{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Sara Atwater Denman Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":36.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4437162,"projectId":9479819,"letterContent":"Our new sensory tables and light table have had such a positive and meaningful impact on our kindergarten classroom. The moment they were introduced, the children were instantly engaged—exploring textures and practicing literacy and math concepts. These tools have created countless opportunities for hands-on, play-based learning, allowing students to strengthen their fine motor skills, practice early math and literacy skills, and develop their language as they talk about each activity and role play with their peers. I have used this as an opportunity to read a book to the class and then create an activity for each book through sensory play. This has helped them to recall familiar stories and anchor it to a fun activity. We have done activities where students are matching letters, making patterns, sorting objects by different attributes, retelling stories, counting, making pumpkin pie for the holidays following a recipe card, using fine motor tweezers to sort and so much more! It has been so fun to create these experiences for my class and I am looking forward to incorporating these into some holiday fun as well!\r\n\r\nBeyond academic growth, these additions have enriched our classroom community. The children gather around the sensory and light tables, sharing materials, collaborating on creations, and learning to take turns and problem-solve together. These shared experiences have helped build stronger peer relationships and increase engagement. We are truly grateful for these resources—they have transformed the way students are learning, support our students' developmental needs, and have brought so much joy and wonder into our learning environment.\r\n\r\nThank you for providing tools that make such a meaningful difference in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1757534835955,"projectUrl":"project/lighting-the-way-illuminating-learning/9479819/","projectTitle":"Lighting the Way: Illuminating Learning Through Sensory Play!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Wood","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4437162_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1493496124035","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4437162"},{"teacherId":7399294,"projectId":9268263,"letterContent":"Thank you SO very much for your donation! My students LOVE working their math probelms out on the LED boards and not having to spend time getting all the messy whiteboard materials out. They not only spend more time on math, but enjoy working on their answers with the board:) Students are improving on word problems, multi-digit multiplication and division with these boards to work them out on. Without your sponsorship, this would have never happened. Thank you for caring about the excitement of learning!","fullyFundedDate":1746471018490,"projectUrl":"project/masterminds-of-math-calculating-in-a-cl/9268263/","projectTitle":"Masterminds of Math, Calculating in a Cleaner Way!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Brandy Kelley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7399294_orig.jpg?crop=959,959,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1698528569788","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7399294"},{"teacherId":683579,"projectId":9112919,"letterContent":"Thank you so very my for donating to my Trampolines in PE project! I am so very thankful for amazing people like you, who support my Physical Education program. \r\n\r\nMy students absolutely love the new trampolines!! They love to jump on them. Students form a line to get on the trampoline and then they get to jump 10-15 times. If we didn't set limits, we would have the same students on the trampoline the entire class time. They have so much fun!!\r\n\r\nWhen we first brought out the trampolines to our station day, they didn't know how to react. We had a couple of students demonstrate what to do on the trampoline. After that demonstration, the students were ready to go and super excited!\r\n\r\nThank you so much for your gracious donation. It made a difference for me, my classroom and my students. With wonderful people like you, we are able to provide new and exciting activities for our students!!!","fullyFundedDate":1741219104397,"projectUrl":"project/trampolines-in-pe/9112919/","projectTitle":"Trampolines in PE","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Oitker","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp683579_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1538512358068","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/683579"},{"teacherId":9527220,"projectId":8699456,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom was filled with excitement and curiosity the day the new resources arrived! The students' faces lit up as we unboxed the materials together—they couldn't believe that these tools were just for them. One student even exclaimed, \"This feels like Christmas!\"\r\n\r\nWe've already put the resources to great use. Most recently, we used them during a hands-on STEM challenge where students had to design and build a structure to protect an \"egg astronaut\" during re-entry. Using the new materials, students worked collaboratively, tested their designs, and revised their plans using real-world problem-solving skills. It was incredible to see their creativity and resilience shine through!\r\n\r\nThese tools are making lessons more engaging and allowing students to take more ownership over their learning. We're currently diving into a unit on forces and motion, and the next step is applying what we've learned to build small roller coasters using marbles. The new supplies will help make this project come to life.\r\n\r\nYour donation hasn't just brought materials—it's brought joy, opportunity, and deeper learning. Thank you for investing in our students' futures!","fullyFundedDate":1727114934465,"projectUrl":"project/flexible-seating-for-4th-graders/8699456/","projectTitle":"Flexible Seating for 4th Graders","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Kreps","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9527220"},{"teacherId":9076727,"projectId":8931218,"letterContent":"I am deeply grateful for your incredible generosity in donating copies of The Wild Robot to our classroom. Your support has provided my students with a truly special opportunity to engage with a story that inspires creativity, empathy, and problem-solving. These books will not only spark their imaginations but also allow them to explore important life lessons about adapting to challenges, building relationships, and finding their place in the world.\r\n\r\nIn our classroom, we emphasize the importance of social-emotional growth alongside academic learning, and The Wild Robot beautifully aligns with these goals. The themes of resilience and collaboration within the story will encourage meaningful discussions and reflections among my students, helping them build valuable life skills. Your donation ensures that each student has their own copy, making the experience more personal and impactful for everyone.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the power of books to change lives. Your gift has made a lasting difference in the lives of my students, and we are all excited to embark on this literary adventure together. Your kindness and support remind us of the importance of community and the joy that comes from helping others grow.","fullyFundedDate":1731284823352,"projectUrl":"project/the-wild-robot-meets-a-wild-classroom/8931218/","projectTitle":"The Wild Robot Meets a Wild Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hogge","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9076727"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_24839","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":516,"numTeachers":28,"percentFrplEligible":61,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":79,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":2,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"18.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":63.2,"schoolId":24839,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Sara Atwater Denman Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Sara Atwater Denman Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/quincy-school-district-172/adams-elementary-school/24839"}
Join the 296 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Sara Atwater Denman Elementary School is
a rural public school
in Quincy, Illinois that is part of Quincy School District 172.
It serves 516 students
in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 18.4:1.
Its teachers have had 120 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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Sara Atwater Denman Elementary School Demographics
61%
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
5%
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.
Sara Atwater Denman Elementary 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.
Sara Atwater Denman Elementary School
$61,128
raised using DonorsChoose
120
projects
funded
43
teachers
funded
296
donors
6
projects
for
basic supplies
17
projects for
technology
25
projects for
books
3
projects
for
art supplies
Sara Atwater Denman Elementary School has received support from
187 individuals from Illinois and
109 individuals out-of-state.