Inter-American Magnet School

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1 Inter-American Magnet School
2 History
3 Mission, vision
4 Then and now
5 Related books & articles

[edit] Inter-American Magnet School

Inter-American Magnet School (IAMS) is one of the oldest and most comprehensive dual language immersion schools in the Midwest. One of few public schools to be founded by parents, the school currently serves approximately 600 ethnically and economically diverse preschool through 8th grade students from all over Chicago. The school is presently located at 851 West Waveland Ave. Chicago, IL 60613; Phone: (773) 534-5490.

[edit] History

Inter-American Magnet School was begun by two north side mothers of young children who dreamed of a multilingual, multicultural school where children from varied backgrounds would be taught in English and Spanish in an atmosphere of cultural pride. Adela Coronado-Greeley and Janet Nolan took their idea to the community in a long series of meetings, and proceeded to approach the Board of Education. The Board agreed to support a bilingual preschool where Spanish-speaking children could prepare for kindergarten. The preschool opened in September of 1975 in two rooms in the old Bartelme School in Rogers Park where Janet and Addy Tellez were the only teachers. A single bus provided transportation for the students.

At the end of the year, the Board considered dropping the program, but the Parent Advisory Council (PAC), headed by Adela Coronado-Greeley, persuaded the Board members to expand the program instead, and a kindergarten was added for 1976. The next year, the Board extended the program to first grade and, subsequently, a grade was added each year. In 1978, IAMS moved into LeMoyne School, east of Wrigley Field. Intense lobbying by IAMS parents paid off in 1983, when the school won its own site, in a temporary building in Lakeview. IAMS graduated its first class of eighth graders in 1985. In 2000, after much community input, an architecture competition was held and IAMS almost won a brand new building in the Avondale neighborhood. However, promised federal funding never materialized. Instead, six years later, the school moved back to the LeMoyne building, which is undergoing a $7 million renovation by the Board of Education. The school now provides dual-language, multicultural, literature-based education for approximately 600 students. The tradition of parental activism continues. Parents are deeply involved in every aspect of school life, from curriculum to transportation, to volunteering in the classrooms.

FELE, or Familias En La Escuela, is current-day evolution of the PAC. FELE is completely free; no dues are required. One of the annual highlights organized by FELE is the Fiesta Cultural, a family-friendly celebration of Latino music, dance, food, arts and culture. The next Fiesta will be held on Saturday April 28, 2007 from 3 to 8 pm at the school (851 W. Waveland, Chicago IL). FELE is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; donations to FELE are accepted through Guidestar. Parents, community and staff can connect with each on the IAMScommunity yahoo group (membership is required to view calendar and messages).

The school's Local School Council (LSC) was inspired by and modeled after the level of collaboration between parents, teachers and administration at Inter-American School before the days of school reform in the 1980's. The more parents, staff and community members that participate in the running of the school, the stronger the collective voice to advocate for the best education for children. Meetings for the 2006-2007 school year are generally every third Wednesday at 6pm in the school cafeteria: 01/17/2007, 02/21/2007, 03/21/2007, 04/25/2007, 05/16/2007, 06/20/2007, 07/18/2007. Everyone is welcome.

[edit] Mission, vision

Inter-American Magnet School (IAMS) promotes academic excellence through dual language and multicultural education. Students attain proficiency levels in Spanish and English that enable them to participate in communicative, academic and workplace contexts. Spanish-dominant, English-dominant and bilingual speakers develop fluency and literacy skills in both languages. Students affirm the values of their own cultures while acquiring understanding, appreciation and acceptance of other cultures, and demonstrate social consciousness in our pluralistic world. A model two-way dual language curriculum is implemented which integrates into all subject areas the history, contributions and cultures of the peoples of the Americas, and includes studies utilizing the scientific advances of our society. In order for our students to achieve their potential and to make positive associations with bilingualism, a caring, cooperative, and accepting school climate is fostered to promote the social, affective and cognitive development of the whole child, in which the parents are active partners in the formal schooling of their children.

[edit] Then and now

Long considered a national model of successful dual-language instruction, Inter-American School, its teachers and administrators have been honored and profiled throughout the years. While today there is more awareness of the economic and cognitive benefits of bilingualism and biliteracy, sustainable dual-language programs are not the norm. Moreover, at Inter-American, recent controversial changes in leadership and location have the potential to:

"profoundly affect the nature of Inter-American...the new configuration...including the loss of a core group of experience dual immersion teachers and dedicated parents as well as the relocation to a neighborhood with few Spanish-speaking children, will undoubtedly affect the future of the school. It remains to be seen to what extent Inter-American, with its commitment to providing quality dual immersion to Hispanic children, its Curriculum of the Americas, and its roots in social justice, can continue to swim against the hegemonic United States tide." {Potowski, K. 2006.}

Members of the IAMS team are lobbying the Board of Education for the resources and capacity to support and rebuild one of Chicago Public School's finest and most innovative programs. Community groups and businesses such as the Chicago Cubs are playing a paramount role in supporting their new neighbor.

Inter-American school encourages Chicagoans to sign an online petition to officially designate Chicago as a multilingual city.