Amid weather concerns, here are cancellations, delays

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - For reasons ranging from COVID to weather, several educational institutions are transitioning to home learning or early release for various durations.

CLOSURES:

As the Augusta area prepares for wintry weather, the city of Augusta’s landfill and community centers will be closed Jan. 22.
The SPCA Shelter and Vet Care Center in Aiken will be closed Saturday, with the SPCA thrift store having a delayed opening of noon.

SCHOOLS:

Richmond County

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Richmond County School System will implement an early release schedule on Friday ahead of inclement weather projections.

For other reasons, the district has transitioned Freedom Park K-8 School and Belair K-8 to home instruction.

Due to increased COVID-related staff absences, students from Freedom Park will follow the home learning model from Thursday through Monday, returning for in-person instruction on Tuesday.

For the same reason, students from Belair will follow the home learning model from Friday through Tuesday, returning for in-person instruction Wednesday.

All athletic events, extracurricular activities, and practices for Friday have been canceled. Region basketball games will be rescheduled.

Meals will be available for pickup from the side entrance of the school’s cafeteria from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on home-learning days.

FIRST ALERT WEATHER | Latest forecast from News 12

Columbia County

EVANS, Ga. - The Columbia County School District is monitoring the impact of the winter weather in the area, working closely with local emergency management and weather officials.

The district says that given current predictions, schools and before/after-school daycare programs will continue to operate as normal on Friday.

However, all after-school activities for Friday have been canceled due to the possible winter precipitation and unsafe travel conditions.

Officials say they will continue to monitor conditions and encourage the public to visit our website, social media channels, and local media outlets for updates.

Aiken County

AIKEN, S.C - The Aiken County Public School District will go to virtual instruction on Friday.

“While all areas of Aiken County will likely not be affected in the same way, out of an abundance of caution for all ACPSD families, Friday, January 21, 2022, will serve as an e-learning/remote school day for students,” the district said in a statement.

Allendale County

ALLENDALE, S.C - The Allendale County School District will go to virtual instruction on Friday.

All office buildings will also be closed. Schools will return to face-to-face instruction on Monday.

Bamberg School Districts One and Two

BAMBERG, S.C. - Due to the possibility of inclement weather, students will remain virtual and staff can work from home on Friday.

The district will return to face-to-face instruction on Monday. All students and staff unless sick or awaiting test results should report to their respective schools at normal times. The district says if you are sick or showing symptoms or if you are awaiting COVID test results, do not come to school but contact your school nurse and principal to let them know this is the case.

There is also no meal pickup on Friday.

McCormick County

McCORMICK, S.C - After assessing COVID quarantines, schools in McCormick County will return to in-person learning on Monday.

The district moved to virtual learning last week due to the increase of COVID-19 quarantines among students and staff.

Orangeburg County

ORANGEBURG, S.C - Looking ahead to winter weather, January 21 will be a virtual work and school day for all students and employees in Orangeburg County schools.

Because of the potential for internet and power outages, the previously-scheduled Extended Learning Day for Saturday, January 22, will be canceled.

Saluda County

SALUDA, S.C - Out of an abundance of caution due to the impending weather event, Saluda County schools will operate with an eLearning day on Friday.

Burke County

WAYNESBORO, Ga. - Due to shortages in transportation staff and expected winter weather, Burke County schools will finish out the week with home learning days Thursday and Friday.

Students are expected to participate in live, virtual sessions on Thursday and Friday. Specific details regarding schoolwork can be found on the district Distance Learning webpage, www.burkeschools.org, and the teacher’s Google Classroom.

All faculty and staff members should report to work and follow their regular daily schedule on Thursday. However, faculty and staff members, including 12-month personnel, should not report to work Friday.

All Burke County High School basketball games will be played at home, as scheduled, on Friday and Saturday.

McDuffie County

THOMSON, Ga. - Several schools in the McDuffie County School System will have early dismissal on Friday, January 21.

The district will enact an early dismissal schedule:

1 p.m. at Sand Hills and Dearing Elementary
1:15 p.m. for Special Education Buses
1:20 p.m. at Thomson-McDuffie Middle School
1:25 p.m. at Thomson High School
1:30 p.m. at McDuffie Achievement Center, Maxwell Elementary, Thomson Elementary, Norris Elementary

If the forecast changes, the district will provide an update as soon as possible via the One Call Notification System and the district Facebook page.

Jenkins County

MILLEN, Ga. - The Jenkins County School System will be canceling school on Friday due to the winter weather forecast. The school system will use this time to do COVID-19 mitigation measures of deep cleaning and fogging during this break. School will resume on Monday.

Washington County

SANDERSVILLE, Ga. - All students in Washington County public schools will learn virtually on Friday.

In a letter to parents, school officials say after monitoring weather threats for the area, schools will shift to virtual learning only for Jan. 21.

Individual schools will send home information explaining how students will learn.

The district is also canceling all athletic events for the day.

In-person instruction for all schools will resume as normal on Monday.

Parents are encouraged to reach out to their student’s schools if they have any questions.

Warren County

WARRENTON, Ga. - All students in Warren County public schools will have early dismissal on Friday. students will be dismissed at 2:10 p.m.

The buses will pick up students at the career academy beginning at 2 p.m. and students at the main campus at 2:10 p.m. Car riders will be released accordingly.

Briarwood Academy

WARRENTON, Ga. - Due to weather concerns, Briarwood Academy will dismiss early on Friday. All elementary grades will dismiss at 11:45. All middle and high school grades will dismiss at 12:15. All after-school activities have also been canceled.

First Providence Learning & Development Center

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. - First Providence Learning & Development Center in North Augusta, following Aiken County and South Carolina schools, will be closed Friday as a precaution to possible inclement weather.

You may call 803-441-4092 for more information.

Tri-Development Center

AIKEN, S.C. - Due to possible inclement weather tomorrow on Friday, Tri-Development Center will be closed.

Normal operations will resume on Monday.

South Aiken Baptist Christian School

AIKEN, S.C. - Due to the potential for inclement weather, South Aiken Baptist Christian School will be closed on Friday.

University of South Carolina Aiken

AIKEN, S.C. - As a state agency, the University of South Carolina Aiken follows the delay and closing determinations of Aiken County government officials.

Currently, USC Aiken will remain open on Friday, but all classes scheduled for Friday will be delivered virtually.

At this time, there is no charge for Saturday’s events.

Campus administrators continue to monitor conditions.

South Carolina State University

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Due to the weather forecast for the region, South Carolina State University announced classes will be conducted online Friday.

Only essential employees should report to the campus for work Friday. Other employees are expected to work from home, and employees are encouraged to check in with supervisors about their status.

The university’s cafeteria will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5-7 p.m. Friday and the Pitt dining area will be closed.

S.C. State officials also advise students to be cautious while driving or walking in potentially slippery weather conditions.