Back to Search
Dear Parents and Guardians,
A full solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, 2024. This phenomenon happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth, casting a shadow on the earth that blocks the sun鈥檚 light in some areas.
In Windsor-Essex County we will experience some of the most intense effects of the eclipse between 1:57 p.m. and 3:17 p.m.
As this will be during scheduled dismissals, out of concern for student safety during that period of almost complete darkness, we will dismiss all students in both elementary and secondary schools at 1:00 p.m. on April 8th. All after-school extracurricular activities will also be cancelled that day.
Buses will run at their regular times in the morning but, since student transportation services will not be possible during the middle of the day, families will be required to make arrangements for their child to be picked up from school when they are dismissed at 1:00 p.m. There will not be student transportation services at the end of the day.
We did consider the possibility of moving one of our remaining PA Days to April 8, however due to contractual obligations, previously scheduled commitments, and issues surrounding transportation - which is shared between local school boards - this was not a workable solution.
We are working collaboratively with our Child Care providers to share plans for the day. We are supporting them as they continue to determine what programs they will run that day. If you have any questions regarding Child Care programming on Monday, April 8th, please contact your child鈥檚 Child Care provider.
A solar eclipse creates a halo-effect of bright light around the circumference of the sun, so even a brief, unprotected glance at the sun can damage eyesight, in some cases, permanently.
Here are a few resources which contain safety information that you can review and share with your children:
An from a U.S. organization to help protect you and your children during the solar eclipse.
from the Canadian Association of Optometrists offers some great tips on how to watch the eclipse safely.
Here is from NASA which describes the path of the eclipse, as well as additional details on safety.
We understand this schedule change may create inconvenience for some families, however we believe it is in the interests of the safety of our students and staff.