Sugar Creek Elementary School students and staff took their classes outside on the afternoon of Monday, April 8, making the most of the rare opportunity to view a solar eclipse together as a school community.
Sugar Creek’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) purchased 1,000 glasses for the entire school to safely view the eclipse, which occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. Students were trained in both English and Spanish on how to properly use eye protection to avoid injury.
As students took their first steps outside on Monday, many had their glasses ready to go – immediately shifting their attention upwards and gasping at the changing sun. After about 10-15 minutes, echoes of the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” over the loudspeakers signaled the end of Sugar Creek’s eclipse viewing event.
The peak viewing time for the eclipse was around 2:05 p.m. in Verona. While this was a total eclipse, Wisconsinites saw just a partial eclipse. Only those who lived in the path of totality – when the moon perfectly aligns with the sun – witnessed a total eclipse. In this instance, the sky darkens to resemble dusk or dawn.
The next total eclipse that is visible from the United States will take place on Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA.
Photos: Sugar Creek views April 8 eclipse
All Sugar Creek classes went outside to get a look at the solar eclipse around 2 p.m. on April 8.
Sugar Creek students were taught how to properly use glasses when looking at the eclipse in preparation for the rare event.
