Greenville County Schools Schedules eLearning Days After Hurricane Helene

News Summary

Greenville County Schools has announced three eLearning days to compensate for missed school days due to Hurricane Helene. These flexible eLearning days are scheduled for March 14, April 18, and May 10. The district aims to ensure that all students can catch up with their studies by completing assignments within five school days of those dates. The plan, approved by the GCS board, also seeks to mitigate future disruptions caused by inclement weather.

Greenville County Schools Announces eLearning Days to Make Up For Hurricane Helene

In Greenville, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene has prompted a wave of changes in the local school calendar. Yes, it’s true—students in Greenville County Schools (GCS) have missed three school days this fall due to the storm. The late September weather drama caused the district to close schools for a total of eight days. With widespread power failures and internet outages impacting families, no eLearning or in-person classes were held during this time, leaving parents and children scrambling to keep pace with their studies.

State Mandates Compensatory Instruction

Now, according to state law, the South Carolina Department of Education requires school districts to make up three of those missed days. Thankfully, GCS has a plan in place to fulfill this requirement by implementing three self-paced, asynchronous eLearning days throughout the year. So, when can you expect these crucial makeup days? Mark your calendars for March 14, April 18, and May 10.

These special eLearning days are designed to be as flexible as possible, meaning that students and teachers are not expected to log on at specific times. Instead, students will find assignments that include activities such as test reviews, prepping for upcoming assignments, or similar preparatory tasks. The best part? All assignments will have to be completed within five school days after returning to class. That gives everyone a bit of breathing room!

Why These Dates Matter

Further consideration has been given to the timing of these makeup days. Take March 14, for example: it lands on the Friday before GCS’s spring break, giving students a whopping 15 days to wrap up their assignments. That’s like getting a mini mid-term break!

Additionally, the GCS board of trustees met on February 25 to review and approve a waiver to excuse three of the school days lost due to Hurricane Helene. They didn’t stop there! They’ve gone ahead and also requested the State Board of Education to excuse an additional three weather-related days. This forward-thinking approach is meant to account for any future disruptions caused by bad weather before the school year officially wraps up.

Tracking Attendance and Assignments

Parents, here’s something important to know about how attendance will be tracked during these eLearning days: it will be based on whether students complete their assigned work by the designated deadlines. Make notes of these due dates:

• Work assigned on March 14 is due by March 28
• Work assigned on April 18 is due by April 25
• Work assigned on May 10 is due by May 16

Your Friendly Neighborhood School District

In making these plans, GCS has emphasized that the goal is to make things as uncomplicated as possible for teachers, students, and parents. No one wants to feel overwhelmed, especially after an unexpected storm like Helene. That’s why the second Saturday of eLearning stood out as the only viable option for making up for lost time without extending the school calendar unnecessarily.

So there you have it, folks! It seems like Greenville County Schools is taking every measure to keep everyone on track after the disruption caused by Hurricane Helene. Parents, keep an eye on those assignment deadlines, and students, get ready for eLearning days that fit smoothly into your schedules!

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Greenville County Schools Addresses Hurricane Helene’s Impact
Greenville County Schools Implement E-Learning Days
Greenville County Schools Implements eLearning Makeup Days After Hurricane Helene
Winter Weather Hits Upstate: E-Learning Days Announced
Upstate South Carolina Schools Delay Openings Due to Icy Conditions
Greenville, SC Launches New Family Program
Greenville’s Road and Water Infrastructure Challenges
Icy Roads Lead to E-Learning Days in Upstate South Carolina
Upstate South Carolina Hit by Rare Snowfall
Upstate Schools Adjust Schedules Due to Extreme Cold

Additional Resources

• Greenville Journal
• Fox Carolina
• Greenville Online
• WSPA
• Google Search: Greenville County Schools Hurricane Helene