Coronavirus closed SC schools. Updates on graduation, more in the York County region
All K-12 schools in South Carolina will be closed the remainder of the school year due to COVID-19, Gov. Henry McMaster announced earlier this month.
Here’s what to know for districts in York, Chester and Lancaster counties.
All students will continue learning online or using paper packets, according to the districts. Seniors must finish all work by May 15, per the S.C. Department of Education.
Schools will continue to provide meals for students who need them.
The closure has forced school districts to cancel activities, including prom and spring sports.
Rock Hill
Students will continue remote learning through June 4, with the exception of high school seniors, according to the district. More details will be shared on the district’s website.
Final paper packets will be mailed to students who need them, according to a video message from Superintendent Bill Cook. Teachers will share details with students on turning in completed instruction packets and other items.
Students will be able to pick up materials and drop off district-owned supplies on a staggered schedule, to be released in the next few weeks, Cook said.
Meals are available for pick-up on weekdays at community sites and schools:
- Belleview Elementary: 8 – 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Finley Road Elementary: 8 – 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Richmond Drive Elementary: 8 – 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Rosewood Elementary: 8 – 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Oakdale Elementary: 8 – 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- College Downs Park: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Boyd Hill Apartments: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- The Emmett Scott Center: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- The Glens Apartments: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Confederate Park: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Workman Street Apartments: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Catawba Indian Reservation Long House: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Cedar Valley: 12 – 1 p.m.
- Trexler Lane Mobile Home Park: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Rock Pointe Apartments: 12 – 1 p.m.
- Cherry Park (city park) Playground: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
School buses parked at community sites are also equipped with Wi-Fi.
Seniors
Rock Hill High School seniors can pick up graduation supplies on May 5 in the bus parking lot. Drive-through pick up times are staggered based on the students’ name. Instructions are posted on the school’s website.
South Pointe High School seniors should pick up graduation items from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 4, according to the school’s website. Time slots are based on the student’s name. Pick-up will be held in the school bus loop near the gym weight room.
Following supply pick-up, seniors are invited to Oakdale Baptist Church, 1249 Oakdale Road in Rock Hill, for free T-shirts and cap and gown pictures, according to the school’s website.
Northwestern High School students received graduation supplies either at school or in the mail, according to the school’s website.
Graduation will be held at the district’s football stadiums on June 5 and June 6, Cook said. Each graduate can bring two guests.
- South Pointe High School - 9 a.m. June 5 at District Three Stadium South
- Rock Hill High School - 9 a.m. June 6 at District Three Stadium on Cherry Road
- Northwestern High School - 5 p.m. June 6 at District Three Stadium on Cherry Road
Graduations will be live-streamed and shown on the district’s Facebook page and website, Cook said. The ceremonies will also be aired on Comporium channel 114 and on CN2 starting June 15.
Attendees will be expected to maintain safe distance from others and wear a face mask, according to a statement from the district. Family members will be sat together.
Participants and guests will enter through designated gates. Guests will walk through metal detectors and are subject to bag checks. Guests must use clear bags while in the stadium.
Noise makers and signs are not allowed.
“We are extremely pleased to provide our 2020 graduates with the graduation ceremony they have earned and so richly deserve,” Cook said in a prepared statement. “Finding a way to celebrate their accomplishments in-person and in the presence of their most honored guests has been a focus of our work over the past few weeks.”
June 8 is a potential weather make-up day for graduation. More details will be shared by school principals.
The district also is honor graduating seniors with billboards on I-77, radio advertisements, banners around the city and a Fountain Park light show, according to the statement.
Fort Mill
The Fort Mill school district has posted an updated online learning schedule to its website.
Students currently have enough work to last through April 30.
Families of Fort Mill students should submit their two completed paper packets and pick up the final packet from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on May 6 and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on May 7. Families will receive instructions from their child’s school.
Before students receive new packets, they are encouraged to complete independent learning tasks. Ideas, including daily activities and virtual field trips, are shared on the district’s website.
May 15 is the last day for seniors to complete work, per the S.C. Department of Education.
May 25 is a school holiday.
