School schedule changes for Friday, Jan. 10

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– Schools across the Palmetto State are making preparations as the state is expected to be hit with Winter weather on Friday.

Following a meeting with the National Weather Service regarding the earlier than expected arrival in our area of inclement weather, Lexington Two schools and offices will move up Friday’s early dismissal times.

Early Dismissal times: 

• 11 a.m. for elementary schools
• 12 p.m. for middle/high schools

All after-school activities/programs on Friday are canceled.

Coaches and schools will reach out directly to families and athletes regarding the status of any previously scheduled weekend events, said Lexington School District Two officials.

Lexington Four:

Lexington School District Four in coordination with other Lexington County school districts will transition to early dismissal for all schools on Friday, January 10, due to possible weather conditions.

To provide time for buses, students, and staff to safely complete their afternoon travel before the winter weather arrives, schools will follow the normal half-day schedule listed below.

District officials say breakfast and lunch will be served, but all afterschool activities, daycare, and athletics are canceled for tomorrow.

Half-Day Schedule:

• Early Childhood Center  – 11 a.m.
• Sandhills Primary/Elementary – 11:20 a.m.
• Frances Mack Intermediate – 12:20 p.m.
• Sandhills Middle School – 11:30 a.m.
• Swansea High Freshman Academy – 12:15 a.m.
• Swansea High – 12:30 p.m.

Lexington One:

All Lexington County School District One schools will dismiss 30 minutes earlier on Friday, January 10, due to the possibility of winter weather impacting roadways in the Midlands, according to the district.

• All elementary schools will dismiss at 10:50 a.m.
• All middle schools except Gilbert Middle will dismiss at 11:35 a.m.; GMS will dismiss at 11:45 a.m.
• Pelion and Gilbert High schools will dismiss at 11: 55 a.m., and Lexington, White Knoll and River Bluff High schools will dismiss at 12:15 p.m.

Dismissal times:

• Pre-school: half-day classes, both morning and afternoon sessions — Canceled
• Elementary: Schools (including full-day preschool classes) — 11:20 a.m. 
• Middle Schools: All except GMS — 12:05 p.m., GMS — 12:15 p.m. 
• High Schools: LHS, WKHS, and RBHS — 12:45 p.m., PHS, and GHS — 12:25 p.m.
• All after-school childcare is canceled on Friday.
• Additionally, all after-school activities will be suspended from dismissal on Friday, Jan. 10, until 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11.

Lexington Three:

Lexington County School District Three announces that Friday, January 10, will be an eLearning Day for all students and staff in the district.

District officials have been closely monitoring the impending winter weather that is forecasted to impact the majority of South Carolina on Friday, as forecasters are predicting sleet, freezing rain, and the possibility of snow flurries in the state.

All after-school events including sports practices, meetings, etc, scheduled for Friday, January 10, are canceled. 

Saluda County:

Saluda County School District schools will have an eLearning day on Friday, January 10, 2025 due to the potential for hazardous road conditions. Additionally, all sporting events and practices are canceled for that day.

Newberry County:

The School District of Newberry County will have an eLearning day on Friday, January 10, due to the threat of winter weather.

All activities are canceled for January 10. 

District officials say teachers will post assignments for students to complete, but there will be no live Google Meets on that day.

Students who do not have internet access will need to download assignments during school on Thursday.

Students will have a five-school-day window of time to turn in eLearning assignments.

Additional information regarding eLearning guidelines and expectations can be found at https://bit.ly/426hmBW.

District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties:

Due to the National Weather Service predicting a wintry mix on Friday, January 10, beginning in the afternoon and lasting into the night, School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties will operate on an early release schedule.

School District Five schools, including the virtual FIVE program, will dismiss as follows:

• All intermediate schools will release at 11:00 a.m.
• All elementary schools will release at 11:00 a.m.
• Academy for Success will release at 11:30 a.m.
• All middle schools will release at 12:00 p.m.
• Spring Hill High School will release at 11:50 a.m.
• All other high schools will release at 12:05 p.m.

District officials say students in half-day preschool programs will not meet.

Students with morning classes at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies will remain at their home schools for online instruction from their teachers.

Also, afternoon classes at The Center and adult education will not meet.

Lunch will be provided to students at school.

Additionally, all childcare and after-school activities are cancelled on Friday, January 10.

