April 8, 2024 | Half Day | Early Dismissal Times by Grade
Grades PreK-2 - 11:00 a.m.
Grades 3-6 - 10:40 a.m.
Grades 7-12 - 11:40 a.m.
School lunch and Eclipse glasses will be provided before dismissal.
2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of NASA (Official Trailer)
Half Day on April 8, 2024 - 3:22 PM - Solar Eclipse, Elmira City School District
A total solar eclipse affecting much of New York will take place on Monday, April 8, 2024. Like many districts along the eclipse’s path throughout New York and the nation, the Elmira City School District will dismiss on a half day schedule.
The eclipse (complete darkness) is projected to be visible in New York State in the afternoon – about the same time of a normal school day dismissal period. The schedule adjustment will allow us to ensure all students are transported home safely, prior to the event.
Eclipse Eye Safety
The District will provide solar glasses, with proper filters, to share with students. This will allow students to experience this solar eclipse event safely. When watching a partial or annular solar eclipse directly with your eyes, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun.
It is not safe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing. Please read more about NASA's recommendations for Eclipse Eye Safety here:
https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/safety/
About the April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse
Experts say this will be a “once in a lifetime” event for most. The last total solar eclipse in New York State occurred in January 1925. The next one in the U.S. won't occur until 2045. New York State won't experience its next total eclipse until 2079.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and Earth. During a total solar eclipse, people in the path of totality see the sun's disk completely covered by the moon for a brief time. The path of totality will stretch across a large swath of upstate New York from its southwest corner to its northern border with Canada.
Eclipse Eye Safety
The Elmira area is directly in the path of the totality of the solar eclipse. Our area will experience approximately fifteen seconds where the moon is completely in front of the sun. It will then create conditions of darkness as if it were dawn or dusk.
We hope that if your children elect to observe the solar eclipse, they do so only with parental supervision and only with proper guidance. The American Astronomical Association recommends not looking directly at the sun during the eclipse as this could cause permanent eye injury. The society also recommends not wearing regular sunglasses as they will not protect one’s eyes.
The only type of glasses that will protect a person’s eyes during the eclipse are those which are certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 12312-2, Certified Eclipse Glasses. These are being provided to each student of the Elmira City School District provided that they are utilized safely by the student and under parental supervision.
We also recommend that you review the guidance of the American Astronomical Society,
>>please be sure to read the American Astronomical Society instructions carefully (.PDF)
Your child must use these glasses in accordance with the instruction of the American Astronomical Society. Looking directly at the sun or using improper eye wear can result in permanent eye injury. Please be advised that the district will not be in a position to supervise your children to ensure that they are acting safely. This is the responsibility of each parent or guardian for each student in the district.
Public Safety
The Chemung County Executive has compiled a temporary committee from the Sheriff's Office, 911, Civil Defense, Emergency Management, Central Services, Fire Management, and Public Information to prepare for the potential impacts of hundreds of thousands of people driving through Chemung County to include Traffic Congestion, Cell Phone Service Interruptions and Increased Medical Response. Read more here:
https://www.chemungcountyny.gov/1088/Solar-Eclipse
Resources for Families
NASA:
https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses
https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/phenomenon/solar-eclipse
Scholastic Books:
https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/learning-toolkit-blog/7-activities-to-get-kids-excited-solar-eclipse.html
National Science Teaching Association:
https://www.nsta.org/eclipse
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum:
https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/eclipse
I LOVE NEW YORK:
https://www.iloveny.com/events/eclipse-2024/