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WHAT WE DO

MISSION

Our mission is to support educational enrichment for the students of Ballston Spa. Through grants to educators, we fund projects that are outside the scope of the Ballston Spa Central School District's budget.  Specifically, projects that impact students’ intellectual, emotional, physical, or social development—increasing the depth and/or variety of subjects or some other form of educational benefit.

We like to think of ourselves as the “cherry on top” of what is regularly funded by the District.

We don’t fill holes in school funding; we amplify the education experiences of children.

GRANT APPLICATION

The 2024 Grant Application Cycle is now open. Your application and any supplementary information should be received by no later than February 2, 2024.

 

Applicants must be employees of the Ballston Spa Central School District or organizations officially affiliated with the Ballston Spa Central School District.

Students from 5th Grade working in the M

FRED REINERS MEMORIAL GRANT

Growing up in Ballston Spa and attending the Ballston Spa schools left a large impression on one family of three siblings who now have chosen to pay back the district with a large gift in honor of their father. The children of Fred Reiners, Scott (Class of 1995), Kelly (Class of 1997) and Lindsay (Class of 1998), along with their mother, Susan Heim, have gifted just over $100,000.00 to the Ballston Spa Education Foundation (BSEF) to support educational enrichment grants in the classrooms of the Ballston Spa Central School District.

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Fred Reiners passed away in 2001, after a 28 year career in engineering at Beeche Systems Corp. and the Fort Miller Group. Throughout his life, Fred was deeply involved in youth activities in Ballston Spa, including as a coach for the Odyssey of the Mind program at Ballston schools. Following his passing, the Fort Miller Group created The Fred Reiners Charitable Trust in his memory and appointed his family as its trustees. After providing The Fred Reiners Memorial Scholarship for graduating students from Ballston Spa High School for several years, the family decided to make a larger impact in the district by gifting the entire amount of the charitable trust to the BSEF.

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The gift will have a transformative impact on the BSEF’s ability to help the students of the Ballston Spa Central School District. Up to $10,000 per year will be distributed as the “BSEF/Fred Reiners Memorial Grant for Educational Enrichment” to teachers throughout the district. These yearly grant distributions will directly align with the BSEF’s mission to fund educational enrichment for the students of Ballston Spa – projects that impact students’ intellectual, emotional, physical, or social development, whether it be in the form of increasing the depth and/or variety of subjects, or some other form of educational benefit.

Family representative Scott Reiners indicated that “My mother and sisters wanted to demonstrate our support for the teachers in Ballston Spa while providing incentive for them to think outside the box and provide enrichment experiences for the students in the classroom.”

PAST GRANT RECIPIENTS

2019

  • $8,851 inaugural Reiner’s Memorial Grant for Educational Enrichment was awarded to Gordon Creek to build an outdoor classroom.

  • $1,497 for three life-size skeletons for students in the Middle School to see how the muscles, ligaments and blood vessels interact with the bones.

  • $3,477 to purchase a SawStop table saw for the High School woodshop to ensure student safety.

  • $1,498 to purchase new rolling xylophone carts for the students at Gordon Creek to make them more accessible to students.

2017

  • Flexible Seating - $500 for students in the Middle School to have opportunities to work in spaces that suit their learning styles

  • Breakout Boxes - $1000 for group problem solving kits for the High School

  • Alternative Energy Powerhouse Kits - $1194 for the Middle School

  • Trinocular Microscopes - $1619 for the Middle and High Schools

  • Flexible Seating - $500 for students in the Gordon Creek to have opportunities to work in spaces that suit their learning styles

  • STEM education -$510 kits for Gordon Creek.

2015

  • Printing Press- $2,575 for the High School Art Department

  • Materials for Learning & Reading Garden - $459 for Malta Ave

2018

  • Breakout Boxes - $745.99 for Middle School math and English departments

  • Robotics Sets -- $1559.80 for Elementary and Middle Schools

  • Setting Building Tools -- $978.74 for the Middle School Drama Club

  • Giving Garden -- $270 for Malta Ave

  • Solar Binoculars - $560 for the High School science department

  • Makers Space - $2,504.26 for Gordon Creek

  • Trail Cameras - $2500 for Wood Road and the High School

  • Expanding Expressions Tool - $2,145 for BSCSD Speech and Language Department

  • SeaPerch Builder Kits - $586 for Middle School

  • Makers Space - $2,328 for Wood Road

  • Learning Carpet - $341 for Malta Ave.

