NATCHEZ — To protect students from the health risks associated with Monday’s partial solar eclipse, many area schools have canceled classes or elected to operate on a shortened schedule.

Classes are canceled Monday for students in the Natchez-Adams School District and the Concordia Parish School District.

Adams County Christian School and Cathedral will dismiss early. Trinity Episcopal Day School will remain open.

“This is one of those deals where you want to veer on the side of caution,” Concordia Parish Superintendent Whest Shirley said. “Several  (other local schools) were going to shut down for a half day. If you shut down for a half day, you are really putting people in harm’s way with how dark it is due to the eclipse with no supervision.”

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration recommends watching the solar eclipse should only be done with solar viewing glasses marked with the ISO 12312-2 safety standard. Viewing the eclipse at any time in the Miss-Lou without certified solar viewing glasses could result in permanent eye damage.

Shirley said employees in the central office and other 12-month employees are to report to work Monday.

Public Relations Coordinator Steven Richardson said while classes are canceled Monday, the rest of the Natchez-Adams School District will be open, including  Braden administration offices.

Richardson said the district would make up the lost school day with a half-day of classes on Oct. 6 and a half-day of classes on Dec. 21.

Adams County Christian School and Cathedral School will operate on a shortened schedule Monday.

At ACCS, kindergarten students will be dismissed at 10:50 a.m. Students in the first through fifth grades will dismiss at 11 a.m. Middle and high school students will dismiss at 11:15 a.m. The school’s daycare will be closed.

Cathedral  School will dismiss students at 11:15 a.m.

Officials from Trinity Episcopal Day School said the school will be open and will use the eclipse as a teaching opportunity.

The school purchased solar viewing glasses for all of its students through the non-profit Eclipse for a Cause. The glasses are certified safe using standards recommended by NASA. For every pair of glasses purchased, the non-profit donates a pair of solar viewing glasses to public schools in need.

“We want to generate a passion for STEM education for all students,” Trinity headmaster Christina Daugherty said. “What better way to do so than to allow our students to experience  a momentous event like this in the presence of knowledgeable teachers who can answer questions and explain the significance of the experience while it is taking place.”

Shirley said he also wanted to encourage parents to use the eclipse as a learning tool.

“I encourage parents to watch it on the NASA website with their children,” Shirley said.  “You can see it live in a very safe environment in your living room. We have not had (a solar eclipse) this dark since 1918. ”