Residents of Oswego County are in the direct path to witness a total solar eclipse on April 8 of this year, a phenomenon that hasn’t happened since 1925. Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Junior-Senior High School is getting ready for the event by providing educational opportunities for both students and the community.

A team from SUNY Oswego working with the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project (NEBP) hosted a workshop for APW seventh graders recently. The NEBP acquires eclipse data and analysis through scientific helium-filled weather ballooning. Students listened to in-depth presentations about the project and engaged in hands-on activities.

APW JSHS is hosting Solar Eclipse Community Nights to teach the public about eclipse safety and to share eclipse activities. These will be held on Feb. 29 and March 13 at 5:30 p.m. in room 113, and on April 2 at 5:30 p.m. in the JSHS Cafeteria.

The district is giving staff and students a half day on April 8 to ensure their safety with the anticipated influx of travelers coming to the area. The total solar eclipse will start at 2:09 p.m. with full totality occurring at 3:22 p.m. and ending at 4:34 p.m.

To learn more about the NEBP you can visit their website at https://eclipse.montana.edu/, to learn more about the eclipse please visit https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/ and to learn more about the APW Solar Eclipse Community Nights, please contact the school at 315-625-5260.