PTO sponsors these activities and events through the generous help of volunteers and partners:

Coffee Connections: PTO provides free hot coffee school drop off on Friday mornings during the fall and spring. Bring your mug and join us 7:45-8:30 am on the playground to chat informally with other community members.

Move It Move It: PTO volunteers coordinate Move It Move It, a voluntary program to build community, increase fitness, and prepare students for learning. Students and grown ups alike are invited dance, walk or run laps around IAA's fields every warm and dry Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:45 - 8:05 am. Volunteers track participants' miles each day and prizes are awarded at Friday town meetings. 

Arts Programming: PTO raises money to sustain mission-critical school arts programming, including: 

• The ONE Sings program uses traditional singing to enrich the K-2 curriculum of IAA. Local musician and educator Brian Perkins teaches a repertoire of traditional songs relevant to the teaching curriculum and to the population served by the school. The program fosters an appreciation for traditional singing, prepares students for future engagement with musical activities, and celebrates the rich musical traditions of diverse Burlington communities. 

• The ONE Sings program provides every student at IAA the opportunity to play violin. Musicians from the Lake Champlain Music Festival immerse 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students in skill-building, group playing, and performing. ONE Strings is designed to ensure musical literacy for all students and to instill a lifelong appreciation of music. 

• IAA's Artist-in-Residence program sponsors practicing visual and/or performing artist to work collaboratively with IAA students and teachers on a specific project or unit. Residencies in the past include, Taiko Drumming, Circus Smirkus, Dancing with Ashley, songwriting with Jon Gailmor, the writing process with Baba Bomani, and more!

Gardens & Grounds:  PTO maintains the gardens and grounds around IAA, including the flowers, berries, and veggies that make our green space beautiful. Volunteers oversee the grounds, adopt and care for garden beds, and help during our seasonal work days each fall and spring. 

Fall Festival: This annual family event is an evening of live music, seasonal activities, community dinner, and a chance to spend time with friends. PTO volunteers plan the event, host activities, ask sponsors for donations, serve food, set up, and clean up. 

No Frills Fundraiser: The PTO's primary annual fundraiser is a simple letter, sent to IAA families and friends each fall, asking them to spread the word and donate to IAA. Tax deductible donations of any size are welcome and go directly toward supporting IAA and its mission. 

Staff Appreciation Week: Teachers and staff work hard all year to support IAA. Over five days each spring, we honor and celebrate all they do for our kids and community. PTO volunteers plan creative ways to appreciate our teachers and staff during each day of this week, including bringing food, drink, and thank-you gifts. 

Spring Arts Day and Kids Are Alright Concert: This annual spring festival celebrates and showcases arts and community at IAA. Students and families gather for an evening of live music, student art shows, arts activities, and a community dinner. PTO volunteers help to secure donations and sponsors, coordinate musical acts, host activity stations, serve dinner, set up, clean up, and promote the event.

City Market Discount: When you volunteer at IAA, your time can translate into $$ off your grocery bill. Join the City Market Member Worker Team, and get a 7% discount volunteering 2 hours/month or a 12% discount for volunteering 4 hours/month every time you shop at City Market. All you need is a City Market membership (easy), a member worker orientation (short), and the willingness to report your hours 1-2 times a month (you will be reminded!). Contact Jessica Nordhaus to learn more and report hours, jsnordhaus@gmail.com.