South San Francisco, CA July 27, 2017 Submitted by John Baker, SSFUSD Trustee
EDITORS NOTE: SSFUSD Trustee has established a GoFundMe account for the purpose of raising monies to purchase Eclipse glasses for students and donations can be made by CLICKING HERE. Thank you. **UPDATE BELOW**
On Aug. 21, the continental United States will experience its first total eclipse in more than 40 years. While the Moon will not fully cover the Sun in California (you’ll have to go north or east for that), it will cover about 75% percent of the Sun in South City, peaking at 10:15 a.m.
This is a once in a lifetime learning experience for students! Lessons in astronomy, geography, ecology, and even biology can arise from an Eclipse. But looking directly at even a partially eclipsed sun is dangerous — eye protection is necessary.
Teachers and parents at Alta Loma Middle School are looking to provide every student protective glasses. $550 (plus tax) will buy 1,250 pairs of eclipse-watching glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for eclipse glasses.
There are about 750 students at Alta Loma. The 500 remaining pairs of glasses will be distributed to other SSF Unified schools.
I will personally donate up to my entire net stipend from serving on the the School Board in August to meet this goal — but that stipend is less than the cost of the glasses. Any help you can provide in order to give our students this incredible scientific opportunity will be appreciated.
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Thanks to Mario Chacon FB post: …You can just show up at your nearest Warby Parker, and their eye experts will hand over a pair of eclipse glasses.is giving away these glasses closest locations to us : SF Warby Parker Palo Alto Warby Parker Berkeley Warby Parker More info on the link Mario shared for those who would like to obtain free glasses for the eclipse: http://mentalfloss.com/article/502973/warby-parker-giving-away-free-eclipse-glasses-august
Hi, will you be donating the used eclipse glasses to needy children in South America? Astronomers without borders is collecting them if you are interested – http://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/awb-programs/resource-sharing-programs/eclipse-glasses-donation-program.html
This is the first I’ve heard of the used glasses donation program. I’ll look it over and let the District office know. The kids were allowed to take their glasses home, but maybe some schools had spares.
Just as a follow-up to the original story, we raised enough to cover ever student at both Alta Loma and Parkway middle schools, as well as a classroom at Sunshine Gardens. Most other K-8 campuses, either through community donations or discretionary site funds, also bought glasses. Though there was some fog, most kids got the experience!