March 6th, 2024

Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) schools will be open on April 8 as planned. This means that WRDSB students can have a once in a lifetime education experience.

WRDSB plans for professional development days are detailed in the Ministry-approved School Year Calendar shared in June 2023. This includes the Professional Development Day on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Student safety is a priority for us alongside the continual engagement in real life learning opportunities that support student:

  • Growth
  • Learning
  • Achievement

Given the decisions of other school boards, WRDSB considered multiple factors, including the following:

  • The measures needed to ensure the safety of students and staff
  • Maximizing the unique learning opportunities educators are planning for this rare occurrence
  • The impact on families who would require child care support or need to adjust existing arrangements for the day
  • Ensuring that parents were aware that they still had autonomy around their children’s attendance on the day

As a publicly funded educational institution, we will be providing valuable education for the students we serve on April 8, as we do every school day. We are confident WRDSB staff will make the most of the once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity connected to the eclipse.

Attendance and Early Dismissal

As always, families and caregivers are able to make their own decisions regarding student attendance on April 8. In cases where families feel the best choice is to keep their child home, or take their children home earlier in the day, they are welcome to do so. Families are asked to report student absences to their child’s school, as per the typical process.

Learning Opportunities for Students

This will be the first total eclipse since 1925 and another one won’t be visible in the area again until 2144. WRDSB staff are already planning to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity for students on April 8, while ensuring the appropriate safety measures are in place.

Educators will have the opportunity to provide students the chance to make the most of this opportunity through a range of activities that may include using the following resources:

What is a Total Solar Eclipse?

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. People viewing the eclipse from locations where the Moon’s shadow completely covers the Sun will experience a total solar eclipse. The sky will darken, as if it were dawn or dusk.

Looking directly into the sun at any time is dangerous and can cause serious eye damage, especially during a solar eclipse. On April 8, the eclipse will begin at 2:03 p.m. for the Waterloo Region and will end at 4:30 p.m. The maximum eclipse for Waterloo Region will occur at 3:18 p.m.

Supporting Student Safety

No one should look directly at the sun without appropriate eye protection, including during a solar eclipse. Staff will take an educational approach to reinforcing student safety. They will be provided opportunities to share this important knowledge with students in the days and weeks before the eclipse. Please speak with your student about the risks of looking directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse. School staff will remind students that it is not safe to look directly at the Sun and will direct students not to look at the solar eclipse during school hours. School staff are not able to supervise students as they travel home from school.

We are committed to taking every measure necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of students. Educators will be provided opportunities to lead students as they engage in safe learning opportunities, such as indirect viewing methods, including virtual viewing opportunities.

 

Region of Waterloo Public Health Advice for General Ocular Safety

  • It is not safe to look directly at the sun during a total solar eclipse. Health impacts include retinal burns, blurred vision and loss of eyesight (immediate or delayed onset)
  • Safe direct viewing: glasses with specialized filters (ISO 12312-2 international standard)
    • Regular sunglasses will not protect people’s eyes
    • It is not safe to view the eclipse through a camera/phone lens, telescope, binoculars or any optical devices
  • Safe indirect viewing – e.g., livestream, eclipse box, pinhole projector

Learn More About the April 8 Total Solar Eclipse

Refer to the following resources to learn more about the upcoming April 8 total solar eclipse:

April 8 Eclipse – Frequently Asked Questions

Will WRDSB schools be open on April 8, 2024, the day of the total solar eclipse?

WRDSB schools will be open on April 8 as planned, per the Ministry-approved School Year Calendar shared in June 2023.

Other school boards in Ontario have decided to move their Professional Development Day or adjust the school day on April 8 due to the solar eclipse. Did the WRDSB consider other alternatives for April 8?

This will be the first total eclipse since 1925 and another one won’t be visible in the area again until 2144. Student safety is a priority for us alongside the continual engagement in real life learning opportunities that support student:

  • Growth
  • Learning
  • Achievement

WRDSB staff are already planning to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity for students on April 8, while ensuring the appropriate safety measures are in place.

In making its decision, WRDSB gave significant consideration to:

  • Measures needed to ensure the safety of students and staff
  • Unique learning opportunities educators are planning for this rare occurrence
  • Impact on families who would require child care support or need to adjust existing arrangements for the day

What should families and caregivers be aware of in making decisions about their child for April 8?

WRDSB students will take part in once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunities during the total solar eclipse. Educators will ensure the appropriate safety measures are in place. Families are encouraged to speak with their students about the risks of looking directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse. Staff will take an educational approach to reinforcing student safety. They will be provided opportunities to share this important knowledge with students in the days and weeks before the eclipse. School staff are not able to supervise students as they travel home from school.

As always, families and caregivers are able to make their own decisions regarding student attendance on April 8. In cases where families feel the best choice is to keep their child home, or take their children home earlier in the day, they are welcome to do so. Families are asked to report student absences to their child’s school, as per the typical process.

What are some of the safety measures that WRDSB has in place to support safe learning opportunities about the eclipse for students on April 8?

No one should look directly at the sun without appropriate eye protection, including during a solar eclipse. Staff will take an educational approach to reinforcing student safety. They will be provided opportunities to share this important knowledge with students in the days and weeks before the eclipse.

School staff will remind students that it is not safe to look directly at the Sun. Staff will direct students not to look at the solar eclipse during school hours. School staff are not able to supervise students as they travel home from school.

We are committed to taking every measure necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of students. Educators will be provided opportunities to lead students as they engage in safe learning opportunities. This includes indirect viewing methods, including virtual viewing opportunities.

To the best of our abilities, our decisions will always be made in the safety of our students, in concert with families and caregivers.