Total Solar Eclipse

On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights - a total solar eclipse. This path, where the moon will completely cover the sun and the sun's tenuous atmosphere - the corona - can be seen, will stretch from Lincoln Beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. Observers outside this path will still see a partial solar eclipse where the moon covers part of the sun's disk.

Who Can See It?
Lots of people! Everyone in the contiguous United States, in fact, everyone in North America plus parts of South America, Africa, and Europe will see at least a partial solar eclipse, while the thin path of totality will pass through portions of 14 states.

This celestial event is a solar eclipse in which the moon passes between the sun and Earth and blocks all or part of the sun for up to about three hours, from beginning to end, as viewed from a given location.  For this eclipse, the longest period when the moon completely blocks the sun from any given location along the path will be about two minutes and 40 seconds.  The last time the contiguous U.S. saw a total eclipse was in 1979.

Where Can You See It?

You can see a partial eclipse, where the moon covers only a part of the sun, anywhere in North America (see “Who can see it?”). To see a total eclipse, where the moon fully covers the sun for a short few minutes, you must be in the path of totality. The path of totality is a relatively thin ribbon, around 70 miles wide, that will cross the U.S. from West to East.  The first point of contact will be at Lincoln Beach, Oregon at 9:05 a.m. PDT. Totality begins there at 10:16 a.m. PDT.  Over the next hour and a half, it will cross through Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and North and South Carolina.  The total eclipse will end near Charleston, South Carolina at 2:48 p.m. EDT.  From there the lunar shadow leaves the United States at 4:09 EDT.  Its longest duration will be near Carbondale, Illinois, where the sun will be completely covered for two minutes and 40 seconds.

When Can You See It?

Times for partial and total phases of the eclipse vary depending on your location. This interactive eclipse map (link is external) will show you times for the partial and total eclipse anywhere in the world.

Click here for more information about the eclipse. 

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-who-what-where-when-and-how 

Working on Science Instruction

Elementary teachers are at the ALC today exploring Stemscopes modules that they will be teaching at the start of the year.  They are collaborating and doing a "deep dive" into the science standards.  

ACTNow Holds Inaugural Meeting

Curriculum and instruction directors, along with principals from area districts, met July 17 at a local restaurant to reconnect and network.  This inaugural meeting marked the beginning of a series of meetings for these leaders from Trussville, Homewood, Mt. Brook, and Vestavia to share ideas and to read and discuss Learning That Lasts by Ron Berger.  ACTNow (Administrative Collaborative Team New Opportunities for Working Together) will provide a platform for principals and directors to discuss current issues and to brainstorm solutions, enhancing instructional leadership. Throughout the 17-18 school year, the group will rotate meeting locations.  Each district will host the group and facilitate the discussion of the book.  Additionally, the group may participate in school visits and discussions of current topics.  The next meeting is September 20 at Mt. Brook.

Elementary Math Teacher (EMT) Institute

Click here to read all about math professional learning going on this summer in TCS.
https://tcs-emt-institute.blogspot.com/ 

TCS Hosts Educator EdCamp June 22

TCS held its first district EdCamp for educators at HTHS, June 22.
Click here to see more photographs and tweets from the EdCamp.  https://storify.com/aprilpc/trussville-city-schools-teacher-edcamp

Many thanks to all of the teachers and administrators who facilitated sessions and shared their knowlege and expertise with other educators from Trussville and St. Clair County Schools.  We are grateful to our supporters who provided breakfast for participants (Army National Guard), snacks for participants (Magnolia PTO and Cahaba PTO), and lunch for the presenters (Paine PTO and HTMS PTO).  We are thankful for our ever gracious hosts at HTHS for opening their classrooms and library for our use.

In a follow-up survey of participants, ninety-five percent of respondents rated the EdCamp a great or very good experience.  Ninety-four percent of respondents said they would attend another similar EdCamp next year if offered the opportunity.