COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 169

August 27, 2004

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Capitol Holiday Tree 2004

The Commonwealth of Virginia has been given the honor of providing the Capitol Holiday Tree 2004 in coordination with the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests officials. This gift to the nation is from our entire state. The custom of placing the nations holiday tree on the front lawn of the U.S. Capitol dates back to 1964. Since 1970, the peoples tree has come from a National Forest. The 2004 tree will be the first Capitol Holiday Tree from Virginia. This exciting opportunity merits the enthusiasm and support of all Virginians.

The Capitol Holiday Tree 2004 Steering Committee is inviting students and educators in pre-k through grade 12 to provide more than 4,500, 9-12 inch ornaments for the holiday tree that will be placed in front of the U.S. Capitol in December. Also, they are asked to contribute to the 4,500, 5-8 inch ornaments that will decorate 70 to 75 companion trees that will be distributed to federal offices and office buildings in Washington, D.C. in December 2004. The ornaments should reflect the projects theme Capitol Holiday Tree 2004 from VirginiaBirthplace of Presidents or Virginias agriculture, wildlife, historical, or natural resources.

Teachers can use the ornament designs and accompanying lesson plans that are correlated with the Standards of Learning that can be found on the projects website at www.capitolholidaytree2004.org or use the design criteria to create ornaments that reflect their own communities. In addition, students are invited to take part in the community celebrations as the Capitol Holiday Tree 2004 travels across the commonwealth for approximately two weeks prior to its delivery to the U.S. Capitol for the lighting ceremony in December 2004.

The informational packets will be sent to the visual arts teacher in each school by August 31, 2004. If you have questions, please contact Cheryle C. Gardner (cgardner@pen.k12.va.us), principal specialist of fine arts, Ornaments Committee at 804/225-2881 or Karen Overcash (kovercash@fs.fed.us), United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Ornaments Committee at 540/265-5175.

JLD/yba