Schools and authorities make changes to their schedules ahead of Helene

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – Lowcountry school districts are monitoring weather conditions in the wake of Hurricane Helene and announcing changes to their schedules.

Tropical storm warnings have been issued for the entire Lowcountry ahead of Hurricane Helene's landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida's northwest coast late Thursday.

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

Here is a breakdown of the schedule changes announced by districts:

School districts

Charleston County School District

The Charleston County School District is implementing an eLearning day on Friday. School and district buildings will remain closed.

Kaleidoscope and all other extracurricular activities and afterschool programs scheduled for tomorrow are canceled, but Friday night's high school sports games will go ahead.

Dorchester, District 4

Dorchester District 4 has canceled all extracurricular activities for Thursday and will switch to an eLearning day on Friday. District leaders say they made the decision due to the forecast for rain overnight, as well as persistent winds and possible gusts in the early morning hours.

Beaufort County School District

Beaufort County School District officials say that while school will continue as usual for the rest of the week, all extracurricular activities will be canceled on Thursday and Friday.

The families received the following information on Wednesday evening:

We are closely monitoring the development of Tropical Storm Helene in consultation with the Emergency Management Agency. According to current forecasts, schools will operate according to the normal schedule on Thursday, September 26th and Friday, September 27th. All extracurricular Activities (including EPIC employee childcare) are cancelled for tomorrow, Thursday, September 26.

Colleton County School District

The Colleton County School District will end school early on Thursday.

• Black Street Early Childhood Centre
  • Students: 10:40 a.m.
  • Staff: 12pm
• All elementary schools in Colleton County
  • Students: 11 a.m.
  • Staff: 12:20 p.m.
• All middle schools in Colleton County
  • Students: 12:15 p.m.
  • Employee: 1:35 p.m.
• All high schools in Colleton County
  • Students: 12:30 p.m.
  • Staff: 1:50 p.m.

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

• Black Street Early Childhood Centre
  • Arrival 9am
  • Classes start at 9:30 am
  • End of day 13:55
• All elementary schools in Colleton County
  • Arrival 9am
  • Classes start at 9:30 a.m.
  • End of day 2:15 p.m.
• All middle schools in Colleton County
  • Arrival 10:15 am
  • Classes start at 10:45 am
  • End of day 3:30 p.m.
• All high schools in Colleton County
  • Arrival 10:15 am
  • Classes start at 10:45 am
  • End of day 3:45 p.m.

Orangeburg County School District

Orangeburg County schools will resume normal operations Thursday, but all extracurricular programs have been canceled. School officials said weather conditions will be assessed before a decision is made for Friday.

Other organizations

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

• Charleston City Market: The Charleston City Market's night market, which will honor more than 30 businesses with the “Handmade in Charleston” award, originally scheduled to kick off on Thursday, has been postponed. A new date will be announced.
• Charleston County Public Library: The West Ashley branch of the Charleston County Public Library will close at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. All other branches and offices will close at 6:00 p.m. Book return locations and automated material returns will also be closed during this time. Patrons are asked not to leave items outside of the book return locations.
• Charleston County Public Library Board of Trustees: The Charleston County Public Library Board of Trustees meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, will now be held on October 3 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mt. Pleasant Library.
• Unveiling of the fountain sculpture at Marion Square: The Rotary Club of Charleston's unveiling of the final Marion Square Fountain sculpture by bronze artist Scott Penegar, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed to Oct. 3 at 4 p.m.
• North Charleston Police Department: The Save-a-Life Day event to distribute free Narcan at Seacoast Church in West Ashley scheduled for Thursday has been canceled. The event will be rescheduled at a later date.
• South Carolina Highway Patrol: The South Carolina Highway Patrol Training Class 126 graduation ceremony scheduled for Friday has been canceled.

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

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