Our Mission

Familias En La Escuela (FELE) believes that parent participation - in both the classroom and organizational structures of the school - improves the educational experience of all children and the quality of the Chicago Public Schools. FELE supports the mission of IAMS by:

• Providing and promoting opportunities for parent involvement
• Enhancing communication between the school and the home
• Raising funds sufficient to support and, ideally, enlarge extra-curricular programs
• Functioning as parent and student advocates

All our activities are undertaken in close collaboration with the school faculty, administration and staff.

All parents/legal guardians of IAMS students are considered members of FELE, making it the most democratic organizational model available to us.

Budget

Where our Money Comes From:
FELE is incorporated under state and federal laws as a “501 c 3” not-for-profit organization. This means that your contributions to FELE are tax-deductible*. FELE organizes fundraisers such as a walk-athon, bake sales, t-shirt sales, and Fiesta Cultural which includes food, music, and a silent auction. All FELE fundraising effors and events are designed to avoid selling, especially by children.

Where your Money Goes:
FELE contributes funds to necessities not provided by the Board of Education and to extra-curricular programming. Some examples from past years include:

Who Decides?
You do! Parents along with administration who participate in monthly FELE meetings, where decision-making occurs, set budget priorities.

 Committees
Arts in the School: Administers After School Art classes, brings artists to the school and supports teachers in integrating art into their curriculum. School Beautification is also part of this
committee.

Budget: Monitors budget expenditures & requests and oversees financial & internal controls of FELE.

Communication: Develops, organizes, and maintains content for various channels of communication, including a comprehensive school calendar, directory, a school website, and a newsletter (Puma Paper).

Fundraising: Conducts annual fundraisers such as Fiesta Cultural. As required this committee coordinates larger fundraising efforts.

Health/Wellness: Works with the IAMS community to improve the health and wellness of students and their families.

Social: Participates in new family registration; coordinates Teacher and Volunteer Appreciation days; supports Family Curriculum Night and other family events.

The Business of FELE

Regular meetings are held at or near the school. Agenda and meeting minutes will be made available upon request. Officers are elected annually at the June meeting. All parents and/or legal guardians of IAMS students are voting members of FELE. Members must be present at meetings to vote. Meetings are bilingual.