Bradenton Christian School students to view eclipse live

Bradenton Christian School’s 860 students and 80 staff members will get to view Monday’s partial solar eclipse outside on their football field.

BCS Superintendent Dan Vande Pol’s announcement on Wednesday that students and staff are going outside during eighth period at roughly 2:30 p.m. equipped with approved safety goggles came a day after the Manatee County School District declared that its 49,000 students would be staying inside for the eclipse and viewing it on computers or TVs.

Vande Pol said he understood why Manatee’s public schools opted out of the eclipse.

“They are keeping safety first and that is what we all try to do,” Vande Pol said. “I don’t know if you can find a shipper to ship 49,000 glasses at this point.”

BSC’s decision was made a week ago in a special eclipse meeting between Vande Pol and science teachers Regina Hays, Janelle Hochstetler and Andy Bobitz, Vande Pol said.

After a serious discussion about safety, all four agreed the eclipse was too good a teaching moment to pass up.

“We wanted to take advantage of this opportunity,” Vande Pol said. “The heavens declare the glory of God and this is a chance to see it live.”

“What an amazing opportunity that we are getting to be able to witness a once in a lifetime event in which God’s power and beauty is being displayed,” Hays said.

Before ordering the glasses and notifying parents, Vande Pol called BCS Board President Jan Braam to get his blessings.

“He was laughing with delight,” Vande Pol said of Braam on Wednesday. “He’s an astronomy nut.”

BSC parents can “opt out”

Vande Pol, who is in his fourth year as superintendent, then sent notices to parents letting them know they could “opt out” if they wanted their student to stay inside.

As of late Wednesday, no one had opted out and Vande Pol had received a dozen emails of support for going outside, Vande Pol added.

This will be the first eclipse Vande Pol has seen.

“I’m excited to see our place in this universe,” Vande Pol said. “We know it works but now we will see how it works.”

To put a finishing touch on the day, BCS yearbook editor Julia Lister will be flying a drone over the football field to take a photograph of the students and staff wearing their glasses, Vande Pol said.

This story was originally published August 16, 2017 at 4:10 PM with the headline "Bradenton Christian School students to view eclipse live."