COLUMBIA, S.C. — With the potentially severe weather forecasts to impact the Midlands on Thursday and Friday, some school districts are beginning to move to e-learning and canceling events on those days.
Hurricane Helene is currently in the Gulf of Mexico but is expected to bring gusty winds, heavy rain, and the potential for tornadoes late Thursday night through much of Friday morning.
Here are the latest updates from each Midlands school district on their plans.
Bamberg County
Due to the weather conditions, Bamberg County School District will dismiss on Thursday, Sept. 26, at noon, and we will have an e-learning day on Friday, Sept. 27. Parents, if your child is a car rider, you can report to schools at this time to pick up your child. Please contact the school administration with any questions.
Calhoun County
All afterschool activities are canceled for Thursday.
Calhoun County Public Schools will move to an e-learning Day on Friday, Sept. 27.
Clarendon County
Clarendon County School District will operate on a regular schedule on Thursday, Sept. 26. However, due to expected inclement weather, we will shift to e-learning on Friday, Sept. 27. Any further updates will be posted on our normal communications channels. Stay safe.
Fairfield County
Fairfield County School District will have an e-learning Day on Friday.
Kershaw County
All Kershaw County School District schools will shift to e-learning on Friday, Sept. 27, due to Hurricane Helene's forecasted heavy winds and possible severe weather conditions. All school buildings and offices, including afterschool childcare programs, will be closed on Friday.
Weather conditions are expected to clear by Friday afternoon, allowing extracurricular activities to move forward as scheduled after 3 p.m. unless otherwise noted by the school.
Teachers will post assignments in Canvas (or will provide paper packets). Specific instructions will be communicated to students and parents from teachers and schools. Teachers will be working remotely on Friday and will be available for student questions during their virtual office hours:
- Elementary Schools: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Middle and High Schools: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
We realize that power outages are possible, so students will have five school days to complete all assignments to be counted present.
Technology staff will be answering technology-related issues by email at esupport@kcsdschools.net
Lee County
Lee County Schools will be closed for all students on Friday, Sept. 27. It will be an optional teacher workday.
Lexington One
Lexington One will switch to e-learning on Friday, Sept. 27, due to weather impacts from Hurricane Helene. Employees should work from home unless their supervisor notifies them otherwise. All of Friday's extracurricular activities, including those that require travel, will be suspended until 3 p.m.
Lexington Two
With incoming potential severe weather expected by early evening Thursday, Lexington Two’s afterschool activities will conclude no later than 5 p.m.
The early conclusion of Thursday’s afterschool activities is to ensure that both district families and Lexington Two employees have adequate travel time to make it home safely, with weather conditions beginning to deteriorate.
Parents and guardians should pick up their children by 5 p.m., but they are encouraged to do so sooner.
Lexington Two schools will move to an e-learning day on Friday, Sept. 27. All afternoon and evening activities, including athletic events, extracurricular activities, afterschool programs, and adult education classes, are canceled for Friday.
Lexington Three
No changes are in effect at this time. Sept. 27 is a district holiday, leading into the district's Fall Break, Sept. 30 to Oct. 4.
Lexington Four
Lexington Four will transition to an e-learning day for all schools on Friday, Sept. 27.
Additional information regarding e-learning instruction from your school and your child’s teacher(s) will be sent home. Keep an eye out for these communications. Your child must complete their e-learning assignments by next Friday (Oct. 3) to be considered present for the e-learning day.
Coaches and sponsors will be in contact with their students regarding afterschool activities and athletics.
Lexington-Richland Five
All Lexington-Richland Five afterschool childcare programs, afterschool activities, and evening adult education classes are canceled on Thursday, Sept. 26.
All Lexington-Richland School District Five schools and offices, including our virtual FIVE program, will observe an e-learning day on Friday, Sept. 27. Teachers will post assignments to Google Classroom by 10 a.m. for asynchronous learning. If a teacher does not utilize Google Classroom, they will notify parents and students of how this information will be shared. Asynchronous learning involves students completing assignments independently at their own pace throughout the day. Teachers will continue to support students during asynchronous learning by providing feedback, responding to questions, and reviewing assignments when in-person learning resumes. All students will have up to five school days to complete assignments.
Newberry County
The School District of Newberry County has made the following schedule changes due to Hurricane Helene:
- Thursday, Sept. 26 - regular school day, all afterschool activities canceled
- Friday, Sept. 27- e-learning for students; schools and offices closed to the public
Orangeburg County
All afterschool programs for Thursday, Sept. 26, have been canceled due to anticipated weather conditions.
Friday, Sept. 27, will be an e-Learning Day for OCSD students and staff.
Richland One
Richland One schools and administrative offices will operate on their normal schedules on Thursday, Sept. 26. School staff and dismissal times will remain the same. However, afterschool programs, events, and activities scheduled for Thursday have been canceled due to potential inclement weather caused by Helene.
All Richland One schools and administrative offices will be closed on Friday, Sept. 27. Friday will be an e-learning day for Richland One students.
