Saint Patrick Students View Solar Eclipse

This Monday, students at Saint Patrick Catholic High School, were given the chance to witness a rare astronomical event during the school day.   August 21, 2017 marked the date of the first  solar eclipse visible in the contiguous United States since June, 1918.  Americans along the eclipse track across the country were gathered together to watch two and a half minutes of total eclipse. St. Patrick students got to view a partial eclipse around 1:00 pm. To watch the solar eclipse, students were provided with special glasses to protect their eyes by the school. Everyone was very excited about this special opportunity provided to St Patrick students. While the specialized glasses were handed out, teachers gave the students a safety lesson to make sure no one damaged their eyes and that they understood the rules in using the glasses.  Someone staring into the eclipse could cause severe damage to their eyes. The teachers and administration took this possibility very seriously and provided students the necessary precautions to ensure safety.

During sixth period, students, faculty, and staff gathered all across campus to watch this momentous occasion. Students had been preparing for this moment all month by learning  about the eclipse during classes. When the students got outside, you could hear the excitement and wonder buzzing in the air. One student was heard saying, “I am so glad the school allowed us to witness this rare solar eclipse. It was such a wonderful experience to see everyone enjoy the awesome moment.” Students were able to watch the eclipse for about 20 minutes and then headed back inside to resume classes. This was definitely a moment that this school and its students will remember for a long time.