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  • October 13, 2018

The FSAS Annual Fall Kickoff took place on October 18th at Liberty School. The theme for this year is “Future-Focused: Aligning with the SAS Compass”. With over 220 in attendance, guests were able to hear from teachers and students about the impact of grants, as well as how the grants align with attributes of the Learner Profile, including Collaboration, Communication, Creativity and Critical Thinking. Special Guest Speaker, and local radio personality, Lucy Ann Lance, spoke of the 4 C’s and motivated the crowd to contribute to the future of FSAS.

 

Presenting Sponsors Briarwood Ford and Dr. Katherine Kelly Orthodontics were generous partners for the Kickoff. Mac’s Acadian Seafood Shack was the Food Sponsor, and provided a wonderful lunch.

You can view Fall Kickoff 2018

  • January 12, 2018

Only because of you, this past year, the Foundation:

  • Gave $75,000 to Saline Area Schools for the Hornet Hub, an innovative learning space at the High School
  • Awarded 26 teaching grants for over $33,000
  • Began a year-long campaign to celebrate the 30th year of FSAS
  • Began a new initiative of student and building grants to be awarded in January 2018
  • Introduced a Donor Recognition Wall to be unveiled in September 2018
  • Awarded 28 teaching grants for over $25,000 for the 2017/18 year

Check out this years highlights

Students are finding new passion in 20th century engineering and science. This is due to a grant awarded to teacher Ed Gall at Saline Middle School.

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To honor the 30th year of the Foundation, the annual Fall Kickoff was a Celebration Tailgate and Fair that took place on October 13th at Saline High School.

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We honored our 4th Hall of Fame class with a tailgate party at Hornet Stadium. The class of 2017 inductees consisted of Mary Gordon Converse, Ellen Ewing, Hamilton Morningstar,  Carol Pirkola, Dr. Katherine Ramsland (Johnston), Cristela Scanlon, Michael Smith, and Becca Sweitzer.

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  • December 11, 2017

Students are finding new passion in 20th century engineering and science. This is due to a grant awarded to teacher Ed Gall at Saline Middle School.  Mr. Gall’s 7th graders are not only learning how to use the top notch engineering program, AutoCad, to design CO2 cars, but they are also getting to use a 3D printer to make their creations come to life. Traditionally, CO2 cars are made of balsa wood, but Mr. Gall wanted to put a different spin on things and show his students the benefits of modern technology.

The students begin by researching the most aerodynamic designs for their cars while putting their own personalities into the design. Then, by teaching the kids to create computer drafts of their cars using AutoCad, they are able to print their designs out using a 3D printer.  Made from hundreds of layers of melted plastic, student’s cars come out exactly as designed. Once all the cars have been designed and printed, all the classes get to race their cars to see whose is the fastest. This is exciting for the students because they get to use modern science while being creative and competitive.

This past year the fastest car was clocked in at 45 mph, but with innovation from the students on their designs, he hopes to reach 60 mph in order for his students to compete at national events. Mr. Gall also plans to make this happen by using a virtual wind tunnel program to help better simulate the car’s drag coefficient and friction on the body before printing the cars to save time. Although the plastic bodies of the cars are not reusable, the wheels, axles, design program, and 3D printer are all reusable for futures classes.

“One student started his design off by mimicking a rain drop because they thought when a raindrop is falling through the air, it must naturally take on the most aerodynamic shape in the world.  I thought that was an amazing thing for a 12- year-old to theorize.” – Mr. Gall 7th grade science teacher

  • October 14, 2017

To honor the 30th year of the Foundation, the annual Fall Kickoff was a Celebration Tailgate and Fair that took place on October 13th at Saline High School.  At the tailgate, attendees heard from Ellen Ewing, former SAS Superintendent and recent Hall of Fame inductee; Superintendent Scot Graden; Reid Paxton, current trustee and son of FSAS founder, Bruce Paxton; and FSAS President Katie Murphy.  The Foundation’s past, present and future was highlighted to show how the Foundation has positively impacted the school and community for over 30 years.

Presenting Sponsor Briarwood Ford and Food Sponsor Knight’s Restaurant were generous partners for  the celebration.  For the second year in a row, Steve Whitener, owner of Briarwood Ford, awarded a check of matching funds up to $5,000 for the FSAS 2017/18 campaign.  

Following the Tailgate, the auxiliary football field was the site of a fair with dunk tank, inflatables, games and more for children of all ages.  The event attracted more than 500 people!

  • September 17, 2017

We honored our 4th Hall of Fame class with a tailgate party, on the patio, at Hornet Stadium on Friday night, and a banquet on Saturday night.

The class of 2017 inductees consisted of Mary Gordon Converse, Ellen Ewing, Hamilton Morningstar,  Carol Pirkola, Dr. Katherine Ramsland (Johnston), Cristela Scanlon, Michael Smith, and Becca Sweitzer. Hall of Fame Weekend was sponsored by R&B Plastics Machinery. For more information to nominate for the 5th Hall of Fame class click here.

Special thanks to Angel Food Catering for catering the banquet!

  • January 20, 2016

Annherst Kreitz of Saline has been named the first Executive Director of the Foundation for Saline Area Schools (FSAS).  The Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides private funding to support academic projects, enrichment programs, and other activities aimed at enhancing the quality of education in the Saline school district.  Kreitz will be the first ever Executive Director for the Foundation.

The increase in fundraising and administrative activities over the last few years led the organization to consider a more formal leadership position. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director (ED) will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for FSAS’s staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission.   The responsibilities include working closely with the Trustees, Saline Area Schools’ administration, teachers, parents, students, sponsors, donors, and the community at large.

Cheryl Hoeft, President of the Board of Trustees is ready for the next level of growth for the Foundation.  “After starting the process to create the executive director position over 5 years ago, I am delighted to have Annherst on board to provide consistency and sustainability to this organization.  Our growth necessitates having someone effectively manage all our initiatives and coordinate the numerous volunteer efforts” said Mrs. Hoeft.

Mrs. Kreitz was selected after a search was launched in October to fill the position.  She is currently a consultant and part time faculty member at Concordia University in Ann Arbor. As a Trustee for FSAS, she formed the Alumni Committee and has organized the Hall of Fame awards event.  Anne Balazs, a current Trustee indicated that “Annherst brings a strong background in marketing and relationship building skills plus a passion for the school system that is infectious.  She will be a great “face” of the organization.”  

Kreitz will start in the part-time position immediately and just in time for the annual Snowblast fundraiser event to be held at Travis Pointe on February 6.   Other annual activities include the Fall Kickoff, Hall of Fame awards, and the competitive grants awarded to teachers.

Scot Graden, superintendent of Saline Area Schools is optimistic about the appointment.  “As a district, the support of the Foundation for Saline Area Schools has been critical to our ability move forward on exciting innovations.  The addition of an Executive Director and specifically Annherst Kreitz, is an excellent step in the continued evolution of the Foundation.  I look forward to building on an already strong partnership.”