The Board of Supervisors presentation for this initiative will occur later this spring (due to weather).

BOARD MATTER

December 6, 2004

Mr. Chairman: Recently, Delegate Steve Shannon brought to my attention that the fourth grade students at Freedom Hill Elementary School, in Providence District, have made a discovery - Kyanite. Kyanite is a shiny translucent gemstone named after the Greek word kynos which means "blue". Kyanite is mainly used for jewelry but is also used in the manufacturing of spark plugs and heat resistant ceramics and is known for its color zones and variation in hardness.

During their journey of discovery, in their social studies class, the students found that Virginia does not have a designated mineral or fruit. They decided to pursue their research on Kyanite which took them to the Kyanite Mining Corporation where they learned the functionalities and characteristics of Kyanite.

Fueled by their research, the students contacted Delegate Shannon and asked for guidance in legislating Kyanite as the Commonwealth's mineral. Due to this student interest, Delegate Shannon contacted my office to express how impressed he was with both the students and the teaching staff at Freedom Hill Elementary School. He will be examining the interest in other parts of the state for pursuing this matter.

In the meantime, I wish to commend the fourth graders of Freedom Hill Elementary for exemplifying the outstanding achievement of the students in Fairfax County's Public School System. I am especially proud to commend their performance because they chose to make decisions based on research and go as far as they could to bring attention to their discovery of Kyanite.

Therefore, I move that at the January 24, 2005 Board meeting, the fourth graders of Freedom Hill Elementary, their teacher Mr. Miller and representatives of the school be invited to come before the Board in acknowledgement and appreciation of the achievements of the students of Freedom Hill Elementary School.

Freedom Hill Elementary School's Web site

Delegate Steve Shannon's Web site