Many of the county school systems across West Virginia let students out of school early Monday — or canceled the whole day’s classes — due to the total solar eclipse set to take place in the afternoon.

Several local private schools, however, took advantage of the rare event to teach their students about science and nature, allowing the kids to experience the eclipse together.

At Highland Adventist School in Randolph County, teacher Stacy Blancy helped students construct pinhole cameras to use for viewing. The students were also provided approved eclipse safety glasses.

In addition to making viewing devices and spending time outside viewing the event, the HAS students were also treated to an assembly that featured information about eclipses.

Elkins Christian Academy also took the opportunity to use Monday’s solar eclipse as a learning experience for its students. Some classes enjoyed eclipse cupcakes, while eclipse glasses were donated by Elkins Eye Works, PLLC, doctors Andrew and Sheena Hunt, making it safe for the ECA students to view the eclipse outdoors.

Meanwhile, at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WVWC’s SPACE Club, Physics and Engineering Society and Sigma Pi Sigma sponsored a special solar eclipse event Monday in the Chapel Oval of Wesleyan’s campus.

Those attending the event at the college were given a pair of eclipse glasses, as well as instructions on how to construct a pinhole camera.

Monday’s eclipse was the first total solar eclipse to be visible in American since August 2017.

Officials say it will be the last total solar eclipse visible in the United States until 2044.

Experiencing such a rare natural event Monday, under the guidance and supervision of trained adults, is something many of those students will remember for years to come. We applaud all the local educators who took the eclipse as an opportunity to share a teachable moment with their students.