Jay Shideler Elementary

On August 21, a total solar eclipse will be visible over the United States. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon lines up perfectly in front of the sun completely blocking the sun from our view. It will be the first total solar eclipse in the continental United States since 1979.

The solar eclipse is an event that can be used to address our science standards.

Elementary Standards

• Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth's surface.
• Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted.
• Make observations at different times of year to relate the amount of daylight to the time of year.
• Use information from several sources to provide evidence that Earth events can occur quickly or slowly.
• Represent data in graphical displays to reveal patterns of daily changes in length and direction of shadows, day and night, and the seasonal appearance of some stars in the night sky.

Middle School Standards

• Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.

High School Standards

• Use mathematical or computational representations to predict the motion of orbiting objects in the solar system.

School will be in session on August 21. We plan to make the solar eclipse a safe, active, learning experience for our students. Protective eye wear will be given to all staff and students. Teachers will provide background on the topic, stress the importance of wearing protective eye wear at all times, and then will take students outside to experience the solar eclipse.

The path of totality will move from the west in Oregon to the east in South Carolina. The path of totality falls just north of Topeka, but Topeka will be at 99% totality. In Topeka, the eclipse begins at 11:39 AM, will be at maximum partial eclipse at 1:07 PM (99%), and ends at 2:34 PM.

Parents are encouraged to stress to their students the importance of wearing protective eye wear during the solar eclipse. That message will be stressed at school as well. For parents choosing to excuse their student from school that day to experience the solar eclipse, please contact your student's school to report the absence. It will be an excused absence. If parents do not want their student to experience the solar eclipse outside the school building, they will need to sign and return to their student's school the "opt out" form. An alternative learning experience will be provided during the time of the solar eclipse viewing experience.

At the elementary level, outdoor recess will not be scheduled from approximately 11:45 AM – 2:30 PM on August 21.

For additional information and a great lesson to discuss with your student, please check out the sites listed below:

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov
https://www.astrosociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/uitc93.pdf

We are excited about the eclipse, and looking forward to this rare event on Monday, 8/21.
We care about the safety of our students and have purchased CE and ISO certified eclipse glasses from American Paper Optics. Please discuss with your children the importance of following the safety instructions given by their teachers, so we can all have a enjoyable experience.

We are looking forward to a great year at Jay Shideler, and yes.....we rolled Mr. Freeman in bubble wrap!

Thanks to all the parents and students who attended our Back to School Night!



Students, parents and school faculty get ready for the beginning of school. Jay Shideler Elementary School and the other elementary schools in U.S.D. 437 host a 'Back to School' event. It's an opportunity for students to bring their school supplies, get familiar with their classrooms and meet their…