THE REGION - News from Jan. 16, 2009

By Corina Knoll

Jan. 16, 2009 12 AM PT

Laura Gspoyan and Maxine Chaykovskiy speak as a breathless duo, often adding to each other’s sentences.

The third-graders share a taste for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and a knack for getting the orange powder all over their hands. They love playing musical chairs and freeze tag, and they often can be found at Gardner Street Elementary School in Hollywood long after the final bell has rung.

The girls stay for a program run by Aviva Family and Children’s Services, a nonprofit agency that provides care and treatment to disadvantaged youths and their families.

“They have games, and we go outside to do different stuff and do homework,” Maxine said during an Aviva holiday party. “Then I don’t have to do homework at home,” Laura chimed in.

That’s helpful for the girls’ parents, who work long hours and for whom English is a second language. Maxine’s parents are Russian immigrants; Laura’s are Armenian Russian.

“My mom speaks English, but sometimes she doesn’t understand my homework,” Laura said.

Most of the 65 students who attend the program come from families for which Russian, Armenian or Spanish is the primary language, and many of Aviva’s teacher assistants are bilingual.

Christine Chouchanian, Aviva’s after-school director, said she often relies on her Armenian to reassure confused parents.

“They say in their country, they never saw their children get this much homework,” Chouchanian said, adding that she never thought she would use her parents’ native language in her work. “I just explain to them it’s part of the district and state standards. . . . They feel more comfortable because I can understand their language.”

Aviva’s history dates to World War I, when it was the Ida Strauss Day Nursery and Settlement. Over the years, the name was changed and its services expanded to include a residential facility for neglected children and a foster family agency. More than 10 years ago, Aviva (Hebrew for “spring”) started the after-school program.

“We wanted to speak to what the needs of the community were,” said Ira Kruskol, the nonprofit’s vice president of community services. “The kids were coming home to families that weren’t fluent in English. The thrust of our program was to provide homework assistance.”

Aviva is among the Southern California charities supported by The Times Holiday Campaign, part of the Los Angeles Times Family Fund. Aviva received $10,000 from the fund last year.

Parents pay a nominal fee to put their children in the program, which is available each school day until 6 p.m. Children receive a snack and take part in such activities as reading, making lanyards, painting and jumping rope.

But the real focus is schoolwork. Aviva administrators stay in touch with Gardner’s teachers to determine students’ needs and meet with the principal and a committee of parents at least once a year. The students say they even enjoy the homework.

“It’s fun!” Laura said, grinning. “I got all 3s this year, that’s good. Last year I got all 2s.”

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