The Gazette article about Bob Melnik’s homesteading class (“Modern homesteading at NHS,” March 14) was a great example of the creative, engaging and challenging projects our NPS educators are doing in all our schools. Bob’s course, like a number of other wonderful projects in our schools, was made possible through a generous Endowment Grant from the NEF (Northampton Education Foundation). NEF has been raising money from the Northampton community and NPS alums and giving it to educators in the Northampton Public Schools and Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School through our two grant programs since 1991. We are proud of the work educators are doing and gratified that we are able to give them the financial support they need to explore, create and engage our students and their families. And we are forever grateful for the generosity of this community which has the vision to support our schools and the work NEF does. We invite you all to stop by our annual Showcase at 33 Hawley St. on June 14, Arts Night Out, to see some of the work NEF has funded over the past couple of years.

Dale Melcher and Martin Wohl, co-presidents Northampton Education Foundation

Northampton