PHILIPSBURG — On Monday, August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will be visible in totality within a band across the entire contiguous United States; Metrological Department of Sint Maarten adds that Sint Maarten and the rest of the Eastern Caribbean will experience a PARTIAL ECLIPSE on Monday afternoon starting at 2:18pm and ends at 4:49pm. The eclipse will reach its peak at 3:38pm.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) would hereby like to inform the schoolboards, school management, parents and students of the following advisory.
Persons should never look directly at the sun without appropriate protection except during totality. Looking directly into the sun without protective eyewear could severely hurt/damage your eyes (Nasagov.org).
The partial solar eclipse will occur during afternoon school hours. As Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, I believe it is prudent to inform the general public, especially the students, schools and staff, to practice safety and be cautious of the harm looking directly into the sun can have in an effort to avoid unwanted incidents.
The Ministry ECYS is therefore requesting that school boards, school management, and parents make the necessary provisions to plan accordingly for play and practice times for the students to avoid students looking into the sun without proper protection.
