The kids of the Y After School at P.S. 305 program have learned in four months as much as some people learn in four years of college. Through the program, the pre-K to second graders get to participate in “academies” with focuses such as photography, science, and fashion and textiles.

“The academies give them different options and ideas of what they might want to be when they’re older,” said Christine Inniss, director of the Y After School at P.S. 305 program. “They don’t have to be limited to teachers or policemen or firemen.”

An initiative of the Ridgewood YMCA, the program, which enrolls about 130 students, celebrated its 120th day last Wednesday.

“This is a great free program,” said Ridgewood YMCA Executive Director Greg Maziarz, “which there’s a real need for in this area. Without this program the kids would just go home after school.”

But instead of just going home, the kids continue their learning until 6 p.m. They get help with their homework, make new friends and expand their horizons with the fun activities they get to do in the academies. The kindergarteners are even building volcanoes.

“What the kids are learning in the day time,” said Inniss, “we continue after school because a lot of the parents can’t help the kids with their homework. That’s where we come in.”

She pointed out that just having the kids socialize with each other strengthens their language skills. Many of the kids come from homes where English isn’t their first language, so the extra reading and writing practice they get in the after-school program makes a world of difference.

“We’ve done a lot in four months,” said Inniss. “The kids have so much fun, and the parents are grateful because they can have peace of mind that their kids are in a safe place.”