Bradenton Christian School students will not get to watch eclipse outside

After failing to ensure the eclipse glasses they bought were authentic, Bradenton Christian School students will not be allowed to watch the eclipse outside, school officials announced Saturday morning in an email to staff and parents.

Bradenton Christian School will now watch the eclipse online inside the school buildings, just like students at Manatee County public schools. On Wednesday, the school had announced that its 860 students and 80 staff members would get to view Monday’s solar eclipse outside on their football field.

“I am extremely disappointed to have to share with you that we have been unable to verify that the viewing glasses shipped to us meet the certificate of compliance,” Superintendent Dan Vande Pol wrote in an email. “Promises to get us glasses we requested that are guaranteed to meet the standard have not been kept.”

Vande Pol extended apologies to staff and parents, saying he was frustrated by the situation.

“There is no event worth risking damage to a child’s eyesight. God’s glory will still shine through this event, just not in the manner we had hoped it would for us,” Vande Pol went on to say.

Children can be kept home as an excused absence, or picked up at noon, according to the email. Parents of elementary school students will need to sign their students out at dismissal time from the elementary auditorium on Monday. Middle and high school students will dismiss at the school’s regular scheduled time. Outdoor practices will be pushed back until 4:30 p.m.

This story was originally published August 19, 2017 at 12:44 PM with the headline "Bradenton Christian School students will not get to watch eclipse outside."