The William H. Ross Elementary School in Margate was buzzing with excitement on Monday, April 8, 2024, as students gathered to witness the near total eclipse of the sun. Science lessons came alive as they safely observed this rare and fascinating event.
Principal Bonnie Marino and the school had been preparing for this eclipse for several months. They ensured that students had high-quality blackout glasses to view the eclipse safely with the help of donations from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and a NASA educator program. All students in the district had been learning about solar eclipses in their science lessons leading up to the event, using resources such as a large map of the moon from the Buzz Aldrin SpaceShare Foundation.
On the day of the eclipse, students at Ross Elementary were guided by their teachers in small groups to view the eclipse in the schoolyard. They lined up in the hallway and had a chance to safely observe this celestial phenomenon before being dismissed for the day. Marino emphasized the importance of educating students about safely viewing the eclipse to avoid eye damage, and she was pleased to see
