Safely Viewing the Eclipse
Safely Viewing the Eclipse
It is important to note that the safety of our students remains our top priority. The eclipse is expected to peak around 3:30 in the afternoon, coinciding with dismissal time for our elementary students and after-school activities for our middle and high school students. To address this concern, our teachers will be reviewing safety guidelines with students, emphasizing the importance of not looking directly at the sun without proper eye protection. Additionally, we ordered American Astronomical Society approved eclipse glasses (yes...that’s a real thing) for all of our students. They will be distributed on the day of the eclipse to ensure that everyone can safely appreciate the event.
For more details, parents are invited to access the links below:
More Information on the April 8th Solar Eclipse: CLICK HERE
NASA’s Recommendations for Safely Viewing a Solar Eclipse: CLICK HERE
School Schedule
Considering the upcoming eclipse, we've received questions regarding the possibility of an early dismissal. However, after careful consideration, we've decided to keep our regular schedule on April 8th. This decision prioritizes our students' best interests, taking into account instructional continuity, extracurricular activities, and the specific impact of the eclipse in our area.
Nevertheless, we understand that some families may have specific preferences regarding their child's participation in this event. Therefore, we want to extend the option for families who are interested in picking up their child early due to the solar eclipse to do so. If you wish to arrange an early dismissal for your child on April 8th, please contact the main office of your child's school to make the necessary arrangements. As you might imagine, it can be logistically challenging to manage unexpected early dismissals. It would be very helpful to our office staff if you would please contact us in writing no later than 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 8th to arrange for an early pick up.
Adjustments to Extracurricular Activities
The upcoming eclipse presents a unique scheduling challenge for our extracurricular activities. In light of this, we have made the following adjustments to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants:
All middle school games scheduled for April 8th will be canceled. This decision was made with the well-being of our students in mind, given the timing of the eclipse.
High school competitions on the same day will experience a slight delay, with a new start time of 4:30 PM. This adjustment will allow us to accommodate the eclipse while still enabling our high school teams to compete.
As always, we are committed to providing a safe and enriching learning environment for all our students. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we navigate this exciting astronomical event together.
Happy Viewing!
Dr. Marc Bertrando, Superintendent