need to be cleaned. Staff rooms and break areas also must be clean and tidy at all times. Teachers must set an example for the pupils.
Clean buildings protect pupil from germs and bacteria. A deep clean also removes unsightly stains and discarded rubbish and eliminates unpleasant odours. To thoroughly clean all buildings, you should consider calling in professional services.
And once the buildings are clean, make sure that cleanliness standards are maintained throughout the school year. Standards shouldn’t lapse just because everyone gets busier as exam time approaches!
Pay particular attention to washrooms
The washroom is an obvious danger zone when it comes to germs and bacteria. If the highest hygiene standards aren’t maintained in the washroom, the health of both pupils and staff could be put at serious risk.
Remember to put in place washroom protocols in the schools. If pupils are refused permission to use washrooms, they could damage their kidneys or bowels. Teachers need to exercise sound judgement in dealing with such requests from pupils.
Washrooms need to be clean and tidy, and germ-free too. Ensure all surfaces are spotless and that there is an adequate supply of sanitary products at all times. And make sure all equipment, such as taps, flushers and hand dryers are functioning correctly.
Bite the bullet regarding chewing gum
Chewing gum can seriously undermine your effort to maintain a clean and hygienic school. Discarded chewing gum is an eye sore. If it is not removed, it will not biodegrade naturally. Instead, it will stick to people’s clothes or shoes. Carelessly discarded chewing gum can easily become trodden into pavements, carpets and entrance mats. This quickly makes the area look unsightly, dirty and generally leads to a degrading of the surrounding area. It can even enter the food chain if it is picked up by birds or rodents and discarded elsewhere.
Encourage staff and pupils to refrain from using chewing gum while on school grounds. If you spot discarded chewing gum, remove it and dispose of it properly as soon as possible.
Let people know that the writing is on the wall for graffiti
Although some people regard graffiti as a gritty urban art form, in many cases it is nothing more than wanton vandalism. As well as being unsightly, it can be used to express offensive or insulting messages, causing upset to pupils or staff.
Your school should have a clear policy regarding graffiti so that everyone knows that it will not be tolerated. People need to know the consequences of putting graffiti on school property.
If there is any graffiti on school walls, it should be removed immediately. This sends out a clear message that graffiti has no place in the schools. For stubborn or extensive graffiti, you might need to consider using a professional cleaning service
We hope everyone has an educational, productive and hygienic school year ahead.
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