Hundreds of students filed neatly out of the building, eager to get outside. They congregated with their 7th hour classes on the football field and basked in the afternoon warmth. Chatters and laughter buzzed in the air, excited for what was to come. The students were not preparing for a pep rally or demonstration. They were there to watch the April 8 eclipse. 

Pharaoh Williams (10) came to the football field from his Algebra I class bearing prior knowledge about the phenomenon, excited to see it in person.

“[A solar eclipse] is when the moon and the sun align together,” Williams said. “So the moon basically covers the sun.”

In addition to learning about the science behind a solar eclipse, most are aware of the associated safety hazards and precautions that must be followed. Jia Shen (11) was in photography class at the time and had heard about the dangers of excessive sun exposure.

“I know it’s super bright and might hurt your eyes,” Shen said.

Whether by lucky coincidence or purposeful planning, many teachers had built in time for students to go outside and observe the eclipse without skipping too much classwork.

“I’m not really missing much,” Williams said. “It’s just review so it’s the perfect time to actually have the eclipse.”

Kaichen Chou (11) had a sub in her 7th hour AP English Language and Composition class the day of the eclipse. She was also grateful for the timing of the excursion.

“We weren’t doing much in class anyway,” Chou said.

The last time a solar eclipse passed through St. Louis was less than seven years ago, in 2017. Some students still remember their experiences vividly.

“I remember there was a lot of commotion and excitement,” Chou said. “We were in fifth grade at the time so everyone was just really hyper.”

While the students are older and more mature this time, some things never change. The district policy for the eclipse announced that every class would have the opportunity to observe the event, whether from sports fields or jungle gyms. This protocol, unchanged from the last solar eclipse, reminded many students of their memories from over six years ago.

“My whole class went out in the…recess area and playground,” Williams said. “Everyone was just sitting down and having a good time.”