{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Sugar Creek Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":16.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8180384,"projectId":7051517,"letterContent":"The sensory table was a hit in the classroom! Children could not wait to explore with a friend. I had to have children sign up for their turn because it was so popular! This was great, because then the project incorporated literacy as well, having the children practice writing their names.\r\n\r\nIt truly encouraged students to verbalize what they were seeing, feeling, hearing and experiencing. They spoke to their peers who were at the sensory table with them and answered questions their teachers posed while at that center. \r\n\r\nI am truly grateful for the support of our little learners at a time in their life that is critical for development.","fullyFundedDate":1669756833547,"projectUrl":"project/table-talk-for-little-learners/7051517/","projectTitle":"Table Talk for Little Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Seifert","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8180384"},{"teacherId":9793566,"projectId":9509615,"letterContent":"I am deeply grateful for your generous monetary support which has allowed us to acquire kinesthetic and sensory-regulation tools. Your investment is a critical equity intervention designed to optimize my small group learning environment.\r\n\r\nYour support directly reduces instances of off-task behaviors and significantly increases my students' capacity for active listening and peer collaboration. This targeted support ensures that all learners can fully access high-level instruction, which I anticipate will lead to measurably improved on-task time and stronger academic performance during focused small group activities.\r\n\r\nThank you for helping me create a more accessible and effective learning environment for every student.","fullyFundedDate":1757683163569,"projectUrl":"project/balanced-brains-enhancing-mental-health/9509615/","projectTitle":"Balanced Brains: Enhancing Mental Health and Focus Through Movement","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Showalter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9793566_orig.jpg?crop=300,300,x0,y26&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746395238990","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9793566"},{"teacherId":10017620,"projectId":9381463,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to this project. This text set included many books about being mindful and having a growth mindset--two very important skills for all people to have! Because of your generous donation, my students are improving their ability to self-advocate. I have even seen many of them have solutions on how to self-regulate! \r\n\r\nIn my classroom, reading is done a few different ways. My students and I love to read together and discuss books, and students also love to read independently around the room. I have noticed that students will grab books from this text set when they get to independent read even if we have just read it all together! They love to read them again and again! I love it! \r\n\r\nThe fan favorite of this text set is Yani the Yeti! \r\n\r\nI cannot thank you enough for what you have provided to my students! You are helping them prepare for amazing futures!","fullyFundedDate":1753630453652,"projectUrl":"project/mindset-matters-a-growth-mindset-book-c/9381463/","projectTitle":"Mindset Matters: A Growth Mindset Book Collection","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lanham","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10017620_orig.jpg?crop=434,434,x0,y37&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746483555954","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10017620"},{"teacherId":10030788,"projectId":9406915,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our PBIS classroom store project! Because of your generosity, my 5th grade students are more motivated, engaged, and excited about making positive choices each day. The candy, snacks, fun erasers, mochis, and fidgets you helped provide have transformed our \"Cheetah Cash\" store into a meaningful and exciting part of our classroom culture.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the new items, their faces lit up with excitement! They immediately began checking out the options and thinking about what they wanted to earn. It brought a new energy to our classroom and reinforced the value of working hard and making good decisions.\r\n\r\nWe use these materials as part of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system. Students earn Cheetah Cash for demonstrating respectful, responsible, and safe behavior throughout the school day. Once a month, they have the opportunity to visit our classroom store and use their earnings to \"purchase\" rewards. This monthly event has become a celebration of their effort and growth, and something they genuinely look forward to.\r\n\r\nOne powerful impact of this project is the way it's encouraged students to take ownership of their behavior. I've seen students tracking their earnings, making thoughtful decisions, and even saving up over time for higher-value items. The rewards have created a meaningful system that motivates students and builds a sense of responsibility and pride.\r\n\r\nIn 5th grade, we focus a lot on setting and achieving goals, and the PBIS store aligns beautifully with that mindset. Students are not only working toward behavior goals, but they're also practicing real-life skills like decision-making, self-control, and delayed gratification—all through the lens of a system that makes learning fun and purposeful.\r\n\r\nThank you again for helping to make our classroom a place where positive behavior is recognized and celebrated. Your support has made a lasting difference in the daily lives of my students, and we are truly grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1750256216521,"projectUrl":"project/pbis-prizes-for-positive-kids/9406915/","projectTitle":"PBIS Prizes for Positive Kids!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tellor","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10030788_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y368&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746801197789","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10030788"},{"teacherId":10030788,"projectId":9406820,"letterContent":"Thanks to your incredible generosity, my 5th grade classroom has been transformed into a more flexible, student-centered learning space! The new floor cushions, wobble stools, chair bands, and wave seats you helped fund are already making a huge difference in the way my students learn, focus, and feel throughout the day.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, their reactions were priceless. They were instantly curious and excited—testing out the wobble stools, stretching the chair bands with their feet, and finding the \"coziest\" cushion to sit on.\r\n\r\nRight now, we're deep into our Reading Workshop block, and the flexible seating has been a game changer. I'm able to meet with small groups of students, including those who are naturally more active, without constant interruptions or restlessness. The wobble stools and wave seats give those students the movement they need to stay engaged and present during our small group discussions. Meanwhile, the rest of the class spreads out around the room with their books, choosing cushions and quiet corners to read independently. The freedom to choose how and where they read has boosted both their focus and their love for reading.