Inuvik (May 06/05) - A typical day for Rosa Kayotuk, senior custodian at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school (SAMS) begins shortly after seven in the morning.

"I don't have to start until 7:30 a.m. but if I didn't come in earlier, I'd never get the gym finished," said the dedicated Kayotuk.

Sir Alexander Mackenzie school's senior custodian Rosa Kayotuk

In addition to sweeping and mopping the gymnasium floor, Kayotuk must ensure that the flags are up, the doors of the massive building are unlocked and the lights are on before staff and students arrive.

According to Kayotuk, the best thing about her job, apart from the hours, are the people she gets to work with.

"I like working around children and I get to see them everyday," says the mother of four, whose children are all grown up.

"My youngest daughter graduated from high school in 2001."

It was the previous year that saw Kayotuk transfer to her current position at the elementary school from her previous job working nights cleaning the high school.

When the Drum caught up with Kayotuk, she was busy washing dishes in the staffroom.

So who is messier, the kids or the teachers?

"I'd say both," she answered with a laugh as she finished drying the last coffee mug.

Asked if she will miss the old SAMS school when it's replaced, Kayotuk said she's looking forward to the new school.

In fact, if she could make one suggestion for the new facility that would make her life easier, Kayotuk would like to see floor surface consistency.

"I'd make it either all carpets or all floors, that way I either mop them or steam clean them, not both," she said pointing at the tiled floor and the carpet in the staffroom.

And, you may be wondering, how does Kayotuk remove nasty stains?

"Oh, that's a secret," she said with a wink.

"And I'm not going to give that away."