"The Great American Solar Eclipse"
On Monday, August 21, 2017, our district will be in the path of a rare solar eclipse. This event is being called “The Great American Solar Eclipse,” because it is the first time since 1918 a solar eclipse will be visible on a path across the entire continental United States. Since this is a once in a lifetime event, we hope to make this a unique learning experience for our students.
Safety is always our top priority. We will take all precautionary measures to make this experience both safe and enjoyable. Students will have been exposed to eclipse videos that describe the event as well as safety measures that should be taken. Parents who would like for their student to go outside during the eclipse must sign and return a permission slip. If you have returned a signed permission slip for your student and have since changed your mind, please call the office of the school your child attends. If your son or daughter does not return a parent signed permission slip, they will not be allowed to participate in the outdoor viewing. If a student does not want to go outside for the viewing, even if they have returned a signed permission slip, they will be allowed to stay inside. For those who do return a parent signed permission slip and wish to go outside, they will either view the eclipse through NASA approved viewing glasses or an appropriate pinhole projector. The students will be closely monitored; however, please take some time to discuss with your student the importance of not looking up during the event unless they are using the NASA approved glasses or the pinhole projector.
As extra safety precautions, students will not go outside for recess or Physical Education on Monday, August 21, 2017. If your student needs to leave during the day, a parent or guardian will need to come sign them out and escort them home. The classroom windows will also be covered to reduce any temptation for a student to look outside during the eclipse.
For those students who do not return a signed permission slip, students will have the opportunity to watch a live streaming of the eclipse at the following link: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/
(For more information on viewing the eclipse safely, please visit http://www.eclipse2017.
