Evergreen Park Students Gear Up for Solar Eclipse

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- Evergreen Park Elementary School Dist. 124 students will have the educational opportunity of a lifetime when a solar eclipse will pass across the United States on Monday, Aug. 21. All five D214 schools will be holding outdoor viewings of the solar eclipse for students in fourth through eighth grades.

Students and staff members will wear protective viewing glasses during their entire time outside. The district purchased glasses from Rainbow Symphony that are ISO-certified for this event and satisfy proper requirements.

"We are very excited to be able to experience this event with our students,” said Kathleen Prado, director of curriculum and instruction for EPSD 124. “Safety during the viewing is our top priority. We have purchased NASA-approved glasses for our fourth through eighth grade students. We will also educate them on the dangers of viewing without protective eyewear to insure their safety. This is truly unique opportunity for our students."

The eclipse will begin in this area at 11:54 a.m. on Monday and end at 2:42 p.m. The maximum eclipse will be visible at 1:19 p.m.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks any part of the sun. This is the first time a solar eclipse will be visible on a path across the United States since 1918. The next such occurrence is anticipated in 2024.