Cherry Hill Schools To Dismiss Early For Solar Eclipse

CHERRY HILL, NJ — Cherry Hill schools will close early on April 8, with the mid-afternoon timing of the total solar eclipse prompting safety concerns, officials said Thursday.

The solar eclipse will pass through the region during a timeframe that coincides with school dismissals and after-school activities. As a result, some districts are modifying their April 8 schedules.

Dr. Kwame Morton, the district's acting superintendent, echoed the concerns of potentially exposing students to the eclipse.

"While the eclipse is an exciting event and is being used as an educational opportunity in our schools, concerns have been raised regarding the timing of the event," Morton wrote to the district community. "We have had extensive discussion regarding the risk of serious eye damage from looking at the sun during an eclipse without proper eye protection."

Pennsauken Public Schools will do the same.

The eclipse will reach the Cherry Hill area just after 2 p.m. and remain visible for about 2-and-a-half hours, according to NASA.

Here are the details:

• Partial eclipse begins: 2:08 p.m.
• Totality begins: 2:49 p.m.
• Maximum: 3:23 p.m.
• Totality ends: 3:57 p.m.
• Partial ends: 4:35 p.m.

Cherry Hill will dismiss students at the following times:

• Grades PreK-5: 1 p.m.
• Grades 6-8: 12:15 p.m.
• Grades 9-12: 11:45 a.m.

School-Age Child Care (SACC) — the district's before- and after-school childcare program — will be closed that afternoon. All after-school activities on April 8 will be canceled.

Morton encouraged members of the school community to safely enjoy the eclipse from home.

New Jersey isn't in the direct path of the eclipse, but the Garden State will still see some blockage of the sun — it just won't be as dramatic. Nonetheless, NASA advises that viewing the eclipse without proper eye protection is still unsafe.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, completely blocking the sun. After April 8, there won't be another total solar eclipse for another 20 years.