2016

  • Tools - $349 for Middle School Environmental Club to build and maintain nature trail

  • Genetics Biotechnology Lab Equipment - $5743 for to the Middle School

  • Refreshment Cart - $366 for the Gateway students to create a business in the Middle School

  • Lego Architecture Kits - $646 for student at Milton Terrace to have hands-on connection while studying structures around the world

  • Electronic Vinyl Cutter - $865 for High School students to use design skills they learn in real-life applications

2014

  • Pilot Peer Leadership Program  - $4,000.00 for Middle School

  • Chess Sets - $564.00 for Elementary School students

  • Telescopes - $1210.00 for High School science students

  • Library Books - $1000.00 for High School BRIDGES students

  • Author Visit - $1200.00 for Middle School

  • Composting Program - $1133.00 for the start of composting program in the Middle School

  • Cardiovascular Equipment - $3000.00 for Middle School

  • Nutritional Program - $300.00 to support a nutritional program facilitated by the BRIDGES students

2011

  • $599.40 for Wind Power Science Kits awarded to the Middle School

  • $810.00 for a “Hear Builder” Computer Software Program awarded to Wood Road Elementary

  • $633.50 for a High Definition Camcorder awarded to the High School

  • $1,194.00 for a Tetrix Robotics Kit awarded to the High School

  • $1,000.00 for the Community Garden Project awarded to Milton Terrace South Elementary

  • $1,215.00 for 2 CPR “Manikins” & 1 AED Training Device awarded to the High School

  • $600.00 for Stability Balls awarded to Wood Road Elementary

  • $2,200.00 for Thermal Imaging Sensors awarded to the High School

  • $1,250.00 for E-Book Collection awarded to the High School

  • $837.00 for a Yoga Room awarded to Milton Terrace North Elementary

  • $599.40 for Wind Power Science Kits awarded to the Middle School

  • $2,765.00 for a Training Robot awarded to the High School

  • $940.00 for Flip Video Digital Camcorders awarded to Malta Avenue Elementary 

  • $437.06 for Xbox Kinnect & 3 Fitness Games awarded to Malta Avenue Elementary

PAST GRANT RECIPIENTS

2023

  • Awarded $7,732 total in grant money

  • $430 for a Function Machine to make learning math fun and engaging (BSMS)

  • $391 to fund yoga mats and yoga bricks for use in the library (BSHS) 

  • $765 to fund flexible seating options to keep kids engaged in reading instruction at Gordon Creek Elementary School,

  • $713 to fund cameras for the Wood Road Elementary School Yearbook Club and Art Department.

  • $5,432 was given to BSMS and BSHS for Physics Lab equipment to provide quality hands-on learning for students in 8th grade science and physics courses as they implement new curriculum. This funding is being provided through the generous Fred Reiners Memorial Grant for Educational Enrichment.

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2020

  • Mountain Bikes - $3,700 The Ballston Spa High School Outdoor Club

  • Books for Classroom Library - $500 to the reading teacher at Gordon Creek Elementary

  • Mobile Home Renovation Project - $10,000 this is the 2nd recipient of the Fred Reiner’s Memorial Grant and it was awarded to the High School Technology Teacher.

2018

  • Breakout Boxes - $745.99 for Middle School math and English departments

  • Robotics Sets -- $1559.80 for Elementary and Middle Schools

  • Setting Building Tools -- $978.74 for the Middle School Drama Club

  • Giving Garden -- $270 for Malta Ave

  • Solar Binoculars - $560 for the High School science department

  • Makers Space - $2,504.26 for Gordon Creek

  • Trail Cameras - $2500 for Wood Road and the High School

  • Expanding Expressions Tool - $2,145 for BSCSD Speech and Language Department

  • SeaPerch Builder Kits - $586 for Middle School

  • Makers Space - $2,328 for Wood Road

  • Learning Carpet - $341 for Malta Ave.

2016

  • Tools - $349 for Middle School Environmental Club to build and maintain nature trail

  • Genetics Biotechnology Lab Equipment - $5743 for to the Middle School

  • Refreshment Cart - $366 for the Gateway students to create a business in the Middle School

  • Lego Architecture Kits - $646 for student at Milton Terrace to have hands-on connection while studying structures around the world

  • Electronic Vinyl Cutter - $865 for High School students to use design skills they learn in real-life applications

2022

  • Awarded 6,8677.76 in grant money 

  • $600 awarded to Gina Ralston, Reading Teacher at Gordon Creek Elementary, to purchase books for a classroom reading library and

  • $573.52 was awarded to Jennifer McGuinness, 8th grade English Teacher at Ballston Spa Middle School for BreakoutEDU content-based escape kits.

  • $1420 for Prevocational Kits in the Speech Department at Ballston Spa Middle School (BSMS)

  • $1825 to purchase Gaga Ball equipment for use in the Physical Education Department at BSMS,

  • $449.24 to purchase Yoga Mats for use in the Health Department at BSMS

  • $2,000 for Coping Kits to use in the Counseling Office at Ballston Spa High School

2021

  • Ukuleles for the elementary schools for $3,679.92

  • Collaborative station whiteboards for self-paced learning classrooms for high school social studies.$928

2019

  • $8,851 inaugural Reiner’s Memorial Grant for Educational Enrichment was awarded to Gordon Creek to build an outdoor classroom.

  • $1,497 for three life-size skeletons for students in the Middle School to see how the muscles, ligaments and blood vessels interact with the bones.

