COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 227

October 20, 2006

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Geography Awareness Week: November 12-18, 2006

We would like to call your attention to the celebration of Geography Awareness Week. This year it will be held the week of November 12-18, 2006. Every year since 1987, when United States President Ronald Reagan signed legislation establishing the third week in November as Geography Awareness Week, the National Geographic Society has promoted the importance of geography to the public and to schools throughout the United States and in Canada. Each year a different theme is highlighted and approximately one and a half million people participate in related activities.

Information about Geography Awareness Week is found in Geography Action!, National Geographic's annual conservation and awareness program. In 2006-07, the National Geographic Geography Action! program will focus on Africa. It will feature the regional and cultural geography of "Africa in 3-D: Diversity, Demographics, and Discovery!" Information and resources may be found at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geographyaction.

For more information, contact Katherine Broendel, coordinator, Education Outreach, National Geographic Society, Education and Children's Programs, by e-mail at kbroende@ngs.org; or Dr. Beverly Thurston, coordinator of history and social sciences and international education, Office of Middle and High School Instruction, by e-mail at Beverly.Thurston@doe.virginia.gov, or (804) 225-2893.

BKCJr/BT/yba