On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse passed right over Lakeview High School. Several factors combined to lead most districts in the path of totality, including Lakeview, to schedule that day as a non-student day. Fortunately, led by Lakeview science teacher Sara Dager-Smith, Bulldogs were invited with their families to attend a viewing in our very own Don Richards Memorial Stadium.
At 1:00pm the gates were open for students and their families who had registered to come watch. But the actual viewing was not the only activity that was available. Lakeview staff set up educational science activities, as well as sports activities like kickball and cornhole for the children who attended. The concession stand was also up and running for anyone wanting to have a cold drink or a snack on the warm spring afternoon.
Senior Ty Chamberlain was one of the students working the concession stand during the eclipse. Chamberlain said, “During the eclipse I had the opportunity to work for the concession stand for my entrepreneurship class. Most kids wouldn’t want to work on such a special day, but I thought it would be a fun way to help out my school before I graduate. I was lucky to be able to witness something so amazing alongside my friends who were also working. I was selling food most of the time, but when there was about ten minutes until totality I went to the football field and watched the eclipse from the fifty yard line. It was an amazing experience for me, especially because I was watching the eclipse from the same field I used to play on every Friday night for football. The teachers did a great job putting it all together and I am glad that I made the decision to spend the eclipse at school because I had a really good time.”
Lakeview chemistry teacher Joshua Murphy, was also present for the eclipse. Murphy said, “I was super impressed with how many people came out when there were three other events in our community. That is a testament to how hard Mrs. Dager-Smith worked on putting together our program. I think the most important thing I can take away from this program is that she killed it. I also liked how Mr. Herrholtz was explaining what was going on with the eclipse. It was very helpful.”
Junior Addy Briell was present at the school’s viewing, and assisted in making the program fun. Briell is a member of the National Honors Society, and worked hard for this particular event. Briell said, “I worked at a table where I taught kids how to make eclipse viewers. To do this, we used recycled cereal boxes. I participated in helping because of my involvement with the National Honors Society, and I enjoyed my time there. The food was very good and most of all I enjoyed helping the little kids learn.”
Overall, it seems that everyone was satisfied with the program that was held at LHS. A big thank you to Dager-Smith and everyone else who played a part in this event for making it so wonderful. The next solar eclipse will not be viewable until the year 2044. Therefore, this was a very rare occurrence and it was well spent with members of our school district and their families. Thank you to everyone who decided to spend the day at Lakeview with pride. We hope to see you again 20 years in the future for the next eclipse! Go Bulldogs!
