The Senior to Freshman Mentorship program is a special program that works to pair struggling freshmen (and a few sophomores) with seniors (and a few juniors) who can help them get on track. The younger students are identified by teachers as well as by Ms. Pacheco, Santa Fe High’s truancy officer who co-sponsors the program.

Mr. Granado, the assistant principal who also co-sponsors the program, said the main reason they started it is because it’s hard for teachers and counselors to reach every kid on campus. “Plus, since we are older, there is a big generation gap,’’ Mr. Granado said.

The program started in school year 2016-2017. That year, they experimented with peer mentors who were closer in age to their mentees, like senior to senior, and they were able to make a great impact with those kids. Then they decided to work with younger students.

At a kickoff event on Oct. 24, Mr. Granado, Ms. Pacheco and the counselors led a series of activities to help the mentors and mentees get acquainted. There were four teams, each one run by a counselor, to “break the ice” between them. Mr. Granado created a game with a $20 prize. (Unfortunately no one won.) For lunch they had Little Caesars pizza.

Mr. Granado said one of his favorite things about this program is,‘’I like teaching leadership to mentors and watching them grow as compassion leaders as they work with struggling underclassmen.”

Jaydin Martin, one of the mentors this year, said he decided to become a mentor because he likes helping kids. “Kids from today are the adults of the future. What the kids learn today they will use in the future — we need to make sure we teach important things to them,” he said. He loves helping people out because he feels good about it; he wants “to share the love around the world.”

One student who is being mentored who asked to be anonymous said, “This program has helped me in so many ways. My grades are getting better, and know I’m feeling motivated and I’m willing to accomplish my goals.”

History teacher Ms. de La Garza shared this about a student of hers who is mentoring another student of hers: “She is doing an outstanding job with the student. She’s checking in with him regularly, and with me about him. I’ve heard her giving him positive feedback, and I’m seeing some positive results from the student. … She’s got some challenges in her own life but seems determined not to let those get in the way, and she is taking all of that determination and talent and using it to help someone else.”

Mentees are accepted into the program if they have serious absence issues (ten or more unexcused absences) and are failing several core classes. Mentors must be seniors who are willing to commit to underclassmen who need their help. They also have to learn the seven habits of highly effective students and a five-step problem-solving and thinking model. He mentioned that seniors who were not ‘’stellar’’ students in the past are perfect for this program.

Mr. Granado and Ms. Pacheco would like to thank Mr. Marano for supporting this program, the mentors for making the commitment to students who need help, and lastly the counselors for their support.