AMPA/AFA — Parents’ Association

The AFA (Asociación de Familias del Alumnado — the school parents’ association) is a non-profit organisation made up of parents and legal guardians of students enrolled at the school. It acts as the main bridge between families and the school, and plays a direct role in decisions that affect your child’s education through the Consell Escolar (school governing body).

What the AFA does

The AFA exists to represent families and to enrich school life beyond the classroom. Its role includes:

Representing families — listening to concerns, ideas and proposals from parents and channelling them to the school leadership
Participating in school governance — the AFA sits on the Consell Escolar, where decisions about the school’s organisation, services and policies are made
Organising activities and events — coordinating after-school activities, celebrations, and community events throughout the year
Funding school projects — the AFA funds and maintains projects that improve the school environment for all students (see below)
Monitoring school services — following up on the quality of the canteen, facilities, and other services, and proposing improvements

Why join

Membership is required to access after-school activities and AFA-organised parties and events. If your family is not a member, you cannot participate in these services.

Beyond access, joining the AFA means:

You have a vote in AFA elections and in the Consell Escolar. Each family has two votes (one per parent or guardian).
You contribute to projects that benefit every student at the school — even if your own child doesn’t use every service, membership supports the whole school community.
You join a community of families working to improve the school and solve problems together.

The more families that join, the more and better projects the AFA can carry out.

Projects funded by the AFA

The AFA funds and maintains several long-running projects at the school:

Project	Description
Huerto escolar (school garden)	Students learn traditional ecological agriculture — creating seedlings, watering, cultivating and harvesting local Valencian seed varieties. Coordinated with teaching staff.
Biblioteca (school library)	The AFA renovated the library to make it a welcoming space that encourages reading. It is also used for before- and after-school care services.
Patio Vivo (living playground)	A long-term project to naturalise the school playground — replacing concrete with green spaces, quiet play zones, reading areas, music corners and psychomotor activity areas.

Events and celebrations

The AFA organises community events throughout the year, including:

Chocolatada (hot chocolate morning) and market stall
Christmas celebration
Carnival (Carnestoltes)
Fallas activities
Peace march (Marcha por la Paz)
Jornada de convivencia (community day)
End-of-year party — an informal family event with a picnic-style dinner, music and games
Leavers’ ceremony — the AFA organises the graduation photo session (prior authorisation required)

To be confirmed with the school. Exact dates for this year’s events will be announced through the usual channels.

Item	Detail
Sign up	inscripcionesvdc@gmail.com
Website	https://afavirgendelcarmen.es/
Contact	ampavirgendelcarmen@hotmail.es
Phone	618 606 640
Telegram	https://t.me/ampavirgendelcarmen

Prices may vary. Check with the AFA for the current membership fee.

Sign up at the start of the year. Places for after-school activities are allocated to members, and the deadline is usually late September.

Elections and participation

The AFA holds elections to renew the committee. Voting is in person. The first call requires a majority of members; if quorum is not reached, a second call takes place thirty minutes later and is valid with however many members are present.

The school’s Consell Escolar includes family representatives elected by AFA members. Elections for the Consell Escolar are announced in advance.