Rhinebeck Science Foundation

How Gifts to RSF Are Used

Your donation to The Rhinebeck Science Foundation is used to support math, science and technology curriculum initiatives in the Rhinebeck Central School District. Our schools, like all public schools in New York State must meet the curriculum guidelines standards set by the New York State Regents. In addition to our guidelines, all teacher grant requests for programs that we fund, must meet state requirements and are reviewed by Marvin Kreps, the district’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Joseph Phelan, Superintendent of Schools.

Major Grants
The Rhinebeck Central School District has launched a district-wide initiative for science, math and technology education in all three schools. The Superintendent, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, school principals and teacher leaders are working with educators from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies to develop long-term projects that involve hands-on, thematic learning in the Rhinebeck Schools.

This initiative presents students with real life applications of science, math and technology built on concepts across multiple grade levels, encouraging inquiry across multiple disciplines, and most importantly impacting a maximum number of students in the district.

An integral part of the success of any project funded by the Rhinebeck Science Foundation is to provide the professional development required to implement these programs. The Foundation encourages all grants to include a professional development component.

Mini Grants
Smaller grants will be awarded to individual teachers or small groups of teachers at the classroom level for more narrowly focused learning tools. These grants are designed to reward those faculty members eager to institute hands-on, project-based learning in their classroom and have ideas that will enhance the learning experience for the children. These grants are not limited to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, but include the arts and other applied areas as well. The Foundation emphasizes the idea that the sciences can be applied to every area of the academic curriculum.

Administrative Expenses
We are committed to keeping our expenses to a fraction of our income in order to channel every available dollar into the Rhinebeck schools. Our board and committee members are all volunteers; local businesses and community residents donate their time, services, and expertise in a variety of areas. We limit our out-of pocket expenses to items that fulfill our administrative needs.