CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – School districts across the Lowcountry are closely monitoring weather conditions following Hurricane Helene and announcing changes to their class schedules.

Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the Lowcountry ahead of Hurricane Helene approaching the Big Bend region of Florida’s northwest coast, which is expected to make landfall as early as Thursday evening.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Allendale, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Jasper, Orangeburg and Williamsburg counties.

Below is a summary of the schedule changes announced by the districts:

School Districts

Berkeley County School District

Berkeley County School District is transitioning to an eLearning day on Fridays. All after-school activities and after-school care programs will close at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. All schools and offices will be closed on Friday and before-school and after-school care programs will be canceled.

Charleston County School District

Charleston County School District is moving to an eLearning day for Friday. School and district buildings are closed.

Kaleidoscope and all other extracurricular activities and after-school programs scheduled for tomorrow have been canceled. However, the high school sports games on Friday night will still be held.

Dorchester Ward 2

Dorchester District 2 is transitioning to eLearning on Friday. All Thursday after-school programs and extracurricular activities are canceled.

Dorchester Ward 4

Dorchester District 4 canceled all after-school activities for Thursday and will switch to an eLearning day on Friday. District leaders say they made the decision based on forecasted rainfall overnight, as well as persistent winds and possible gusts in the early morning hours.

Beaufort County School District

Beaufort County School District will have an eLearning day and a work from home day on Friday, assuming power and internet are functioning. District buildings will be closed. All after-school activities will be canceled on Thursday and Friday.

Colleton County School District

The Colleton County School District is going home early on Thursday.

• Black Street Early Childhood Care Centre
  • Students: 10:40 am
  • Staff: 12:00 noon
• All Elementary Schools in Colleton County
  • Students: 11:00 am
  • Staff: 12:20 pm
• All High Schools in Colleton County
  • Students: 12:15 pm
  • Staff: 1:35 PM
• All High Schools in Colleton County
  • Students: 12:30 pm
  • Staff: 1:50 PM

The Colleton County School District has a delayed start scheduled for Friday.

• Black Street Early Childhood Care Centre
  • Arrival 9.00 am
  • The class starts at 9:30 am
  • Day ends at 1:55pm
• All Elementary Schools in Colleton County
  • Arrival 9.00 am
  • The class starts at 9:30 am
  • Day ends at 2:15pm
• All High Schools in Colleton County
  • Arrival 10:15 am
  • The class starts at 10:45 am
  • Day ends at 3:30pm
• All High Schools in Colleton County
  • Arrival 10:15 am
  • The class starts at 10:45 am
  • Day ends at 3:45pm

Georgetown Province

The Georgetown County School District is moving to eLearning on Friday.

Orangeburg County School District

Orangeburg County schools canceled all after-school activities on Thursday and announced they will host an eLearning day on Friday.

Other organizations

In addition to the school districts, the following events have been postponed or canceled:

• Boone Hall Plantation: The Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch will be closed on Friday. Boone Hall plans to be open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and all other days as scheduled. Those who purchased tickets for Friday may use those tickets any other day the event is open this season. (Boone Hall Fright Nights will be open Friday and Saturday nights as scheduled.)
• Charleston Market: The Charleston City Market’s Night Market kickoff, which will recognize more than 30 businesses with the “Handmade in Charleston” designation, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed until Oct. 24.
• Charleston County Public Library: The West Ashley branch of the Charleston County Public Library will close at 3 p.m. on Thursday. All other branches and offices will close at 6 p.m. Book drop-offs and automated material drop-offs will also be closed during this time. Patrons are asked not to leave items outside of book drop-offs.
• Board of Trustees of the Charleston County Public Library:The Charleston County Public Library Board of Trustees meeting, previously scheduled for Thursday, will now be held on October 3 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mt. Pleasant Library.
• Unveiling of the Marion Square Fountain Sculpture: The Rotary Club of Charleston’s unveiling of bronze artist Scott Penegar’s final Marion Square Fountain sculpture, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed until Oct. 3 at 4 p.m.
• North Charleston Police Department: The free Narcan distribution event “Save-a-Life Day” at Seacoast Church in West Ashley, scheduled for Thursday, has been canceled. The event will be rescheduled for a future date.
• South Carolina Highway Patrol: The graduation ceremony for the South Carolina Highway Patrol Training Class 126, scheduled for Friday, has been canceled.

This is a developing story. Check back later for details.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.