MANSFIELD – According to The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), on Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk. The Mansfield area is not on the direct path for totality but will experience a partial eclipse.
In response to the April 8 solar eclipse, which will occur during our school dismissal, and out of an abundance of caution, Mansfield Public Schools is in the process of securing eclipse glasses for all students and staff in grades PreK-8. The glasses’ filters are made in the USA and assembled by a NASA-approved manufacturer, which is recognized as ISO-compliant by the American Astronomical Society. Glasses are provided to our youngest students as a precautionary measure.
People must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer (which projects an image of the sun) at all times to avoid damage to the eyes.
At the Jordan/Jackson Elementary School students recently participated in various STEM-based activities to create solar eclipse viewers in preparation for the solar eclipse. Teachers have addressed safety issues for watching a solar eclipse, which inspired the creation of solar eclipse viewers. Under the direction of their teachers, students in grades 3-5 used a variety of household items to create their own eclipse viewers including paper tubes, rubber bands, aluminum foil and paper to create their mock safety devices, while students in grades 4-5 used cereal boxes, aluminum foil, paper, tape and paper clips.
“These activities served as a great way to get our students excited about science while also teaching responsible habits for solar eclipse viewing,” said Principal Nieratko.
At Robinson Elementary, Principal Ryan Gentili and his staff will discuss viewing safety with students and demonstrate how to wear glasses during the eclipse.
The Mansfield High School Astronomy Club, under the direction of science teacher and club advisor Caroline Cooney, purchased Eclipse-certified (ISO 12312-2) glasses, and plan to view the partial eclipse after schoolon Monday. In addition, the Astronomy Club leaders created a presentation to teach the club members about Solar Eclipses and to get students excited about the event.
Superintendent Murphy would like to provide the following safety tips to all Mansfield students and staff, courtesy of NASA, and strongly encourages families to review this information at home with children :
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It is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing.
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Always inspect your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer before use; if torn, scratched, or otherwise damaged, discard the device.
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Always supervise children using solar viewers.
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Do NOT look at the sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury.
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Do NOT use eclipse glasses or handheld viewers with cameras, binoculars, or telescopes.
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Even during a partial or annular eclipse, or during the partial phases of a total eclipse, the sun will be very bright. If you are watching an entire eclipse, you may be in direct sunlight for hours. Remember to wear sunscreen, a hat, and protective clothing to prevent skin damage.
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To learn more about best practices for solar eclipse viewing, courtesy of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, click here.
In addition, adjustments to athletics and afterschool programs have been made to ensure the safety of our students.
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