Primary School Janitor Honored for Service

Derek Hardgrove, a custodian at Bradley Gardens Primary School, was honored for three years of service in a special ceremony April 24.

Bradley Gardens school counselor Ellen St. Pierre said she thought the ceremony would be a great character lesson for the students.

“We hold monthly schoolwide meetings, which promote a positive school climate, and I had wanted to do something special to honor him because he is such a cheery yet hard-working person,” she said. “He goes above and beyond his call of duty at our little school, and deserved to be recognized.”

St. Pierre said Hardgrove does back-breaking work everyday, and always goes above what is normally requested.

At the celebration, St. Pierre said, the students sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” and incorporated Hardgrove’s name into it. The third graders, she said, performed a respect rap.

“Each student wrote [him] a thoughtful letter thanking him for all of his hard work and commitment to their school,” she said.

In addition, St. Pierre said, they presented a book to Hardgrove that was signed by author James Arnosky.

“We had a second grader interview Derek Hardgrove to find out what he liked, hobbies and such,” she said. “I took a collection and then went around town buying all his favorite things, one of which was to work on cars.”

And with that knowledge, St. Pierre said, they presented Hardgrove with a tool box filled with some of his favorite things.

“I facilitate the school safety and climate team, and all the members also agreed that doing something special for him would be great for our school,” she said.