All afterschool activities and events scheduled for Friday have been canceled. The Colleg and Career Expo for Richland One juniors and seniors, scheduled for Friday morning at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, has also been canceled.
The district’s Nutrition Services team will send breakfast and lunch for Friday home with students on Thursday, Sept. 26.
All Richland One varsity football games have been rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28:
- Memorial Stadium
- Dreher vs. Camden – 11 a.m.
- A.C. Flora vs. York – 4:45 p.m.
- Stadium at W.J. Keenan
- Eau Claire vs. Pelion – 11 a.m.
- Bolden Stadium
- Columbia High vs. Swansea – 11 a.m.
Lower Richland and W.J. Keenan’s varsity football teams played away games on Sept. 25. C.A. Johnson’s team does not have a game scheduled for this week.
Richland Two
Due to the anticipated severe weather from Hurricane Helene, all afterschool activities, events and programs in Richland School District Two for Thursday, Sept. 26, have been canceled. This includes athletics, fine arts, extracurricular activities, events and programs, adult education classes, etc. Canceling afterschool activities will keep Richland Two students, parents, and staff safely off the roadways during severe weather.
All schools, centers and administrative offices in Richland Two will be closed on Friday, Sept. 27. Richland Two will switch to an e-learning and remote work day on Friday. As an e-learning district approved by the S.C. Department of Education, the district will provide asynchronous instruction to students. Teachers and schools will communicate specific instructions to students and parents on completing assignments. Assigned work must be completed and turned in by Wednesday, Oct. 2, for students to be counted present on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024.
Saluda County
Due to the possibility of severe weather from Hurricane Helene, Saluda County Schools has
scheduled an e-learning Day for Friday, Sept. 27. All schools will be closed, and
students and staff will not report to school. Additionally, all afterschool activities on Thursday,
Sept. 26 is canceled.
Sumter County
Friday, Sept. 27, will be an e-learning day for all Sumter School District students and staff due to the high probability of heavy rain, followed by strong winds Thursday evening and Friday morning. All afterschool activities are canceled for both Thursday and Friday.
Sumter School District schools and office buildings will be closed, and all activities, including athletic events and field trips, will be canceled. Because Sumter is an approved e-learning district, this day will not need to be made up. Lessons and assignments will be posted in Schoology. Students who cannot participate due to power outages, lack of internet service, or other barriers can complete their e-learning assignments later.
Hurricane Helene weather hits the Midlands
Private schools, other
- Trinity Learning Center in downtown Columbia will be closed on Friday, Sept. 26.
- South Carolina State University is canceling night classes on Thursday and operating on a three-hour delay on Friday due to Hurricane Helene, associated flooding and strong winds.
- Columbia International University will be closed on Friday, Sept. 27, due to heavy rainfall and wind associated with Hurricane Helene.
- Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College has canceled all classes set to begin after 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26. The college urges students to monitor the website and social media for additional information.
- Laurence Manning Academy in Clarendon County will close on Friday, Sept. 27
- Wateree Community Actions Head Start and Early Head Start Centers in Clarendon, Lee, Sumter, and Kershaw counties will have an E-learning day on Friday, Sept. 27.
- All Midlands Technical College campuses will close at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, and remain closed on Friday, Sept. 27. The college expects to resume normal hours on Monday. MTC is using MTC Alerts to monitor the weather. It will post updated information on the college website and send text messages.
- Morris College in Sumter will close early at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26. Guidance on Friday's operations will come later.
- Columbia College will close at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, and will also be closed on Friday, Sept. 27.
- Beginning at 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, University of South Carolina Columbia classes will be virtual. All classes scheduled for Friday, Sept. 27, will also be virtual. In addition, the campus will remain open on Fridays for essential employees only. Employees should check in with their supervisors, and non-essential campus personnel are encouraged to work remotely if possible.
Students can access normal campus services, including dining, health, and virtual academic support services. - Due to forecasted inclement weather, the University of South Carolina Aiken will be closed on Friday, Sept. 27. Classes scheduled for 5 p.m. and later Thursday, Sept. 26, will transition to virtual learning. All in-person activities and events planned for 5 p.m. and later Thursday, Sept. 26, are canceled. The cafeteria will remain open; however, late-night grill hours on Thursday, Sept. 26, are canceled. The Wellness Center and the Children’s Center will be closed on Friday, Sept. 27. Campus operations and classes will resume on Monday, Sept. 30.
- Richland County Recreation Commission: Out of an abundance of caution regarding forecasted inclement weather, the Richland County Recreation Commission will close all parks at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26. RCRC has suspended all scheduled afterschool programs on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, and Friday, Sept. 27. Additionally, the commission will have a delayed opening at 9 a.m. on Sept. 27. All RCRC programs, leagues, fields, and rentals will be suspended for this period.
Stay tuned to News 19 for the latest Hurricane Helene weather forecast and what that may mean for South Carolina.