On August 21, 2017 a solar eclipse will be visible on a path across the United States. St. Mary School will be in the path of near totality for the solar eclipse. We have been busy planning to make this once-in-a-lifetime event a unique learning experience for our students.
On August 21, 2017, all SMS students in grades 1-8 will be allowed to join their class outside, to participate in activities and view the period of near totality ("Solar Eclipse Viewing"). Classes will gather on the south lawn of the campus at approximately 1:00 PM.
As always, student safety is our top concern. Looking directly at the sun is unsafe. The only safe way to look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as "eclipse glasses". Per NASA, homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun. St. Mary’s has obtained and will provide all students and participants who attend the outdoor activities eclipse glasses to wear during this event. These glasses were obtained from the Challenger Learning Center in Hammond.