After weeks of talking about it in the classroom, loads of students at South View Upper Elementary came outside around 1:45 PM Monday for the eclipse. Did the students all have proper eye protection? Yes, thanks to the Danville Public Schools Foundation. The Foundation’s Bob Richard was on hand, and he explained what they did.
AUDIO: American Optics, I believe, is the company. We got them straight from the manufacturer. Our first order was for five-thousand, and that was about a month ago. And then last week the district said they were short, and they needed another 15-hundred. And we called, they said “they’re on their way;” and they were there in two days.
The Foundation’s Stephanie Yates was also at South View.
AUDIO: You know the Foundation provides a lot of projects for the students; but this is one that touches all students in all schools, and even our staff members. So, with the generosity of our donors, we are able to make this happen.
For the South View teachers, it’s been weeks of excited students asking lots of questions. Teacher Ashley Valangeon says, when Monday arrived, they were ready.
AUDIO: Oh the students are super excited to see it. It’s not something they’ve experienced before. And in Science we’ve learned about the atmosphere a lot. Getting to experience this is a really cool thing for them.
Teacher Dalton Dieu painted a similar picture.
AUDIO: They’ve been talking about it non stop since last week. We’ve done worksheets and crossword puzzles about the eclipse. As soon as they got here this morning they were all asking if they could have their glasses, “what time are we going outside,” when do we get to go?”
For principal Robin Fluno, it was weeks of buildup all coming together.
AUDIO: We counted out the glasses by class, and we just made an all call, “everybody can go out.” Everybody took their own spot, and the kids are loving it.
Fluno also mentioned was she thought was the most popular question.
AUDIO: “Can I take a picture of it with my phone?” That is the most common question.
And many of them did; following the advice of having their phones’ camera lenses protected with one of the pair of special glasses.
As Principal Fluno also pointed out, these students will certainly be around for the next solar eclipse affecting all of the 48 contiguous U.S. states; but they will also be all grown up, in 2045.
