Dear Families,
We hope you are well. We are writing today with important information regarding the upcoming solar eclipse.
On Monday, April 8, which is the first school day following Spring Break, we will experience a solar eclipse – when the moon passes between the earth and sun, obscuring our view of the sun. While we are not in an area that will experience totality (when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun), our partial eclipse experience will block more than 82 percent of the sun. This partial eclipse will begin shortly after 2 p.m. and end around 4:30 p.m. with the height of the eclipse taking place between 3:18 and 3:20 p.m.
Please be reminded that
looking at the sun on any given day can quickly result in permanent eye damage, and this is equally true during a solar eclipse. Sunglasses are not sufficient to protect eyes during the 2.5-hour partial eclipse window. NASA states that during the partial eclipse, “viewers must wear certified solar viewing or eclipse glasses or use an alternative viewing method the entire time, as at least part of the Sun is always visible.” NASA has advised that, even with part of the sun blocked, it is still intense enough to cause significant eye damage, which can occur before you realize it.
Our schools will remind students on the day of the eclipse during the morning announcements of the dangers of looking at the sun without the proper eye protection, even during the partial eclipse, and
we need your help reinforcing this message with your student. We strongly encourage you to talk with your student in advance of Monday, April 8 regarding the solar eclipse and solar eclipse safety – specifically about the dangers of looking directly at the sun without the proper eye protection.
The following online resources are available to support you in those conversations and to help answer questions you may have about the solar eclipse:
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Solar Eclipse FAQ from NASA
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Eclipse Safety from NASA
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Solar Eclipse Eye Safety from the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Thank you for your partnership and support of our efforts to keep our students safe and healthy.
Hanover County Public Schools