Back to School and Solar Eclipse

Students start new year messed, blessed

COLOMBUS – Father Jeffrey Waldrep blesses first grade student, Ishwa Patel at the first Mass of the year for Annunication School on Wednesday, August 10. This is Father Jeffrey’s first year at Annunication. (Photo by Katie Fenstermacher)

MADISON – St. Francis Parish’s Max Harmon gets the raw end of the deal during a game of egg roulette played with John Paul Moorman. The teens were kicking off the fall youth group with a “Fearless” Parent-Teen event. Youth and parents competed in FearLESS Factor games and relays and ended the night with a inspiring talk on the theme “Fearless and Faithful” from parishioners, Bridgette Griffin and her family. (Photo by Marty Prater)

Solar Eclipse brightens science lessons

Across the diocese, students and adults alike looked to the skies on Monday, August 21, to watch a full solar eclipse. While much of the Diocese of Jackson was not in the so-called path of totality, there was plenty to see. Students and teachers had to use approved glasses or viewing devices to keep everyone safe, but many could not pass up the opportunity for this event. Some schools, such as Southaven Sacred Heart and Madison St. Joseph, hit the road to Tennessee for a better view. The Sacred Heart students watched from the Nashville Zoo where they could also observe the impact of the event on the animals. Father Greg Schill, SCJ, who went on the trip said the giraffes went wild and everyone could hear insects singing as the skies grew dark. (See facing page)
In top left photo, students from Columbus Annunication’s middle stepped outside in the early afternoon to view the final stages of the eclipse. In the photo above, right, Madison St. Anthony Students are in awe of the show in the sky. (Photos by Katie Fenstermacher and Kristian Beatty.)

 

JACKSON – Sister Thea Bowman School

JACKSON – Sister Thea Bowman School

JACKSON – Sister Thea Bowman School students and teachers took their chairs outside for a comfortable view of the eclipse. Families were invited to share the event so parents came by to use the approved glasses and watch the moon pass in front of the sun. (Photo by Shae Robinson)

GREENVILLE – St. Joseph students, below, were amazed by the eclipse. In their own words: “It was so cool. I have never seen anything like it,” said Herman Brown. ”It was an unforgettable sight,” noted Sabryn Suttner. ”I am so excited the new administration offered the kids this opportunity. I remember seeing the last one while I was in elementary school. Hopefully, our kids will remember what they felt at that first sight. It is truly awe-inspiring,” added Missi Blackstock, development director for the school.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Southaven Sacred Heart School loaded busses to take students to the Zoo in Nashville to watch how the eclipse impacted the animals there. (photo by Lena Collins)

MADISON – Students from St. Anthony school were challenged to get creative and make their own eclipse viewers. The children used only approved devices on the day of the event. (photo by Kristian Beatty)

MADISON – Students from St. Anthony school

MADISON – Students from St. Anthony school

MADISON – Students from St. Anthony school

Nashville, TN - field trip

Nashville, TN - field trip

Nashville, TN - field trip