Safety concerns over April 8 solar eclipse mean day off from school ...
A partial eclipse is expected to last from 2:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. on April 8, with a total eclipse scheduled for around 3:30 p.m.
Published Jan 31, 2024 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 3 minute read
A solar eclipse on April 8 is going to mean a day off from school for at least some students in Eastern Ontario, though they’ll have to make up the time later that same month.
A message from Christian-Charle Bouchard, director of education for the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario, sent to parents and posted online, said that French public school board as well as two Catholic boards would move up a previously scheduled professional development day for staff on April 26.
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The Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est and Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien posted updates about the change online.
That day will now feature regular classes, Bouchard’s memo said.
The message said the switch was being made out of concern for potential safety issues resulting from the minutes-long darkness at release time from classes.
A partial eclipse is expected to last from 2:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. on April 8, the memo added, with a total eclipse scheduled for around 3:30 p.m.
“This period coincides with the time when classes end and the return home for the majority of students,” a translation of the memo said. “However, viewing the eclipse without proper eye protection poses potential risks of eye injury and permanent damage to sight. Challenges could also be encountered in terms of school transportation, both due to the availability of bus drivers and in terms of traffic during the eclipse.
“Due to these circumstances, we believe that your children will be more in safety at home and near you.”
Similarly, the Ottawa Catholic School Board also opted to switch a professional development day from April 26 to April 8, “keeping the safety of students and staff in mind,” according to a motion approved at the board’s Jan. 25 meeting.
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“While this is an awe-inspiring event, a major concern is students looking skyward without proper protection and risking damage to their eyes,” the motion read. “Understanding the nature of solar eclipse and sharing that knowledge is a critical first step toward ensuring everyone’s safety.”
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the largest board in Eastern Ontario, is still weighing its options.
“We are continuing to assess the situation and will be communicating with students, families and staff about April 8th in the coming weeks,” media representative Darcy Knoll said Thursday.
Trustees with the Toronto District School Board voted Wednesday night to approve a revision to its school calendar so students could stay home on the day of the rare solar eclipse. In exchange for moving a professional development day on April 8, up from April 19, the latter date will have regular classes.
Other school boards in the Greater Toronto Area, like those in the Peel, Durham and Halton regions, had already moved a previously scheduled professional activity day to April 8.
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On Wednesday, the Toronto Catholic District School Board sent letters to parents notifying them about a change to their school schedules due to the eclipse.
The eclipse is expected to be observed in Mexico first at around 2:07 p.m. ET, when the moon will move in between Earth and the sun, casting a partial or total shadow on the “lucky humans” who are able to observe the moment, said Elaina Hyde, a professor of physics and astronomy at York University.
The eclipse will then be visible in the United States before moving toward southern Ontario, then Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton.
“The big danger with this event is, of course, that a lot of people will be trying to look up at the sun, which is incredibly hazardous to your eyes. You can literally go blind,” Hyde said.
“The pure intensity of the light that will be coming out of the sun will be enough to permanently damage the sensitive materials inside your eye, and it’s not worth (the) damage.”
With files from The Canadian Press
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