{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Susitna Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":50.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2601309,"projectId":9650645,"letterContent":"I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Donors for your incredibly generous support in providing a large collection of board books for our pre-kindergarten students, ages three to five. Your kindness has made a meaningful and lasting impact on our school library and, most importantly, on our youngest learners who are just beginning their journey as readers.\r\n\r\nThe board books you helped provide are now a valued part of our school library collection. These books are not simply classroom materials; they are true library books that our pre-kindergarten students are able to check out during their scheduled library classes. Through this process, students experience the excitement and responsibility of borrowing books, learning early library skills such as choosing books, checking them out, caring for them properly, and returning them on time. This experience helps lay the foundation for lifelong respect for books and libraries.\r\n\r\nFor children ages three to five, board books are essential. Their sturdy pages are developmentally appropriate and allow young readers to explore books independently without fear of damage. The colorful illustrations, simple text, and engaging themes capture students' attention and support early literacy skills such as vocabulary development, print awareness, and comprehension. Many of our students are encountering books in a library setting for the first time, and your donation ensures that this first experience is positive, joyful, and memorable.\r\n\r\nYour support has helped us create a more inclusive and accessible library for our youngest learners. Many of our students do not have access to books at home, and this donation helps ensure that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to enjoy high-quality, age-appropriate books. The impact of this generosity extends far beyond our library walls and will influence students' academic growth and love of reading for years to come.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of our students, families, and staff, thank you for believing in the importance of early literacy and for investing in our school community. Your generosity has truly made a difference, and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to enrich young lives through books.","fullyFundedDate":1758828869204,"projectUrl":"project/early-literacy-one-board-book-at-a-time/9650645/","projectTitle":"Early Literacy, One Board Book at a Time","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Benfield","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2601309_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1649397056812","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/a-benfield"},{"teacherId":1076403,"projectId":9324730,"letterContent":"Our new books are such a hit! When we talked about the library the first week of school, the new books were quickly chosen first. Some of the series are favorites from last year along with new titles they haven't seen before. \r\n\r\nBabysitter's Club and Wings of Fire don't stay on the shelf right now. Students are constantly looking for the next book. Having these popular books in graphic novel form has really encouraged my struggling readers to try new things. The series of How to Train Your Dragon is exciting, we are reading book 1 together and I know many will want to read the entire series. \r\n\r\nThank you for helping give my students exciting and meaningful literature.","fullyFundedDate":1746787142495,"projectUrl":"project/more-books-please/9324730/","projectTitle":"More Books Please!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Spiess","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1076403_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1476826683880","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/janine-spiess"},{"teacherId":1076403,"projectId":9483283,"letterContent":"The beginning of our year started off so well with our new supplies. My students were so surprised that other people would be donating things for us to use. Your generosity meant a lot to them. \r\n\r\nWaterbottles are a necessity but few bring them. We were able to ensure everyone has one and that limits the disruption of getting drinks. They love taking them to PE! Students are also earning stickers weekly, to personalize them. \r\n\r\nWe are using our new eraseable pens to edit and revise our writing. We are participating in a postcard exchange and the loved using the new pens to write messages on our postcards. \r\n\r\nSoon, the markers and highlighters will help us with poster creations. They are so excited to use them. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1754452425298,"projectUrl":"project/get-us-started/9483283/","projectTitle":"Get Us Started","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Spiess","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1076403_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1476826683880","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/janine-spiess"},{"teacherId":1076403,"projectId":8363612,"letterContent":"My students have been enjoying all the additional science supplies and tools. We used the prisms and the optical experiment for our sound and light unit this winter. It enabled us to undestand how concave and convex lens really do change the direction of light waves. They loved creating rainbows on the ceiling with the prisms.\r\n\r\nWe have also been able to use the parchment paper, aluminum foil, and lunch bags for several science activities. For example, we use all of these to see how transparent various things were when light was shined through them. The marbles and yard sticks have been used in science and math this year. The yard sticks helped my second graders practice measuring larger things in our classroom like the floor and walls. \r\n\r\nYour generosity is greatly appreciated.","fullyFundedDate":1715035125047,"projectUrl":"project/science-supplies/8363612/","projectTitle":"Science Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Spiess","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp1076403_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1476826683880","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/janine-spiess"},{"teacherId":9155338,"projectId":9055009,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding my project \"Food for Thought\". Some reactions and descriptions when my students found out that we received snacks like cheeze-its and chips were: excitement, joy, \"this is a real treat!\".\r\n\r\nOur class has a 4 hour gap between breakfast and lunch which is a long time to focus on learning without any extra fuel! The funding from you was able to provide multiple weeks worth of snacks that fed hungry students before specials like PE. \r\n\r\nI am so grateful for your support and my students are too!!\r\n\r\nQuyanaq!","fullyFundedDate":1737610455163,"projectUrl":"project/food-for-thought/9055009/","projectTitle":"Food for Thought","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Walters","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9155338_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1691079936486","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9155338"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_66551","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":385,"numTeachers":27,"percentFrplEligible":68,"percentAsian":22,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":24,"percentIndigenous":15,"percentLatinx":9,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"14.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":49.5,"schoolId":66551,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Susitna Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Susitna Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/alaska/anchorage-school-district/susitna-elementary-school/66551"}
Join the 539 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Susitna Elementary School is
an urban public school
in Anchorage, Alaska that is part of Anchorage School District.
It serves 385 students
in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.3:1.
Its teachers have had 291 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Boost support for this school! Share this page with friends, family, alumni, and fellow supporters. Every connection helps teachers get the supplies they need and shows how much your community cares about its students.
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Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.
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
48%
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.
Susitna Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Jan 14, 2026
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.
Susitna Elementary School
$134,146
raised using DonorsChoose
291
projects
funded
55
teachers
funded
539
donors
19
projects
for
basic supplies
40
projects for
technology
54
projects for
books
13
projects
for
art supplies
Susitna Elementary School has received support from
267 individuals from Alaska and
272 individuals out-of-state.
