Dear Duveneck Families,
I want to let you know about our plans for the exciting solar eclipse coming up next Monday, August 21 between 9:00 and 11:30 AM.
Teachers will be helping students to understand this event using age-appropriate materials across the grade levels. Fortunately, many wonderful videos and websites have been developed to help children learn about what is occurring during a partial (our local situation) solar eclipse.
As you are hopefully aware at this time, it is not safe to look directly at the sun during an eclipse. Damage to the eyes can occur because the partial blocking of the sun makes it possible for our eyes to stare at the sun longer than we can when the sun is not blocked by the moon. We have purchased protective glasses for students and staff to use in viewing the eclipse. We were fortunate to purchase these from a vendor designated by the American Astronomical Society as a reputable vendor – Eclipse For A Cause. The glasses are designated ISO 12312-2 compliant and CE certified as recommended by NASA and the American Astronomical Society. Here is what we have planned:
- We will not have outdoor recess at our usual 10:00 AM time nor will we have outdoor PE during the period of the eclipse. Outdoor play will occur only before or after the time period of the eclipse.
- Teachers will take students out to view the eclipse, and students will wear the protective glasses while looking at the sun. There are many things to notice during an eclipse that will be unusual for that time of day. Viewing will be for fairly short lengths of time, based on the age/attention spans of the children. Depending on the grade level of the students, they may view the eclipse only once during the duration (kindergartners) or multiple times to view changes in the eclipse across time (older students).
- Your child’s teacher will let parents know if s/he would like volunteers to help during the eclipse. If you have specific knowledge or expertise related to the eclipse, please let your child’s teacher know this.
- Equally important, if you would prefer your child not to participate in this viewing, please contact your child’s teacher as soon as possible.
I know that many people have been preparing for this eclipse and, like us, have purchased appropriate eye-ware for viewing the eclipse. At the beginning of July, I ordered (and paid for) 600 pairs of the eclipse viewing glasses in order to have enough for all of our students and adults at Duveneck. We are fortunate that our amazing PTA has created a fundraiser selling t-shirts to cover the expense of the eclipse glasses. Of course, we will do our very best to ensure that everyone viewing the eclipse will wear these protective glasses.
With warm wishes for a great school year,
Chris Grierson, Duveneck Principal