Bluffs Community Unit School in Bluffs, Illinois on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Bluffs Community Unit School","outOfStateSupporters":22.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9983232,"projectId":9212042,"letterContent":"Thanks so much for the hands on manipulatives you provided to my classroom! The day our janitor brought all the boxes to our classroom was so exciting! The students all wanted to open each box and see immediately what was inside! It made the manipulatives have more value and meaning to each student by knowing it was a gift to our class.\r\n\r\nSo many of the manipulatives helped students be able to make shapes and manipulate objects to demonstrate what they learned. They really enjoyed using the straws to build 3D shapes. This was something they would be able to do first thing in the morning or during centers. Marble run was also a giant hit. I loved watching my students problem solve and work together to figure out how to build it.","fullyFundedDate":1743515476583,"projectUrl":"project/shaping-future-mathematicians-with-hands/9212042/","projectTitle":"Shaping Future Mathematicians with Hands-On Tools","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ford","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9983232"},{"teacherId":9793796,"projectId":8859009,"letterContent":"On behalf of Bluffs school, I would like to extend our thanks for your generous donations to purchase looms and yarn for our high school art class. When I introduced the looms to the class, many were hesitant about the process and the different weaving techniques that we were planning to practice. Some said that they wouldn't be able to do the weaves when they saw them but once they started working they realized that they weren't as difficult as they expected. At least one student expressed interest in purchasing their own loom to continue weaving at home. It has been a wonderful and new experience for everyone, as some students excelled and others faced challenges showing growth through the experience.\r\n\r\nAfter all of our practice, students created wall hangings/tapestries which are now proudly displayed in our school. These pieces not only showcase their hard work and creativity but also serve as a lasting reminder of the wonderful experience they had with the looms you helped make possible.\r\n\r\nWe are thrilled that each student was able to engage with this art form in their own way, and we couldn't have provided this unique opportunity without your generosity. Your donation has not only provided our students with hands-on experience but also sparked a new interest and passion for weaving in some of the students.\r\nOnce again, thank you for your incredible support. We are so appreciative of your commitment to the arts and to our school.","fullyFundedDate":1731212312618,"projectUrl":"project/learning-to-weave/8859009/","projectTitle":"Learning to Weave","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Barnett","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9793796_orig.png?crop=810,810,x133,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1730905824123","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9793796"},{"teacherId":9777722,"projectId":8819954,"letterContent":"My students and I have been using our new resources in many different ways that we are excited to share with you. Our first project that we focused on was hatching eggs in our new incubator. We had a charitable woman who raises chickens and sells farm fresh eggs donate the eggs to be hatched. We discussed the how the incubator works, and they each initialed an egg and placed it in the incubator. We studied the life cycle of chicks using the book, \"Let's Hatch Chicks!\" This book was another resource that we received with your generous donation. My students loved learning about what was happening with the chicks each day. They were so intrigued with this that if I forgot to read the daily chick update, they would remind me immediately. Even though the chicks did not hatch while my students were at school, they were ecstatic when they walked in class they next day and heard the chicks. \r\n\r\nWe cared for the chicks in our classroom by feeding and watering them for over a period of a week. Our school's maintenance director built a box to house our chicks in the classroom so that my students could experience learning how to care for them. He took the chicks home with him to raise with his other chickens. He gives my class updates on how they are doing. My students are building a relationship with him through this chick hatching experience. He also gave us some valuable advice to better care for the chicks while in the classroom.\r\n\r\nThe best thing that my students liked about the chicks was getting to hold them. It was neat to see how gentle they were with them. Once the word had got our that our chicks hatched, other classes and staff would stop by to visit our chicks. Our principal's therapy dog did not know quit what to think about the chicks while making her rounds to our classroom. \r\n\r\nMy students were overly enthusiastic when our resources arrived. Even though they did not have any experience with raising chicks or hydroponic gardening, they had a willingness to learn and apply their new skills. One of my students told me, \"Mrs. Hoots this just like a little farm in our classroom, and I absolutely love it!\" \r\n\r\nMoving forward, our maintenance director has already volunteered to donate eggs for the incubator in the spring because my students want to watch some more chicks hatch. Along with that, we are currently in the process our growing some vegetables in our hydroponic garden which was another one of our new resources. My students helped set up the garden by placing seeds in the sponges. We have talked about how the seed grows, parts of a plant, and what a plant needs to grow. We have harvested lettuce and spinach and made a salad for a class snack. Our cherry tomatoes are not ready to harvest yet, but they are continuing to watch them grow and care for them.","fullyFundedDate":1727878762198,"projectUrl":"project/chicken-salad-stem-project/8819954/","projectTitle":"Chicken Salad STEM Project","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hoots","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9777722_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753134252886","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9777722"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_25278","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":175,"numTeachers":7,"percentFrplEligible":40,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":96,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":0,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"25.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":78.0,"schoolId":25278,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Bluffs Community Unit School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Bluffs Community Unit School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/scott-morgan-community-unit-school-district-2/bluffs-community-unit-school/25278"}

About this school

Bluffs Community Unit School is a rural public school in Bluffs, Illinois that is part of Scott Morgan Community Unit School District 2. It serves 175 students in grades Pre-K - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 25.0:1. Its teachers have had 10 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 12

175 Students

7 Teachers

100 W Rockwood St

Bluffs, IL 62621 View local requests

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Bluffs Community Unit School Teachers on DonorsChoose

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works

Bluffs Community Unit School Demographics

40%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Bluffs Community Unit School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.