The French-language public school board that serves all of southwestern Ontario has unveiled its plans for Monday, April 8.
Conseil scolaire Viamonde, headquartered in Toronto but whose territory covers most of southern Ontario, announced on its website Monday that its students will learn from home on the day of a total solar eclipse.
Students will be asked to complete any classwork at home.
CS Viamonde Director of Education Michel Laverdière said that the decision to have students learn from home will help promote safety and a chance to study a major astronomical occurrence.
"By switching to an asynchronous learning day, we hope that our students will have the chance to live this exceptional celestial experience with their family and, above all, in complete safety," said Laverdière in a statement on the board's official website.
Other school boards across southwestern Ontario have decided to close for the day, learn from home, or dismiss classes early.
The height of the total eclipse is expected to take place in the early afternoon when students are headed home. Astronomers have repeatedly warned people that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye could be extremely dangerous, resulting in eye damage or even blindness.
The French-language Catholic board serving southwestern Ontario, CSC Providence, has not decided on how to hold classes on April 8.
