The Lambton Kent and St. Clair Catholic District School Boards have made the joint decision to reschedule a PA day in April due to the full solar eclipse.
“After significant and thoughtful consultation with local emergency service partners and public health units, [we] have made the decision to change the Professional Activity Day scheduled for Friday, April 26, 2024, to Monday, April 8, 2024,” a news release stated this week. “The decision is due to the number of direct safety concerns associated with the total solar eclipse, which will affect the region between 2:00 p.m. and 4:30pm on Monday, April 8, 2024.”
Solar eclipses and similar natural environmental occurrences have, historically, resulted in a large number of tourists visiting the area, officials said, pointing to ‘a significant number of safety issues’ for students and bus drivers who will be leaving schools and travelling on the roads during the time of the eclipse.
“We recognize the incredible experiential learning opportunity associated with viewing the solar eclipse, and if our staff, students or families choose to participate in this activity, we encourage them to do so safely,” officials added. “Looking directly at a total solar eclipse can be dangerous due to the intense sunlight that is still present even when the moon is blocking part of or all of the sun.
“The sun's rays can cause permanent and irreversible damage to the eyes. Regular sunglasses are not sufficient for looking at a solar eclipse as they do not block the harmful solar radiation.”
More information regarding safety and the solar eclipse is available from the Canadian Association of Optometrists. For more information about the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse, visit NASA Science and Canada Space.com