Solar Eclipse Viewing - Monday, April 8, 2024
A total solar eclipse will be visible from many parts of the US on April 8, 2024. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun. While no location in Massachusetts will experience totality, some parts of the state will see over 95% coverage of the sun if weather permits. The eclipse will begin shortly after 2:00 PM and last until about 4:30 PM.
Our educators will be teaching about the eclipse and there will be an opportunity for students to view the eclipse, weather permitting, for a brief period of time (approximately 10 minutes). The Acushnet Parent Teacher Association (PTO) has generously agreed to purchase a pair of solar viewing glasses for each student to ensure a safe viewing experience.
Safety is paramount; looking directly at the sun can cause burns on the retina and because this is painless, a person would not notice that damage is happening, which can cause severe vision damage.
Educators will review the dangers of looking directly at the sun and review expectations that students must wear solar viewing glasses at all times when observing the sun. Students will be closely monitored when viewing the eclipse.
Families should reinforce safety expectations at home as school dismissal will occur in the midst of the eclipse.
TIPS FOR VIEWING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE SAFELY
WEAR ECLIPSE GLASSES - If you are in an area with a partial eclipse, it is NOT SAFE for your kids to remove their glasses at any point while looking at it. Sunglasses, even if they are dark and/or polarized, will not protect their eyes. Eclipse glasses do not let any light through and block out all images, except for a faint image of the sun.
SUPERVISE YOUNG CHILDREN - Make sure that they put their eclipse glasses on before looking at the sun and take them off after they look away from it.
MAKE SURE THE ECLIPSE GLASSES ARE NOT DAMAGED - If they are scratched or damaged in any way, do not use them.
ENSURE THE ECLIPSE GLASSES ARE TIGHTLY FITTING - The eclipse glasses should completely cover your child’s eyes and fit snugly so that no light peeks through.
DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN THROUGH AN UNFILTERED TELESCOPE OR BINOCULARS - The lenses of these optical devices will not protect your eyes without a special filter. Furthermore, even if your child is wearing eclipse glasses, they should not look at the sun through a telescope or camera because the concentrated solar rays can damage the glasses and still injure their eyes.
In order for students to participate in the outside viewing of the solar eclipse, they must return a signed permission slip by April 1, 2024. Students who do not return a permission slip will participate in classroom learning activities.