It didn’t take long for Palmerston North franchise owners Mahi Metuamate and Daisy Ross to become a beloved part of the Fordell School community. Since they started cleaning the school at the beginning of 2025, they’ve gone above and beyond to build strong relationships with both staff and students.
One of the ways they’ve made a real impact is through the Cleanest Classroom competition, which they run every term. It’s a fun way to encourage students to keep their learning spaces tidy, and there’s a delicious reward up for grabs – a surprise pizza lunch!
With just six classrooms and 140 students, the competition is always tight. Term two winners were Room 3, who impressed Mahi and Daisy with their commitment to cleanliness.
“The students have been amazing with their class, they take their rubbish out of the bin each day, pick up big bits of rubbish on the floor and even vacuum. Room 3 was really deserving of the pizza party! Woohoo!” says Mahi and Daisy.
The students were thrilled to be surprised with hot pizza, hand-delivered by Mahi and Daisy which made it even more special.
Principal Yvette Moorhouse says the competition has been a fantastic way to promote responsibility and pride in the school environment. And with a bit of healthy competition, students are more motivated than ever to keep their classrooms clean.
“I love it,” says Yvette. “It definitely aligns with how we expect our students to look after the environment.”
Mahi and Daisy have built a great relationship with the staff as well. They’re often invited to staff social events and are very much considered part of the team.
“At Fordell School, when you come to work with us, you’re part of our team,” says Yvette.
“The kids know them as the cleaning fairies, and they hear about Mahi and Daisy all the time.”
Mahi and Daisy also stay in the loop by regularly checking the staffroom whiteboard, so they can easily adjust their cleaning schedule to fit what’s happening around the school. Yvette jokes that even when she forgets to mention something, Mahi and Daisy have already seen it on the board and are one step ahead.
Yvette couldn’t be happier to have Mahi and Daisy on board at Fordell School, and she knows both staff and students feel exactly the same way.
“They’re just lovely people. They’re positive, reliable and open to feedback. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone.”