Remote learning ends May 28 and families will drop off completed paper packets on May 29. Teachers will complete grading from June 1-4.
Details will be shared with families on how to pick up remaining personal items from school buildings and return books, according to the district.
Students who need meals can continue to pick them up on Wednesdays from bus stops or from 10:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Nation Ford High School bus loop.
Five breakfast meals and five lunch meals are provided at a time.
Beginning May 6, adults can pick up meals for children without them being there, according to the district. The adult must show proof of who the child is, such as a class schedule, report card or birth certificate.
“Our teachers and administrators will remain available to support students and families in every way possible as we close the school year. We appreciate everyone’s hard work and dedication,” reads a statement on the district’s website.
Seniors
Graduation plans have been posted to the district’s website.
Due to the size of the 2020 graduating classes, each is more than 500 students, the district is planning separate graduation activities for each school.
Ceremonies will be held in the football stadiums. They will be:
- Fort Mill High School High School - 11 a.m. on June 4
- Nation Ford High School - 11 a.m. on June 5
- 11 a.m. on June 6 is reserved for a make-up day
Families and their graduates will get a free professional photo taken on campus prior to their students’ ceremony, according to the district.
Graduations will be attended only by the graduates. Students will be seated on the field with social distancing in mind.
The ceremonies will be streamed live for families to watch, according to the district.
“We understand this is not the traditional way graduates, families and staff have celebrated this special event, however, we believe this plan keeps with the spirit of the traditional ceremonies and offers our graduates and families an opportunity to create a positive memory during this unprecedented time,” reads a statement on the district’s website.
Clover
Remote learning continues for students. Updated details will be shared on the district’s website.
Meals are available for pick-up at bus stops throughout the district. Stop locations and times are posted to the district’s website.
Seniors
Clover High School’s 2020 graduation ceremony is June 4 at Hound’s Drive-In Theatre at 114 Raven Cir. in Kings Mountain, N.C. In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be moved to June 9.
York
Remote learning continues for students. Updated details will be shared on the district’s website.
School buses equipped with WiFi are parked at community sites from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday, according to the district. The sites are: Grace Chapel Church, Liberty Church, Filbert Presbyterian, Sharon ARP Church, Bullock Creek Presbyterian and Celebration Place Church of the Nazarene.
WiFi also is available in front of these schools: Cotton Belt Elementary, Harold C Johnson Elementary, Hickory Grove-Sharon Elementary, Hunter Street Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, York Intermediate, York Middle and York One Academy.
Meals will be delivered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and available for pick-up at York Comprehensive High School, according to the district. Students will receive six breakfast and six lunch meals.
Seniors
On May 4, seniors should drop off instruction packets, textbooks and other district-owned supplies at York Comprehensive High School, principal Ryan Poston said in a video message shared to the district’s Facebook page.
The day will also serve as a celebration for graduates. Seniors are encouraged to decorate their cars before coming to the school.
“Come out and be with us as we celebrate all the things that you have accomplished,” Poston said in the video. “This is going to be a kick-off to a month-long celebration of the YCHS Class of 2020.”
Graduation is June 5 at the York Comprehensive High stadium. Graduation will be live-streamed and available on DVD.
The ceremony will follow social distancing guidelines and will limit tickets for graduates, Poston said in the video. More information will be provided as available.
Chester County
Parents can drop off their elementary students’ completed work packets and pick up the final packet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4 at these locations:
- Chester Park Arts- at the side at the Arts School car line
- Chester Park Colt- at the front at Colt’s car line
- Chester Park Inquiry- at the Inquiry car line
- Great Falls Elementary- at the GFE bus loop
- Lewisville Elementary- in front of LES at the car line
Final packets should be completed and isolated for a few days before turning in to teachers on May 18, according to the district. Report cards can be picked up on June 1 along with free books and summer activities.
For more information, parents should contact the principal of their child’s school.
Meals continue to be available Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, according to the district. Multiple meals are provided at a time. Meals are delivered along bus routes or available for pick-up from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at these community sites:
- Chester Park Complex
- Great Falls Complex
- Lewisville Middle School
- Harmony Baptist Church - Edgemoor
- Mount Zion - Great Falls
- Fort Lawn Community Center - Fort Lawn
- Metropolitan AME- Chester
The 2020 graduation ceremonies will be held on May 30 at the Gateway Conference Center, 3200 Commerce Dr. C in Richburg, according to the district.
