Office of the Superintendent
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Welcome to the Superintendent's Office
Anthony J. Panella
Superintendent
Debbie Custodi
Secretary to the Superintendent and District Clerk
April 2024
Our students will get to experience a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence this Monday when a total eclipse occurs in the skies over Amherst. During March, each of our buildings has focused on activities and lessons so students learn and understand the basics of the eclipse (where, when, what) and how to view it safely.
One of the key messages we have shared with our students and our families is about eye safety and how to watch an eclipse correctly. Last week before students left for Spring Break we gave each student a pair of solar eclipse glasses.
Here is a sampling of some of the activities that took place in our buildings with age-appropriate information geared to a student’s grade level and knowledge base. The use of videos from experts at NASA and National Geographic are so useful to bring this astrological phenomenon to life for our students.
At the high school, one of our science teachers created a wonderful video explaining how an eclipse occurs, the types of eclipses and eye safety. We extended our homeroom so the video could be shown to all students. The video is featured on our Eclipse 2024 webpage along with other science and eye safety resources.
At our middle school, eighth-grade science students covered a unit called Earth, Moon and Sun using simulations to observe how a solar eclipse occurs. Each grade level completed Solar Eclipse Webquests to learn about the differences between the partial solar eclipse they observed in elementary school to the total solar eclipse that is occurring this year. Earth Science students tracked the "path of totality" using latitude and longitude. The special education class that organizes a Central Perk Coffee Cafe even came up with a special snack to sell; an eclipse snack bag with Sun chips, moon pies and Eclipse chewing gum.
At Windermere Boulevard Elementary, grade level assemblies explained the basics of the eclipse (where, when, what) and how to view it safely. Each grade level rotated through the assemblies throughout the day. A couple videos played at the assemblies featured student newscasters sharing facts about how and why an eclipse happens and the importance of eye safety. It was filmed using a green screen so it really looked like a news desk.
A Community Day at Smallwood Drive Elementary featured a series of stations that classes rotated through. One of the stations was an eclipse station and two classrooms were set up with various activities for students to learn and experience what a solar eclipse will be like. They saw a simulation of what the eclipse will look like that day and much more.
It’s exciting to think that our students will be able to experience this historic event happening in the sky right over their homes. The information they have learned might inspire some future NASA scientists.