Due to a rare total solar eclipse on April 8, Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) has rescheduled a Professional Activity (PA) day.
The PA day for April will now take place on the same day as the eclipse, instead of April 19, the school board said in a media release.
While Huron and Perth counties are not in the path of totality, residents in the area will experience a partial eclipse starting at around 2 p.m. and ending after 4:30 p.m., according to Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH).
There are two concerns around health related to the event, HPPH said, including the potential for individual damage to vision – It is not safe to look directly at the sun during a total or partial solar eclipse. Health impacts could include retinal burns, blurred vision and loss of eyesight (immediate or delayed onset). People should be aware that there are no nerve endings in the retina, so people looking at the sun will not experience pain as a deterrent and may not be aware that damage is occurring.
The other safety concern revolved around mass gatherings or residents gatherings, including distracted motorists.
“Due to the timing of this event and the possible risk to student and staff eye safety, we believe that rescheduling the PA Day from April 19 to April 8 will significantly reduce this risk," said Lisa Walsh, director of education for the AMDSB. "We are making this decision out of an abundance of caution and have consulted with our Huron Perth Public Health partners."
Walsh said the school board understands that the change has implications for families but they are hopeful that providing ample time to make arrangements for things like child care will help.
Local daycare providers and other community partners who are providing PA Day camps and activities are being notified, the school board said.
