F~I~R~E Crew
Peer Mentoring for Community Service

FIRE promotes a safe-school environment and an atmosphere of peer support as we recruit junior and senior students to participate as “student mentors” during the FIRE advisory period. These “FIRE Crew” members are given special training in AVID strategies, leadership skills and peer interaction. “FIRE Crew” will participate in other unique opportunities as they volunteer their time in helping to create a more inclusive campus environment.

As current sophomores and juniors apply for next year's FIRE Crew, we are looking for students that are caring and compassionate, confident and charismatic, carefree and creative, organized and on top of things, and assertive and accountable. We review the applications, the written letters/essays, and student transcripts to assist in FIRE Crew selection. Though we prefer high academic achievement, we are also looking for well-rounded students from a variety of backgrounds and with a wide-range of personal interests and life experiences. The list of applicants is sent to all Foothill staff members for feedback before the final group is selected.

FIRE Crew leaders are required to attend the FIRE advisory everyday Tuesday through Friday (or as otherwise scheduled). Leaders earn 30 minutes of community service for each day they are present in their FIRE class. These leaders "give up" the first 30 minutes of their extended lunch to provide mentorship to their enrolled FIRE students. FIRE leaders must check in for attendance, complete their start-of-class duties and remain in the room to supervise and interact with their students. If a FIRE leader needs academic assistance, they must clear this ahead of time with both their supervising teacher and their FIRE partner.

FIRE Crew leaders will be expected to participate in the following activities, events and training sessions:

• New FIRE Crew meeting (FIRE)
• Spring Seminars (FIRE on Wednesday and/or Thursday for 4 sessions)
• FIRE Crew Bonding Day (usually in the spring after recruitment, 2 hour afternoon)
• Summer Training (usually the second full week of August for both Monday and Tuesday morning)
• Orientation Set Up (usually the third full week of August on either a Tuesday or Wednesday morning)
• New Student Orientation (usually the third full week of August on the day after set up, 7 am-1:30 pm)
• First Day of School Greeting 7:30-8:00 in their FIRE t-shirts
• Back-to-School Night (usually mid-September, evening from start of event through end of social break)
• Prospective New Parent Night (usually the Wednesday evening of Semester 1 finals week)

If a new FIRE Crew leader misses summer training or orientation, they may not work with the freshman students in FIRE and will be assigned to the upper grade classes. If a returning FIRE Crew leader misses orientation, they may not work with the freshman students in FIRE and will be assigned to the upper grade classes.

FIRE Crew leaders will also have the opportunity to choose to participate in the following activities, events and training sessions:

• Camp Ramah Leadship Training (usually the Wednesday-Friday before Memorial Day in May)
• End-of-the-Year Field Trip (usually the week before Semester 2 finals - Magic Mtn., Univeral Studios, etc)

FIRE Crew leaders average 70 hours of community service in a full-year of participation. Training days do not count as community service, but orientation set up, orientation, Back-to-School Night and the Prospective New Parent Night all earn hours in addition to the advisory hours during the school day.

Leaders that do not attend the Magic Mountain field trip can also earn 30 minutes of service by assisting with the 9th Grade Project Launch.