South Bend, Mishawaka, P-H-M and Catholic schools have plans for dealing with eclipse
For the second time in seven years, a total solar eclipse will be covering parts of the United States on Monday. This phenomenon occurs when the moon moves in front of the sun, blocking out daytlight for a stretch of time.
More: What time is the total solar eclipse on April 8? Search your ZIP code for a viewing guide
The path of totality, or where it’ll be 100% dark at some point, will cover most of central and southern Indiana, with the South Bend area getting up to 97% of the sun blocked. The full eclipse will take place between 1:45-4:30 p.m. Monday, with its darkest point being around 3:10 p.m. in South Bend.
An event like this won't cross Indiana again until 2099, so many area schools are altering both their learning and after-school activities plans for the special event. Here’s a look at what some of them are doing.
South Bend Community School Corporation
Adams, Clay, Riley and Washington high schools have postponed sporting events Monday. That affects varsity sports like Washington baseball and softball games against Mishawaka Marian, Adams baseball and softball games vs. John Glenn, and Riley softball against Penn.
As far as school goes, elementary schools and Navarre Middle School — those designated as “Empowerment Zone” schools — will release early for the event. Per the South Bend Community School Corporation’s Facebook page, those will be the only schools that leave early.
“As for South Bend Schools, some after-school activities and programming will continue without interruption,” the Facebook post read. “However, please note there will be no middle school after-school practice that day. Check in with your school for details.”
More: Test your eclipse knowledge with our quiz
South Bend Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph will release students early at 1:30 p.m. Both high school baseball and softball contests scheduled with New Prairie are happening, but the start times have been pushed back. The baseball game will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Northfield Athletic Complex in South Bend, with the softball contest being a 5:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. CT start at New Prairie High School.
Mishawaka Marian
Marian is dismissing students early too, at 1:45 p.m. No after-school activities can take place from 2-4:30 p.m. While the high school baseball and softball games against Washington have been postponed, girls tennis against Jimtown will start at 5 p.m. and JV baseball against Mishawaka at 5:30. Both are home events for Marian.
More: Get ready for the celestial show the eclipse will put on April 8, here and downstate
Penn-Harris-Madison
All PHM schools will be having an e-learning day, basing it off recommendations from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and Indiana Department of Education. The only varsity high school contest scheduled had been softball against Riley, which has been postponed as noted above.
School City of Mishawaka
Mishawaka students get an extra day of spring break, as the corporation has canceled school for the day completely. In fact, it’s marked as another day of spring break on the official calendar of the school website. Some after-school events will still take place, like the aforementioned JV baseball game against Saint Joseph.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Some South Bend-area schools canceled for eclipse, all adjust sports
