For the second time in seven years, a total solar eclipse will cover parts of the United States on Monday. This phenomenon occurs when the moon moves in front of the sun, blocking sunlight for an extended period of time.
more:What time is the total solar eclipse on April 8th? Search your zip code for viewing guides
Totality, or areas that are completely dark at some point, covers much of south-central Indiana, blocking up to 97% of the sun in the South Bend area. The total solar eclipse will occur between 1:45 and 4:30 p.m. Monday, with the darkest spot in South Bend around 3:10 p.m.
Since such an event will not be held again in Indiana until 2099, many area schools are altering both their academic and after-school activity plans for the special event. Here's a look at what some of them do.
South Bend Community School Corporation
Adams High School, Clay High School, Riley High School and Washington High School postponed sporting events on Monday. This will impact varsity sports such as Washington's baseball and softball games against Mishawaka Marian, Adams' baseball and softball games against John Glenn, and Riley's softball games against Penn.
As for schools, elementary schools and Navarre Middle School (schools designated as “empowerment zones”) will open early for the event. According to the South Bend Community School Corporation's Facebook page, these are the only schools that offer early dismissal.
“For South Bend schools, some after-school activities and programming will continue without interruption,” the Facebook post reads. “However, please note that there will be no after-school practice for junior high schools on this day. Please contact the school for details.”
more:Test your knowledge of solar eclipses with our quiz
South Bend St. Joseph
St. Joseph will release students early at 1:30 p.m. Both high school baseball and softball contests scheduled for New Prairie will be held, but the start times have been postponed. The baseball game will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Northfield Athletic Complex in South Bend, and the softball game will begin at 5:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. CT at New Prairie High School.
Mishawaka Marian
Marian also lets students leave school early at 1:45 p.m. No after-school activities from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. High school baseball and softball games against Washington have been postponed, but girls tennis The game against Jimtown begins at 5 p.m. and JV baseball against Mishawaka at 5:30. Both are home events for Marian.
more:Get ready for the eclipse's celestial show here and across the state on April 8th
pen harris madison
Based on recommendations from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Department of Education, all PHM schools will conduct e-learning days. The only high school varsity tournament scheduled was a softball game against Riley, but as mentioned above, it was postponed.
Academy City Mishawaka
Mishawaka students will have an extra day of spring break after businesses canceled school entirely for the day. In fact, the official calendar on the school's website lists this day as spring break as well. Some after-school events will still be held, including the aforementioned JV baseball game against St. Joseph.
