Caregivers:
As you are aware, on April 8th 2024, our area will be experiencing a near-total eclipse of the sun. We are excited to use this event as a learning opportunity for our students. The timing of near totality puts Watervliet experiencing this at 3:08 p.m. As this is in the middle of our district dismissal, we have created the following plan to allow our students to be a part of this unique experience.
Bus students at South and North will be picked up 10 minutes earlier than normal. When the buses arrive at the Middle School. Staff members will meet the students and escort them to the practice field behind the building. They will then use school-provided glasses to view the totality. After that, the students will load back up on the buses and travel home as usual.
This means ALL buses will be running approximately 10 minutes later than on a normal day. Your children will be supervised as normal at all times, and will not be left unattended.
Car riders and walkers will follow their normal dismissal routine, however, they will also be given glasses so they can experience this eclipse safely as well. If your children are not watching the eclipse with us, please follow the directions below to keep your child safe.
If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.
Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright Sun. After looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the Sun.
Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
Similarly, do not look at the Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewer in front of your eyes — the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury.
We appreciate your support and flexibility as we work to give our children a rare and exciting learning experience.