As the Bernado fire blazed through Rancho Bernardo on Jan. 29, Rolling Hills Elementary School (RHES)  evacuated to Poway High School, leaving the Titan Ambassadors accompanied by Principal Richard Nash, Aaron Jaffe, and a few other office staff, responsible for 180 confused and scared kids. 

The brushfire spread rapidly consuming seven acres of land. Homes and schools, including RHES, were endangered because of their proximity to the fire. RHES evacuated because of the school’s proximity and the poor air quality at RHES.

Nash was already expecting the incomers so as soon as the evacuation was confirmed. Soon after, the Titan Ambassadors were called in by their advisor, Aaron Jaffe. RHES staff and students were warmly welcomed into Poway High’s gym while waiting for the parents to collect their children. 

“It was a pretty jam-packed environment with a lot of stressed-out parents and teachers,” Titan ambassador Natalie Hill said. 

The ambassadors overcame the challenge of keeping many kids entertained, safe, and unworried. They projected Disney’s Finding Nemo, played and talked with the kids, and ASB came down and distributed pizza, bananas, carrots, and small snacks for them.

“They made me so proud, they shined for our community in a way I can’t even put into words, They are my heroes,” Nash said.  

Although all the students were safe and cared for, the beginning was chaotic and unorganized. Titan ambassadors were aware that they might have to go in and aid, but when they first arrived at the scene, some found it stressful.

 “I don’t think we were fully prepared for the situation, but we had all the staff and help ready to figure out how to handle the situation, so it all worked out in the end,” Titan Ambassador Ella Berry said. 

The ambassadors effectively organized themselves into two separate groups, one of these groups aiding the parents and the other entertaining the students.  Ambassadors walked up to the parents’ cars and asked for their children’s names and teachers to ensure that they were connecting parents with the correct kid, and then they safely guided the kids out to their parents. 

A stressful, unorganized start with a secure, peaceful ending only goes to show how talented the Titan ambassadors are.

 “Not a single student broke out into tears while they were here,” Nash said.