Good afternoon! 

We are writing to share some important information regarding the solar eclipse that will take place on Monday, August 21. Although this is an incredibly exciting event that we look forward to sharing with our students, there are a few items that are important to share for safety reasons. Specifically, we are NOT in the path of totality so therefore there will NOT be a safe time for anyone to remove their viewing glasses and view the sun. We are working to ensure that everyone is educated about how to view this event so that we can all safely experience the eclipse next Monday!

Our employees have utilized the information you will find in the right column to become familiar with eclipse viewing safety. Their learning will be shared with students as well. We invite you to also review this information and share with your student(s).

It will take several hours for the eclipse to take place, but the point of near totality (again we are NOT in the path of complete totality) and the best viewing time will be approximately 1:13 p.m. on Monday, August 21.

Certified viewing glasses will be distributed to K-12 students (EC students will view the eclipse from inside using the live feed from the NASA website) and employees, which will provide everyone the opportunity to view the eclipse. In addition, teachers across the district will be teaching lessons about the upcoming eclipse throughout this week and the day of the event to prepare students for what they will experience.  

The district's insurance provider is requiring a signed permission slip be collected for all students in order for them to participate in the eclipse viewing. Students without signed permission slips by the day of the eclipse will be viewing the eclipse inside through a live feed from the NASA website. The wording on the permission slips was developed by the insurance provider and we are aware that it includes some extreme and highly unlikely situations that could result from unsafely viewing the eclipse. Regardless, we are dedicated to making this a fun and exciting learning experience for our students through responsible and safe viewing practices.

Permission slips were sent home with students in grades K-12 today, August 8. You can also find a copy HERE. In order for your student to participate in the viewing outside, please return the signed slip by the morning of Monday, August 21.  Should you have questions, please contact the office of the school in which your child attends. 

We are looking forward to this exciting learning experience on August 21!