LBPSB cancelling classes on April 8 due to solar eclipse

Another Montreal-area school board is cancelling classes on April 8 due to a solar eclipse.

The Lester B. Pearson School Board is moving a previously scheduled pedagogical day from March 18 to April 8.

The change applies to all elementary and secondary students, as well daycare services.

April 8 will be a regular school day for the LBPSB’s adult education and vocational centres.

Experts say looking directly at the sun during an eclipse, particularly for children, can lead to partial or complete loss of eyesight. There is also traffic safety concerns, with thousands of children heading home in temporary darkness.

“While celestial events such as eclipses are fascinating opportunities for learning, they also present safety concerns, particularly when they coincide with dismissal times and students are not under direct supervision,” the school board’s administration told parents in a letter.

“In light of these safety considerations, we have decided to prioritize the well-being of our students by adjusting our school calendar.

“We understand that changes to the school calendar may inconvenience some families, and we sincerely apologize for any disruption this may cause. However, please rest assured that this decision was made with the safety and best interests of our students at the forefront.”

Earlier this month the English Montreal School Board announced it was cancelling all daycare, elementary and high school classes on April 8.

The eclipse is expected to be observed in Mexico first at around 11:07 a.m. PDT, when the moon will move in between the Earth and the sun, casting a partial or total shadow.

The eclipse will then be visible in the United States before moving toward southern Ontario, then Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton, lasting for about two hours around the same time many kids in Canada are let out from school.