COLUMBIA, S.C. — More and more school districts are moving to elearning in advance of the winter storm that's expected to impact the state Friday.
Current computers models are showing a mix of ice and snow across much of the Midlands beginning sometime late Friday morning. The wintry weather is expected to continue all day Friday into Saturday morning.
Several districts have made their plans known already. Here is what we known at this time. This list will be updated:
Here's a list of what other districts in the Midlands of South Carolina are doing. We are also putting in some private schools as we get them. This list will be updated:
Clarendon District Two
Clarendon District Two will move to elearning for Friday, January 21 due to the inclement weather forecast.
Teachers will post assignments for students to complete on the e-learning day. Parents who have questions should contact their child's school or check their child's Google classroom.
Ben Lippen School
Ben Lippen School will be closed Friday January 21. All school activities, including local Winterims and sporting events/practices, are also canceled for the day.
Fairfield County
The Fairfield County School District will have an eLearning day, Friday, January 21, 2022. Parents and staff should check ParentSquare or school landing pages for assignments. A virtual eLearning day allows students to minimize any interruptions caused by inclement weather and continue to make educational progress. Students will have regular assigned classwork and teachers will be available electronically. Students will be required to complete and submit all assignments, as well as communicate with their teachers during the eLearning day. Any student experiencing difficulties should contact their teacher or principal via email.
Teachers will utilize playlists and landing pages. Teachers will be expected to make contact with students, track virtual attendance, and be available to students during virtual office hours.
Kershaw County
The district announced Wednesday that they will be in elearning for Friday, January 21. School offices and the district office will remain open.
Teachers will be working and available for student questions during their virtual office hours:
Elementary Schools: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Middle and High Schools: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Depending upon driving conditions, Wi-Fi equipped activity buses may be available at the following locations from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday:
- Elgin Town Hall, 1201 Rose Street, Elgin, SC 29045
- Cassatt Baptist Church, 2604 Highway 1 North, Cassatt, SC 29032
- Bethany Church, 3089 Youngs Park Dr, Westville, SC 29175
- Timrod Baptist Church, 4227 Timrod Rd, Bethune, SC 29009
- Bethune Elementary School, 302 Norwood St E, Bethune, SC 29009
- Baron DeKalb Elementary School, 2684 Baron Dekalb Rd, Camden, SC 29020
Please check www.kcsdschools.net/wifi for updated information about the availability of the buses with Wi-Fi.
Lee County
The Lee County School system is moving to virtual learning because of a spike in COVID cases and the impending winter weather forecast for the area.
The district says January 20, 2022 and Friday, January 21, 2022 as e-learning days for students and teachers.
Lexington School District 1
Out of abundance of caution, all Lexington District One schools will shift to e-learning Friday, Jan. 21, because of potentially severe winter weather predicted for our area.
All afterschool activities and sports are canceled for Jan. 21. We will make a decision about sports and extracurricular activities for Saturday (Jan. 22) by Friday afternoon. We will communicate that decision tomorrow.
Here is what our students need to do. Around 8:30 Friday morning, check your learning management system and/or your district email for assignments and directions from your teacher(s). Families may also want to check their email in case your student’s teacher emails you with directions.
Students will have five school days to complete all assignments to be counted present.
Lexington School District 2
Due to forecasts of inclement weather, Friday, January 21, will now be an eLearning Day for all Lexington Two schools.
All after-school activities, programs and athletic events that were scheduled for Friday are cancelled. Meals will be sent home with students after school on Thursday for Friday’s eLearning Day.
Lexington Two teachers will be working and available for live conferencing via Google Meet during virtual office hours. Direct links to Google Meets or join codes will be posted in Class Dojo or Google Classroom. Friday’s virtual office hours are:
Lexington School District 3
Lexington School District 3 will be virtual for the week of January 18 through the 21. (January 17 was already a holiday).
There will be no in-person, school-related practices, activities or games while Lexington Three is in remote learning mode.
Lexington School District 4
Lexington Four, in coordination with all Lexington County school districts, will transition to an e-Learning day for all schools, Friday, January 21, 2022. All afterschool activities and athletics are canceled.
Lexington-Richland School District 5
Lexington-Richland School District Five will transition to an e-learning day on Friday, January 21, 2022.
Teachers will post assignments to Google Classroom or Seesaw accounts by 10:00am Friday morning for asynchronous learning. 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.
Newberry County Schools
The district says due to a high number of students and staff impacted by Covid-19, the district switched to virtual earlier this week, and will remain in virtual through Friday, January 21.
Richland School District 1
Due to the forecast for freezing rain, sleet and snow and potentially hazardous road conditions, Friday (January 21, 2022) will be an e-Learning day for Richland One students and a work-from-home day for Richland One employees. All schools and administrative offices will be closed. All activities that were scheduled for Friday, including sports events, are canceled.
Meals (breakfast and lunch) for Friday will be sent home with students Thursday afternoon.
Since Friday will be an e-Learning day, students will not have to make up the day.
Richland School District 2
Richland Two is switching to an e-learning/remote workday on Friday, January 21, 2022. The switch is based on the potential for widespread and extended power outages and hazardous travel conditions due to freezing rain.
Teachers will post assignments in Google Classroom (or provide paper packets).
All assignments must be completed and turned in by Wednesday, January 26, 2022, in order for the student to be marked present for Friday, January 21, 2022.
Sumter County
Due to the threat of inclement weather in the Sumter community, Friday, January 21 will be an eLearning day for all students in Sumter School District. This means schools and office buildings will be closed, and all activities, including athletic events and field trips, are canceled.