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Longfellow elementary school

Welcome to Character Builders, the Mission Valley YMCA’s Before and After School Program serving students from Transitional Kindergarten (TK) to Grade 8 at Longfellow Elementary School.

Character Builders is an affordable way to ensure your child is in a safe, fun, and caring environment before and/or after school. Each day includes a new program or activity to help participants learn, build life skills, and develop healthy relationships — including walking field trips, healthy snacks, sports and games, art and music, tutoring and more!

How to Register

Registration for the Character Builders can now be completed and submitted online through our Community Portal. Find the site you are looking for by entering the site name in the Search Bar located in the top, left corner of the Community Portal. Registration is first come, first served.

Program Scholarships are available to those that qualify — apply for a scholarship online here.

Information about Longfellow Elementary

Location and Contact Information

Hours of Operation: 2025-2026 School Year

WEEKDAYMORNING HOURSAFTERNOON HOURS
MondayTK-8: 6:30am – 9:00amTK-8: 3:30pm – 6:00pm
TuesdayTK-8: 6:30am – 9:00amTK-8: 3:30pm – 6:00pm
WednesdayTK-8: 6:30am – 9:00amTK-8: 12:45pm – 6:00pm
ThursdayTK-8: 6:30am – 9:00amTK-8: 3:30pm – 6:00pm
FridayTK-8: 6:30am – 9:00amTK-8: 3:30pm – 6:00pm

About Our Staff

All staff leaders are selected after a thorough interview and background check process and are cleared through the Community Care Licensing Office of the State of California. Our staff has units in child development and a desire to be a great role model for your child and demonstrate YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.

Fees for Character Builders at Longfellow Elementary 2025-2026

Fees have been calculated based on an annualized rate of the total number of program days and divided into 10 equal monthly payments regardless of the number of school days per month of service. Fees cover all minimum days and parent/teacher conferences. Registration fee is $100 per child for participants, members save up to 15% off.

Fees for Universal Transitional Kindergarten through Grade 8

PLANS# OF DAYSPARTICIPANT / MONTH
Before and After School5 Days (M-F)$600
Before School ONLY5 Days (M-F)$240
After School ONLY5 Days (M-F)$451
After School ONLY3 Days (M/W/F)$361

Registration Details

This program is available only for students from Longfellow Elementary in Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK) to Grade 8.

PRIORITY REGISTRATION

May 9, 2025 (For current participants, waitlist families and siblings of the aforementioned)

NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION (Y MEMBER)

Begins May 12, 2025 at 6:00pm

OPEN REGISTRATION

Begins May 13, 2025 at 6:00pm

Registration fee is $100 per child for participants, members save up to 15% off.

For cancellations or changes in plans, please notify missionvalleycb@ymcasd.org 10 business days before the end of the month.

Please allow three business days for paperwork and tuition fees to be processed before childcare services may begin. For questions about billing, receipts or tax information, please email us at missionvalleycb@ymcasd.org.

All fees are due in advance of the month of service. Fees are paid by ATS (bank draft) on the 10th or by credit/debit card on the 15th. ATS are deducted monthly from your checking account.

If balances are not paid on time, your child may not participate in the program.

Scholarships are available for those who qualify — apply for a scholarship online here.

Individual State Forms for Registration

Questions? Contact Us

If you have any questions about Character Builders or the registration process, please give us a call!

Our Program Director, Nicolas Galarreta O’Connor, is available during Mission Valley YMCA business hours at (858) 292-9622 ext: 3267.

Additional contact info is available in the About Our Staff section above. We look forward to speaking with you!