Total solar eclipse information

On Monday, April 8, Central and Western New York will experience a solar eclipse. Because Syracuse falls in the path of totality, we will experience darkness for about a minute. This once-in-a-lifetime event is anticipated to attract a significant audience from outside the area. The North Syracuse Central School District will be closed on Monday, April 8. An updated school calendar was approved on March 19 making the day an Unused Snow Day/Solar Eclipse holiday. 

Why the change? Discussions between local superintendents about what to do that day started last school year, but in recent months area emergency management offices have joined the discussions. Since this area is very close to dead center of the eclipse’s path of totality (and its duration), emergency management offices expect visitors to flood the region to see the eclipse in person. With the extra added traffic and number of events being planned for the area, the district was concerned about safely transporting students to and from school that day, especially if emergency management offices need to focus on the influx of visitors and traffic. School districts in other regions of the country that have experienced total eclipses like this have encountered those issues and the district decided to make the switch. 
 
In addition, the eclipse will take place during dismissal for some schools, meaning students will be walking home or on a bus during that time, which would not provide them with the necessary protection. Most districts in the area have chosen either to dismiss early or close completely that day.  

Please click on the following link to learn more about recommendations regarding the solar eclipse:

New York State Center for School Health 

Pinhole Projection - A "pinhole projection” is the safest and most inexpensive way to watch a solar eclipse. Here are a few links of how to make some pinhole projection viewer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiT_KHRlSHQ

https://bellinghampubliclibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Make-a-pinhole.pdf
 

Following is a link to a slideshow that describes the various types of solar eclipses, including a total solar eclipse with the times totality will begin in CNY towns on April 8: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGAI6eSB1g/3UQBH9zIpInH576q-Z5Srg/view?utm_content=DAGAI6eSB1g&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor