What is DASH POWERED BY YMCA?
DASH (Dynamic After School Hours) POWERED BY YMCA is a partnership between the South Bay Family YMCA and the Chula Vista Elementary School District.

This free program provides structured after school activities for 1st-6th grade children including sports clinics, arts and crafts, cooperative games, and traditional playground games.
The DASH Program is offered at 24 elementary schools, Monday through Friday, when school is in session.

The program runs for 2 hours from the lower grade dismissal time, and for 3 hours on the school's minimum day.

The DASH Program does not operate when school is closed, during school intersession, vacations and/or holidays, however the YMCA provides Day Camp during each intersession. Program information on Day Camp is located on this web site under Day Camp. The program will operate rain or shine.

Daily Sign-IN/OUT
To participate in DASH, children will be required to sign-in with a DASH Leader each day within 10 minutes of school dismissal.

DASH is a drop-in program, not licensed child care. Children may attend anywhere from one to five days a week. Children MUST sign out with their DASH Leaders, but may do so at any time during the program.

Parents are responsible for instructing their children whether to walk home or to wait for a ride, what time to leave and with whom they should go, etc.

DASH Leaders are not responsible for keeping track of each child's unique circumstances.


DASH does not operate when Schools are closed for intercession, vacations or holidays, however check out the YMCA Day Camp program for intersession programming.

Programming
Teamwork, fair play and sportsmanship will be highly stressed in all activities such as:

• arts and crafts projects
• cooperative/initiative games
• traditional playground games
• Monthly sports clinics
  

DASH Staff
Each after school playground site is staffed by at least two DASH Youth Leaders selected through a highly competitive screening and interview process. Staff members are certified in First Aid and CPR and receive specialized training and orientation prior to being assigned to sites. Staff members must undergo a background check and a physical health exam.

Participation
Children who sign-in for the day will be expected to participate in the activities scheduled for the day.

If a child does not want to participate in a specific activity, he/she may, at the DASH Leaders' discretion, sit that activity out.

At this time, DASH programming does not include organized time for students to do homework.

Discipline
We want to give each student the best possible experience in the DASH Program. Problems with student behavior can ruin the fun for others. The DASH Youth Leaders will hold all participants to the same behavior standards as those enforced by the school. There is a set of DASH rules that all children must follow.

End of the Day
PLEASE NOTE:
The DASH Youth Leaders will be instructed to contact the Chula Vista Police Department in the event that a child has been left on site after closing time. After three late pickups, children will not be permitted to return to the program.

The YMCA may offer an extended day program, if you should need care after the DASH program ends. This program will only occur at some school sites so check with the locations page for more details. This program will be a separate registration and a fee will be assessed.

Specific Locations
Programs will be offered at the following elementary school locations:

The DASH POWERED BY YMCA Program administrative office is located at:

If you would like more information regarding this program, please contact the following DASH POWERED BY YMCA Program Director or Program Coordinator:

Program Director

Wendi Messina
Tel: 619-422-8068
wmessina@ymca.org