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students not just furniture, but freedom, comfort, and a sense of belonging in our classroom. Your kindness is helping them grow into confident, independent learners.","fullyFundedDate":1750464560809,"projectUrl":"project/freedom-to-focus-flexible-seat-for-5th/9406820/","projectTitle":"Freedom to Focus: Flexible Seat for 5th Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Tellor","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10030788_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y368&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746801197789","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10030788"},{"teacherId":1930580,"projectId":9343288,"letterContent":"The addition of our movement furniture has been so positive. My students were excited to have multiple options to choose from and then time to try out all of our new seating and find out which item worked best for them. I've noticed an increase in confidence and independence in my kids, as well. Students feel more comfortable making choices about where and how they learn best. The classroom environment is calmer, and transitions are smoother because students are able to self-regulate and take ownership of their space.\r\n\r\nOverall, movement seating has transformed our classroom into a more inclusive and supportive place where every child can thrive.","fullyFundedDate":1750774628768,"projectUrl":"project/i-like-to-move-it-move-it/9343288/","projectTitle":"I Like to Move It, Move It!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Cerne","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1930580"},{"teacherId":10017620,"projectId":9323210,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding my flexible seating project! It is a huge hit in my fifth grade classroom. I have done ample amounts of research about how flexible seating can positively impact students, and I am definitely seeing positive outcomes this year so far. \r\n\r\nFlexible seating allows students autonomy over their learning which increases engagement and gives students a sense of responsibility in the classroom! Thanks to you, I am able to provide a better learning environment for my students!\r\n\r\nWhen my students first came into the classroom this year, the flexible seating options were something they noticed immediately! My students use the flexible seating on a daily basis--all day long! Whenever they are doing some type of independent work, they are almost immediately asking me if they can use one of the flexible seats! \r\n\r\nWe will continue to use these seats all year long and cannot thank you enough!","fullyFundedDate":1746785991738,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-supporting-diverse-lea/9323210/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating: Supporting Diverse Learners and Learning Styles","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Lanham","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10017620_orig.jpg?crop=434,434,x0,y37&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746483555954","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10017620"},{"teacherId":9793566,"projectId":9318172,"letterContent":"We are incredibly grateful for your generous donation of playdough materials—your support has made a meaningful and immediate difference in our classroom!\r\n\r\nThe moment the students saw the vibrant playdough colors and exciting tools, their faces lit up with pure joy. Their excitement was contagious, and the materials quickly became a favorite part of our learning day. These hands-on tools have done more than just engage students—they've fueled motivation, creativity, and meaningful language development.\r\n\r\nDuring playdough activities, students naturally began to describe what they were making, ask questions, and collaborate with peers. This open-ended play provided rich opportunities for eliciting and expanding language in authentic, student-centered ways. We heard full sentences, thoughtful questions, and an increase in expressive vocabulary—all while students were simply \"playing.\"\r\n\r\nThe sound stampers were an especially powerful addition. These multisensory tools helped students connect sounds with symbols in an engaging and tactile way, supporting phonological awareness skills through touch, sight, and sound. Students delighted in pressing the stampers into the dough, saying the sounds out loud, and connecting those sounds to letters and words. It was a perfect blend of fun and foundational skill-building.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generosity, our classroom is a more vibrant, engaging, and effective learning space. Your support has made a lasting impact on our students' language and literacy development, and for that, we sincerely thank you.","fullyFundedDate":1746466583707,"projectUrl":"project/talk-dough-to-me/9318172/","projectTitle":"Talk Dough to Me","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Showalter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9793566_orig.jpg?crop=300,300,x0,y26&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746395238990","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9793566"},{"teacherId":835048,"projectId":8913390,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the generous donations to our project! My students were so excited to see each of the new items we received. They were extremely excited to use the microphones to practice speaking to one another. Just by having this little tool, their confidence has really grown! \r\n\r\nThe pop up pirate game and the learn and drop game are requested all the time in our small groups! In addition to the various new games you have provided us, they are really using the sensory materials to help focus to our group work. The stretchy chair bands, tactile squares, squishy toys, and the calming strips on the table are highly sought out objects! As soon as they enter our group, they are asking for these items! \r\n\r\nWe cannot thank you enough for giving us the opportunity to have these new materials for all of our students to use!","fullyFundedDate":1739369088392,"projectUrl":"project/lets-talk-encouraging-language-with-en/8913390/","projectTitle":"Let's Talk! Encouraging Language with English Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Hitchins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp835048_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1448992524200","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/hitchins"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_29922","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":322,"numTeachers":30,"percentFrplEligible":61,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":31,"percentWhite":45,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":8,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"10.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":83.1,"schoolId":29922,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Sugar Creek Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Sugar Creek Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/mclean-co-unit-district-5/sugar-creek-elementary-school/29922"}
Join the 445 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Sugar Creek Elementary School is
a suburban public school
in Normal, Illinois that is part of Mclean Co Unit District 5.
It serves 322 students
in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 10.7:1.
Its teachers have had 142 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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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.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
43%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Sugar Creek Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Dec 8, 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.
Sugar Creek Elementary School
$74,108
raised using DonorsChoose
142
projects
funded
34
teachers
funded
445
donors
2
projects
for
basic supplies
11
projects for
technology
12
projects for
books
6
projects
for
art supplies
Sugar Creek Elementary School has received support from
370 individuals from Illinois and
75 individuals out-of-state.