Kershaw County:

Kershaw County School District has announced that due to the threat of possible winter weather beginning on Friday afternoon all schools and offices in the district will close early on Friday, January 10.

Forecasters have predicted the possibility of hazardous road conditions.

Dismissal times:

• Elementary schools will dismissed at 11:30 a.m.
• Middle schools will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m.
• High schools will be dismissed at 12 p.m.
• District officials say breakfast and lunch will be served, and the district office will close at 1 p.m.
• Students in half day preschool special needs programs will not attend school on Friday.
• Morning Woolard Technology Center and morning adult education students will attend class and dismiss at their regular times.
• All KCSD child care programs, extracurricular and after-school activities, including sports practices and games are also canceled as well as after school and evening district meetings.

Orangeburg County:

Orangeburg County School District (OCSD) students and staff will have an early release day on Friday, January 10, to ensure everyone can be off the roadways ahead of predicted winter weather.

Dismissal times are as follows:

• Elementary schools (kindergarten – 5th grade) will dismiss at 11:30 a.m. (Exception: Dover Elementary will dismiss at 12:30 p.m.)
• Middle schools, K-12 schools, and middle high schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m.
• High schools will dismiss at 1 p.m (Exception: Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School will dismiss at 1:30 p.m.)

All after-school and athletic activities scheduled for Friday have been cancelled or postponed.

Richland County:

Richland One:

Due to a shift in the weather forecast, Richland One schools will dismiss students 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled early dismissal times on Friday, January 10.

Dismissal times:

• Elementary schools will dismiss at 10:30 a.m.
• High schools will dismiss at 11:15 a.m.
• Middle schools will dismiss at 12 p.m.
• Breakfast and lunch will still be provided to students before they are dismissed.

Richland Two:

In anticipation of severe weather and unsafe travel conditions, Richland Two schools will dismiss early on Friday, January 10.

District officials say all school buildings and district facilities will close early.

Additionally, all after-school activities, after-care programs, athletic/fine arts and other extracurricular activities, events and programs, adult education classes, etc, will be canceled.

Events and activities scheduled for Friday night have been rescheduled.

Dismissal times on Friday, January 10, 2025:

• Elementary schools will dismiss at 11 a.m.
• Middle schools will dismiss at 11:45 a.m.
• High schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m.

Columbia International University:

Columbia International University will be dismissing classes early. The campus is closing at 12 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, due to possible inclement weather, said university officials.

Sumter County:

Sumter School District officials say due to the strong possibility of light to moderate freezing rain approaching from the south late Friday afternoon, schools will dismiss early on Friday, January 10.

All after-school activities are canceled on Friday.

Dismissal times:

• Elementary schools will dismiss at 11 a.m.
• Middle schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m.
• High schools will dismiss at 12:30 pm.

Calhoun County:

Due to the threat of inclement weather forecasted in the area on Friday afternoon, Calhoun County Public Schools will dismiss early January 10.

Dismissal times:

• K8 schools will dismiss at 12 p.m.
• High school at 12:15 p.m.

There will be no after-school activities on Friday, January 10.

Fairfield County:

Due to the potential for icy weather and snow in the forecast, Fairfield County Schools will be closed on Friday, January 10, according to the school district.

However, the day will be eLearning Day for students.

All assignments will be available on Google Classroom, and must be submitted by Wednesday, January 15.

Lee County:

Due to the probability of a wintry mix that includes light snow, freezing rain, and sleet, all schools will dismiss early on Friday, January 10, says Lee County School District.

Dismissal times:

Elementary schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m.

Middle and high schools will dismiss at 12 p.m.

Additionally, all afterschool programs, field trips and extra-curricular activities are canceled.

Clarendon County:

Clarendon County schools will operate on an early dismissal schedule on Friday, Jan. 10, and all after-school activities and athletic events will be cancelled, says the district.

The early dismissal schedule is:

• Dr. Rose H. Wilder Elementary School, F.E. DuBose Career Center, Manning Early Childhood Center, Walker Gamble Elementary School will dismiss at 11 a.m.
• Manning Elementary School will dismiss at 11:10 a.m.
• East Clarendon Middle/High School, Scott’s Branch Middle/High School will dismiss at 11:20 a.m.
• Manning Junior High School will dismiss at 11:30 a.m.
• Manning High School will dismiss at 11:45 a.m.