Lewisville High’s graduation is 8:30 a.m., followed by Great Falls High at 11 a.m. and Chester High’s ceremony at 1:30 p.m.
The graduation stage will be in the parking area. Screens will broadcast the ceremony on each side of the stage.
Graduates will come to the event in their family car and be parked for the ceremony facing the stage, according to the district. Graduates are encouraged to decorate their cars.
Graduates will walk across the stage, keeping a recommended distance from each other.
The ceremony is limited to one vehicle per graduate. Limos and party buses are not allowed. Guests must remain in their cars during the ceremony. Guests are asked to keep noise to a minimum.
Graduations will be live streamed on the district’s social media pages. More details will be shared with families.
Lancaster County
Remote learning continues for students. Updated details will be provided by the district.
Meals can be picked up from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Mondays at these sites:
- Andrew Jackson High
- Buford High
- Lancaster High
- AR Rucker Middle
- South Middle
- Indian Land High (Only students who qualify for free or reduced meals)
Multiple meals are provided at a time.
Seniors
Each high school will host a graduation ceremony in their stadium. Ceremonies are 10 a.m. as follows:
- Tuesday, May 26 - Buford High
- Wednesday, May 27 - Andrew Jackson High
- Thursday, May 28 - Indian Land High
- Friday, May 29 - Lancaster High
- Saturday, May 30 - make-up day if needed
Each student will receive two tickets for guests. This is based on guidelines from the S.C. Department of Education, according to the school district. Guests will sit with their graduate.
“We’re going to do everything we can to maintain social distancing,” Superintendent Jonathan Phipps said in a video message shared to the district’s Facebook page.
Temperatures will be taken by EMS upon arrival. Face masks are recommended for everyone attending, according to the district.
More details on graduations are posted on each high school’s website.
Charter schools
York Preparatory Academy, a public K-12 charter school in Rock Hill, is celebrating its seniors with a parade and graduation ceremony, according to the school’s website.
The Class of 2020 Patriot Parade is 2 p.m. on May 20 at York Prep. Seniors must attend the parade to pick up graduation supplies, yearbooks and T-shirts. Graduates are encouraged to decorate their car and wear their gap and gowns, according to the school. The parade will be live streamed.
York Prep’s graduation ceremony is 8:30 p.m. on May 21 at Hounds Drive-in Theatre in Kings Mountain, N.C. Gates will open at 7 p.m. Seniors are limited to four cars at graduation, including the one they are riding in. Each driver needs a graduation ticket.
Everyone except the graduates must remain in the cars during the ceremony.
Seniors will be able to walk across the stage to get their diplomas. Graduates will not shake hands with anyone as they cross the stage. At the end of the ceremony, graduates will stand in front of their car to turn their tassels.
Students at Legion Collegiate Academy in Rock Hill will continue remote learning through June 16, according to the school’s website. Graduation is scheduled for June 6.
Colleges
York Technical College in Rock Hill is hosting a virtual graduation for the 2020 class at 7 p.m. on June 23. Details will be shared soon, according to the school’s website.
York Tech’s summer courses this year will be online, with some in-person labs offered in June. The first term starts May 18. In the fall, courses will be offered as online, in-person and a mix.
Winthrop University has postponed commencement to Aug. 15, according to the website. Graduates will be celebrated through social media and a new website, to be up by May 9.
A decision on how fall courses will be handled has not been announced, according to Winthrop’s website.
“It is my sincere hope to safely see you all on campus August 15, and I certainly look forward to what will be a memorable celebration worthy of the accomplishments of the Class of 2020 and the community that has steadfastly supported these graduates,” reads a statement from Winthrop’s interim president George Hynd.
Clinton College, a historically black college in Rock Hill, has postponed commencement to December, according to the website. May graduates can choose to have their diplomas mailed to them or participate in the winter ceremony.
Check back for updates.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
