Return to Headlines

Excitement Peaks as RCSD Students Anticipate the Solar Eclipse

(March 12, 2024) As the days draw closer to April 8, 2024, students across the Rochester City School District are eager with anticipation for the rare event set to grace the skies: a solar eclipse. Students in Kelly Simbari’s fifth-grade class at Helen Barrett Montgomery School No. 50 welcomed a special guest on Monday, March 11, to prepare for this extraordinary occasion.

News 10NBC Meteorologist Glenn Johnson joined the students for a presentation to engage them on this upcoming once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Students learned about the eclipse, its timing, and its duration. The total solar eclipse will last 3 minutes and 21 seconds.

Mr. Johnson underscored crucial precautions to ensure a safe viewing experience:

Avoid directly looking into the sun. Even during an eclipse, looking at the sun can cause eye damage.
Beware of sunglasses. Sunglasses do not offer sufficient protection for viewing the sun.
Utilize approved solar filters. The safest method to observe the eclipse is through specialized solar filters or specialized eclipse glasses. Students in the Rochester City School District will receive a free pair donated by the Rochester Museum and Science Center.
Consider indirect viewing methods. A shoebox can be used to create a solar eclipse viewer.

For more information and resources, students and families are encouraged to visit a webpage created by the RCSD science department dedicated to the solar eclipse.

The Rochester City School District does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's actual or perceived race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, age, marital status, partnership status, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, gender (sex), military status, veteran status, domestic violence victim status or political affiliation, and additionally does not discriminate against students on the basis of weight, gender identity, gender expression, and religious practices or any other basis prohibited by New York State and/or federal non-discrimination laws in employment or its programs and activities. The District provides equal access to community and youth organizations. NYS CR Part #154 requires the District to provide communications to ELL families in the home language that they best understand. In order to request interpretation or translation services, employees may visit www.rcsdk12.org/translationservices. For emergencies or immediate communication needs, please use the Language Line at 1-866-874-3972. School secretaries in each school or program can provide the access code for this service.