Catholic Schools Will Release Early Monday For Solar Eclipse
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A historic event that coincides with the first day of school has led the Archdiocese of Miami to announce an early release for its elementary and high school students in Miami-Dade and Broward.
"All our schools are dismissing at 11:30 and we're doing this because of this historic event that is going to be occurring over the state of Florida and that is our total solar eclipse," said Archdiocese of Miami Director of Communications Mary Ross Agosta.
According to NASA, this is the first total solar eclipse that can be seen in the Continental U.S. since in 1979.
During a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and Earth and blocks all or part of the sun for up to about three hours.
In South Florida, the solar eclipse is expected to start at 1:26 p.m., peak at 2:58 p.m. and end by 4:20 p.m.
"We all know don't look at it, not even with your regular sunglasses and I've learned over the weekend through several doctors, even with the special sunglasses that some people may obtain, those are not safe for children's eyes," said Ross Agosta.
The Archdiocese said with the first day of school usually being pretty hectic, they decided to go with the early release so students can be in a safe environment during the solar eclipse.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools said most of its outdoor afterschool activities will be moved indoors but school dismissal times have not changed.
"We'll be establishing a balance between precautions, safeguards, as well as an educational benefit associated with the careful and monitored viewing of the solar eclipse," said Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
Dr. Roberto Warman, the director of Ophthalmology at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, said anyone planning to look at the solar eclipse needs to wear the appropriate certified-lens protector.
"The appropriate lens protector is really dark. If you put it on, you see nothing until you see the eclipse and you see through the sun that little piece," said Warman.
Related: Amazon Offering Refunds On Fake Solar Eclipse Safety Glasses
Broward County Public Schools has not announced any changes to its school schedule due to the solar eclipse.
The next total eclipse won't be observable in the United States until 2024 and not until August 2045 will Florida be in the next solar eclipse's path of totality.
