On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse passed through North America. This rare phenomenon occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, blocking the face of the sun, and making it appear like it is dusk. During this event, Scarsdale experienced a nearly full solar eclipse (90.7%) on Monday afternoon. Students and Faculty at SHS and SMS celebrated this phenomenon, creating lasting memories.
At SMS, this total eclipse became an event to remember. In science classes at SMS, teachers presented themed lessons that helped students understand and prepare for the eclipse. In an array of activities, students were able to explore the cultural significance of solar eclipses, conduct experiments, and build makeshift models to learn about this celestial event. Moreover, students learned the importance of safety during the eclipse and how to protect their eyes. They were taught about the importance of never directly looking at the sun and only using approved solar-viewing glasses.
On the day of, students packed up early from their classes and headed down to the fields to view the eclipse. Students and faculty gathered on the field, amazed by this rare phenomenon. Safety was a top priority at both SHS and SMS, to ensure nobody looked directly at the sun.
“We bought eclipse glasses for the whole school and we asked science teachers to give them out and have a little conversation in class. We know that adolescents are appropriately responsible and probably understood this but we reinforced the message in school,” SHS principal Kenneth Bonamo explained.

 More memories were created at SHS during the eclipse. As early as 7th period students and faculty gathered outside on the field and at Brewster entrance to experience the eclipse. While marveling at the spectacle, they could be seen playing various games, with many attempting to take photographs through their solar filters.
“I enjoyed it a lot. It was memorable mostly because all my friends came outside after school to hang out and see the eclipse together, so we all had some time to relax during the end of the day,” Linda Zhang ’26 commented.
Although the solar eclipse only lasted for an hour, it truly brought our Scarsdale community together. The shared wonder and awe of the natural world is one of the few things that all people can relate to.
“In a country that is as polarized as America today, with social and political issues drawing people apart, moments like the eclipse serve as a beautiful representation of our community’s unity. It is one of the few times we are not focused on our differences, but rather our similarities, in being fascinated with this once-in-a-lifetime event,” SHS president Layden Kennedy ’25 expressed.
Even though Scarsdale may not experience another solar eclipse anytime in the near future, this brief hour of semi-darkness represented more than just a break from school. It offered students an opportunity to reflect on how small we truly are in the greater universe and put away our differences to enjoy the spectacle as a community.