On Monday, April 8, North Central Pa witnessed a 90% eclipse of the sun. To celebrate this once in a lifetime event, two groups from DuBois Central Catholic School hosted Solar Eclipse viewing parties for students. A group of parents planned the first party in the soccer field for the 5th grade girls. The families, supplied with snacks and eclipse glasses provided by the school, met at the field where they had a clear view of the sky.
Middle school teachers also got together and planned an event for 6th - 8th grade, complete with a solar eclipse snack bag and activities for the event. Students met in the outdoor classroom area with blankets and eclipse glasses along with their snacks and settled in for the moment of near totality.
The sky was mostly cloudy, but there were enough gaps in the clouds for regular glimpses of the sun as the moon’s shadow passed over. When the sun pierced the clouds, everyone put on their glasses and watched as the sun grew increasingly darker. The air grew noticeably cooler and it seemed like twilight was setting in. Finally, at 3:19, the eclipse reached its peak and all that could be seen of the sun was a crescent shaped sliver. Then, within a few moments, the sky began to lighten. The eclipse was over.
The parties were a lot of fun for everyone who participated. Thank you to the teachers and volunteers who helped to provide our students with such a fun, memorable event!