Manchester Schools To Hand Out Solar Eclipse Glasses To Students

MANCHESTER, NJ — Manchester Township students will have a special science lesson when they return to school after spring break, as the district plans to turn the April 8 solar eclipse into an instructional opportunity.

Superintendent Diane Pedroza sent a letter home to parents on March 27, sharing the district's plans for students regarding the solar eclipse.

New Jersey is not in the path of totality — the area where the sun will be completely covered by the moon. The sun is anticipated to be 87.1 percent covered in Ocean County, however, according to NASA. While New Jersey experienced a partial solar eclipse in 2017, the next solar eclipse anticipated for parts of the United States isn't expected until 2044.

"We are approaching this as a learning experience for our students," Pedroza wrote.

With the eclipse expected to pass through the area between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., the Manchester Township Schools will be handing out specialized glasses to protect students' eyes.

Students in elementary and middle schools, and Regional Day School, will be given the glasses, Pedroza said.

Elementary students will be taken outside by their teachers for part of the event, weather permitting, she said.

Parents and guardians who do not want their children to participate in viewing the solar eclipse should notify their child's teacher, Pedroza said.

Middle school students will be headed home from school during the time of the eclipse, "and we suggest they wear specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing," Pedroza said.

At the high school, the glasses will be distributed to students who are in school after dismissal for school-related events.

Read more: Solar Eclipse: How Much We'll See In Manchester, When To See It