GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Millions of people across the country are preparing for the solar eclipse. But Tuesday, sixth graders at Jenison Christian School are getting exited for the rare opportunity.
Its thanks to their teachers, who are taking the students and their parents to view the solar eclipse in Indiana.
Sixty sixth graders still can’t believe that after seeing pictures and videos of the solar eclipse, they’re taking the trip of a lifetime to see it in person in just 12 days.
Eric DeVries’ science class is going to Ouabache State Park in Bluffton, Indiana to see the solar eclipse. Tthe park provides unparalleled views of the historic eclipse. Lyla Bahr, a sixth grade student at Jenison Christian School, says what she’ll she on April 8 will stay with her forever.
“I’m excited to see this because I’ve seen pictures and videos, but you never really get the actual feeling of being able to see the historical moment with your classmates and teachers and it's really going to stick by for the rest of my life,” Bahr said.
Bahr’s classmates are already preparing for the eclipse that’ll be fully visible for about three minutes. Students are happy their class was chosen for the trip, which came as a total surprise.
“I think it's really unique because then you get to see the southern border around it in person,” Westin Essenburg, sixth grade student at Jenison Christian School said. I think that's really pretty and nice and it's really cool that it's a one-time experience that our school gets to go and see.”
It started as a visit to the Grand Rapids Public Museum in January, a tour guide encouraging the students to skip class to see the event, giving their teachers the idea to take the entire class on a trip that wouldn’t require them to skip school.
“You don't always get the chance to go and see it and this was even a year out knowing this was coming a little close and thinking it would be really cool if we could find a way to get students down there to experience it,” DeVries said. "To have that hands-on learning and that experience of wow we talked about this in class and now I can go see it and remember it and hopefully create an experience and a memory that they'll take with them for the rest of their life.”
As students eagerly await their trip to Indiana, they’re thankful the school made the trip possible. As for Emily Riemersma, sixth grade student at Jenison Christian School, she says it’ll be her second time seeing one, but this time she’ll remember.
“I think it would be cool to have it at a young age because I personally have seen one before, but that was when I was really young and I don't really remember it and it's pretty cool that I get to see it again,” Riemersma said.
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