Behind the Scenes of Rogers
Every boarding student at Brentwood has probably walked into a clean bathroom, grabbed toilet paper without thinking twice, or stepped into a common room that somehow smells fresh even after a chaotic evening in the house. Most of the time, nobody really stops to think about how it got that way. The funny thing is, that is probably the biggest sign that the boarding house Hospitality Services are doing their jobs perfectly.
Behind the scenes, Brentwood’s Hospitality Services quietly keep the boarding houses running every single day. While students are sleeping, in class, or at sports practices, housekeepers are cleaning bathrooms, sanitizing kitchens, vacuuming muddy floors, restocking supplies, emptying overflowing garbages, dusting, and somehow turning complete third-term chaos back into a livable space by the next morning.
Michael, who works primarily in Rogers, explained that interacting with students is one of the best parts of the job. “The students are the most interesting,” he said. “They’re dynamic. They’re the lifeblood of Brentwood.”
Unlike working in public buildings around campus, the boarding houses allow staff to build relationships with students. For Michael, that daily interaction makes the atmosphere more enjoyable. As a Rogers student, I can honestly say Michael contributes a lot to the atmosphere of the house. Almost every morning, we end up talking about the Oilers while everyone else slowly wakes up for the day.
Ashley, who has worked at Brentwood for six years, described a typical day that involves maintaining Rogers’ bathrooms in the morning before moving on to classrooms later in the afternoon. Despite the workload, she said the people are what make the job worthwhile: “The best part for me is just talking to people,” she said. “I like to see everyone every single day.”
Students also recognize how much the Hospitality Services staff contribute to the atmosphere of Rogers beyond just keeping the house clean. Declan K, Rogers ’26, described Ashley and Michael as an important part of the house community. “They’re just overall amazing people,” he said. “Ashley and Michael both bring so much to the house personality-wise, and they’re always there for us.”
Declan also pointed out how much work students often overlook. “They clean our bathrooms, do our trash, vacuum, dust, clean the windows, and kind of just make the house feel clean again every day when we come back from classes,” he said.
Another Rogers student, Solace M, Rogers ’26, said students often do not fully realize how much effort goes into maintaining the house every day. “The house always just feels clean, so it’s easy to forget how much work is actually happening behind the scenes,” he said. “Ashley and Michael make Rogers feel more welcoming and comfortable, not just clean.”
Students admitted that the Hospitality Services staff are often far more patient than they probably should have to be. Between spills, late-night food disasters, and the general chaos of boarding life, Ashley and Michael somehow continue showing up every day with positivity and patience.
“I honestly don’t think Brentwood could function without them,” Declan said. “Not just Rogers, but all around campus. They put in a tremendous amount of work.”
At the end of the day, the boarding house Hospitality Services staff do much more than just clean. They help create the atmosphere that makes boarding feel comfortable and welcoming. Even if students do not always notice the work being done, Rogers would not feel the same without them.
Parker S, Rogers ’26