solar eclipse Monday April 8

Dear families,
This is important safety information regarding the solar eclipse, which will occur on Monday, April 8, 2024.
At Spring Creek School we will adjust our recess slightly to avoid being outside at the time of day where exposure can be dangerous to the eyes.

Sent on behalf of Dr. Alex Choi, Medical Health Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health.

1. As many of you will know On Monday, April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will occur when the Moon moves between the Sun and the Earth. In the VCH region, this event will be a partial eclipse, expected to start around 10:40am and end around 12:20pm. While it is dangerous to look at the sun anytime, the risk of harm is higher during a solar eclipse because we are more tempted to look, and some of our protective mechanisms that would make us turn away may be less effective due to lower light levels. Even during a partial eclipse, the sun’s intense radiation can cause severe damage to the eyes. It is crucial to avoid looking directly at the sun during the eclipse, especially for children, as their eyes let in more light to the retina than adult eyes. Young children also may not fully understand the risks or be able to follow safety directives and may require more supervision.

You can watch the eclipse streaming safely online for those who are interested.
Avoid direct viewing: Never look directly at the eclipse under any circumstances.

For more information, see:
Canadian Space Agency: How to safely watch a solar eclipse - Canadian Space Agency (asc-csa.gc.ca)
Canadian Association of Optometrists: https://opto.ca/eye-health-library/solar-eclipse-safety
Student Project: How to Make a Pinhole Camera | NASA/JPL Edu

Thank you for your attention on this matter.
Kind regards,
Karen LaRochelle.