After significant and thoughtful consultation with local emergency service partners and public health units, the St. Clair Catholic District School Board has announced the April Professional Development (PD) Day scheduled for Friday, April 26, 2024 will be moved to Monday, April 8, 2024. 

This decision is due to the number of direct safety concerns associated with the total solar eclipse, which will affect the region between 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 2024, when students would normally be making their way home at the end of the school day.  

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, completely blocking the face of the sun, resulting in darkness that resembles dawn or dusk.

Looking directly at a total solar eclipse can cause permanent and irreversible damage to the eyes, due to the intense sunlight that is still present even when the moon is blocking part of or all of the sun. Regular sunglasses do not provide sufficient protection for looking at a solar eclipse, because they do not block harmful solar radiation. 

In addition to the dangers of looking at the sun, dusk-like conditions approximately 50 minutes before and after totality may increase risk for our students and bus drivers who will be leaving schools and travelling on the roads during the time of the eclipse. 

More information regarding safety and the solar eclipse is available from the Canadian Association of Optometrists.  For more information about this rare astronomical event, visit NASA Science and Canada Space.com

The next solar eclipse that will be visible from Canada won’t occur until 2044.

As always, the safety and well-being of our students and staff remains our first priority.  We apologize for any inconvenience that comes as a result of rescheduling the April PD Day.