Fifth graders at a local school are gaining some real life skills, helping younger students while making money.

Every school day for about one hour, a handful of students from the fifth grade class at P.S. 94 on King’s College Place tutor kindergarteners in different subjects such as math and reading.

The Norwood school participates in the Coca-Cola Valued Youth Program, a program that’s typically implemented in junior high and high school. Older students are paired with younger students to teach them academic and personal responsibility in hopes of keeping them on a path to college.

P.S. 94 is the only elementary school, and one of three in the state, to have implemented the program after it was presented at a Superintendent’s meeting.

Under the direction of Valerie Dash, P.S. 94’s teacher coordinator, each fifth grader is assigned one to three kindergartners, who they refer to as “tutees,” to pair with each day. As the year progresses, the older children form bonds with their little ones.

Benefits of the program also include a monthly $59 stipend.

“We teach them how to be responsible, how to take responsibility, and how to show up for life,” said Miriam Seminario, parent coordinator of the program.

As a part of the program at P.S. 94, the students work on self-discipline and improving their self-esteem.

One class involves working on money management skills where students are given the opportunity to open their first bank accounts at Ridgewood Savings Bank along the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District.

“The purpose of the bank participating is to actually teach [students] the value of money,” said Fausto Martinez, assistant vice president of the Jerome Avenue branch of Ridgewood Savings Bank near Gun Hill Road. “That’s why we come to the school and we open the accounts for them.”

Yesenia Rodriguez, the bank’s customer service representative, says she has personally seen students return to the bank with their parents to apply what they’ve learned. They’ve also made the trip to deposit or withdraw their money.

“When I first got my check, I was excited. It was my first salary,” said a fifth grader who went by Fahan. “I’ve earned money before, but not such a huge amount at once.”

Fahan had spread his tiny wealth, sending $40 to his grandmother, and the rest to his mosque.

As for the program, Fahan praised it, knowing it will give “the future fifth graders…an extra head start.”