  • $3,477 to purchase a SawStop table saw for the High School woodshop to ensure student safety.

  • $1,498 to purchase new rolling xylophone carts for the students at Gordon Creek to make them more accessible to students.

2017

  • Flexible Seating - $500 for students in the Middle School to have opportunities to work in spaces that suit their learning styles

  • Breakout Boxes - $1000 for group problem solving kits for the High School

  • Alternative Energy Powerhouse Kits - $1194 for the Middle School

  • Trinocular Microscopes - $1619 for the Middle and High Schools

  • Flexible Seating - $500 for students in the Gordon Creek to have opportunities to work in spaces that suit their learning styles

  • STEM education -$510 kits for Gordon Creek.

2015

  • Printing Press- $2,575 for the High School Art Department

  • Materials for Learning & Reading Garden - $459 for Malta Ave

2014

  • Pilot Peer Leadership Program  - $4,000.00 for Middle School

  • Chess Sets - $564.00 for Elementary School students

  • Telescopes - $1210.00 for High School science students

  • Library Books - $1000.00 for High School BRIDGES students

  • Author Visit - $1200.00 for Middle School

  • Composting Program - $1133.00 for the start of composting program in the Middle School

  • Cardiovascular Equipment - $3000.00 for Middle School

  • Nutritional Program - $300.00 to support a nutritional program facilitated by the BRIDGES students

2013

  • Thermal imaging cameras - $2385.00 for the Middle School

  • Wave lab equipment - $1737.72 for High School Physics students

  • SMART Notebook learning software - $1485.00 for High School Math students

  • 3D Printer $1215 - for 5th grade science students

  • School garden - $300.00 to start a school garden for Elementary school students

  • Library Funding - $1500.00 to update and diversify Elementary school library

  • Chess Sets - $400.00 for Elementary School

  • NAO robot - $3000.000 for the Special Education Program

  • Pilot rocket - $455.00 for High School physics students

  • 3D Printer - $5100.00 for High School Technology Department

2012

  • TIG Welder - $1,500.00 for the High School

  • Archery Program - $4,973.00 for a start-up archery program for the High School

  • “Choose My Plate” Display - $526.45 for the High School

  • Vernier Probware with six laptops - $2,750.00 for the Middle School

  • iPad with Prologue2Go software - $588.99 for the Middle School

  • Anti-bullying Film Production - $2,000.00 for Malta Ave. Elementary School

  • Technology for Control Area Network (CAN) - $1,585.00 for the High School

  • Supplemental Library Non-Fiction Books - $1,000.00 for Wood Road Elementary School

  • Reusable Atom Models - $287.20 for the Middle School

  • SMART Slates - $825.00 for the High School

  • K’NEX Renewable Energy Kits - $2,421.90 for the Middle School

2011

  • Wind Power Science Kits - $599.40 for the Middle School

  • “Hear Builder” Computer Software Program - $810.00 for Wood Road Elementary

  • High Definition Camcorder - $633.50 for the High School

  • Tetrix Robotics Kit - $1,194.00 for the High School

  • Community Garden Project  - $1,000.00 for Milton Terrace South Elementary

  • CPR “Manikins” & AED Training Device - $1,215.00 for the High School

  • Stability Balls - $600.00 for Wood Road Elementary

  • Thermal Imaging Sensors - $2,200.00 for the High School

  • E-Book Collection - $1,250.00 for the High School

  • Yoga Room - $837.00 for Milton Terrace North Elementary

  • Wind Power Science Kits - $599.40 for the Middle School

  • Training Robot - $2,765.00 for the High School

  • Flip Video Digital Camcorders - $940.00 for Malta Avenue Elementary 

  • Xbox Kinnect & Fitness Games - $437.06 for Malta Avenue Elementary

2010

  • ELMO Document Cameras - $1,166.10 for  Malta Avenue Elementary School.

  • Art Viewers for the Hallway - $513.52 for the Middle School

  • Interactive CD-ROMs with Corresponding Working Human Torso - $949.00 for the Middle School

  • Introductory Circus Arts Residency Program - $845.00 for Malta Avenue

  • Fit4Learning BodyBrain Deluxe Bundle - $4,499 for Milton Terrace North

  • Equipment for the Robotics Team - $1,927.00 for the High School

2009

  • NXT Robotics Kits - $3,457.19 for the elementary schools

  • Gel Electrophoresis Equipment - $925 for the High School

  • Spectrometer - $1,926 for the High School

  • Portable Audio Equipment - $700 for the Middle School

  • Quilting Loom and Supplies - $800 for the Middle School

  • Robotics Equipment - $2,000 for the High School

2008

  • Weather Station Improvements - $3,630 for the Middle School & High School

  • "Old Iron Springs March" Composition Costs - $1,000 for the High School

  • Student Art Gallery - $720 for the Middle School

  • Courtyard Garden - $279 for the Middle School

  • Senteo Interactive Response System - $1,499 for the Middle School

  • AirLiner Slates - $2,872 for the Middle School

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