Equipped with specialized glasses, students from schools across the Santa Barbara Unified district gathered Monday to safely witness a solar eclipse.

Before viewing the celestial phenomenon, Roosevelt Elementary School pupils participated in an interactive assembly, where they were able to learn and understand how eclipses happen, and the difference between solar and lunar eclipses.

After the lecture, big buddies and little buddies at Roosevelt got together to make sure everyone had an enjoyable, safe experience.

“The solar eclipse provided an awe-inspiring moment for the Roosevelt community, serving as a powerful reminder of the marvels of the universe and our shared human journey on Earth,” said Roosevelt Principal Valerie Galindo, who thanked educators, staff members, and parents for working to ensure the event’s success.

“Special appreciation goes to our music teacher, Ms. MC, whose captivating assembly not only explained the science behind the eclipse but also prioritized the safety of our students during observation,” Galindo said.

“I thought it was really cool,” said Roosevelt third-grader Lily Nicet. “I liked looking through the solar glasses because I thought the color of the sun was really cool.

“I also like how the sun looked normal without the glasses, but through the glasses, it looked like the moon, kinda.”

“I thought the eclipse was cool, I’ve never seen one before, so this is my first time. I was kind of scared at first, and then once I saw it it was really cool,” said Roosevelt sixth-grader Mia Haynas.

“Providing our students with opportunities to engage with natural phenomena firsthand is integral to our commitment to education as a whole,” said Schools Superintendent Hilda Maldonado. “Today’s eclipse not only sparked curiosity but also underscored the importance of safe observation practices.”

At Adams Elementary, STEAM teacher Sean Federbusch put together resources for teachers to share with the students before the eclipse.

“We just decided it would be a great collective experience for all of our students to learn from and be a part of not only the rare experience of a lifetime, but feel like they are part of this universe as a whole,” said Adams Elementary Principal Kelly Fresh.

“At Adams we really like doing things as a school community, so this again was another fun opportunity to bring everyone together,” she said.

At Monroe School, Principal Brian Naughton provided all students with appropriate glasses for each child to view the astronomical event. “The last solar eclipse fell on a Saturday last fall. I was hoping we would get clear weather,” Naughton said.

“It was great having all of our students together to observe such a rare astronomical phenomenon,” he said. “Our campus was buzzing all morning with excitement.”