Dear Parents and Guardians:
Because of the solar eclipse that will occur on Monday, April 8, 2024, Prince Edward County Public Schools (PECPS) is extending spring break by one day. Students will return to school on Tuesday, April 9th. The solar eclipse will cross the United States stretching from Dallas, Texas to Caribou, Maine and is expected to be in our region between 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. During that time of the eclipse, approximately 85% of the sun will be partially covered by the moon and the sky will darken. Though a spectacular event, looking directly at the sun without protective eyewear will be unsafe. Please take precautions to ensure that you and/or your children do not look directly at the sun during this critical time.
Although our students will not be in school for the event, we do want them to engage in discussions and activities regarding the event. We are encouraging our teachers to prepare eclipse-related activities, upon return, which will challenge our students' critical thinking skills, as well as pique their interest in other space science and NASA-related topics. This event will provide our students with the opportunity for rich discussions, and I encourage you to engage in active conversations about the solar eclipse with your child. If you are interested in more information regarding the eclipse, please visit the NASA website: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/. In addition, eclipse safety precautions can be found at https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/. Again, we hope that you share this experience with your child, and we hope that you have a fun-filled spring break.
Respectfully,
Barbara A. Johnson, Ed. D.
Superintendent