Early dismissal for some local schools Thursday in advance of severe weather

NORTHEAST FLORIDA, SOUTHEAST GEORGIA — Thursday night the Action News Jax First Alert Weather Team will be tracking a line of potentially strong to severe storms approaching from our west and northwest.

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This line will be approaching our area before midnight. The main threats are heavy rain, gusty winds of 50-60 mph, and an isolated tornado.

A few schools have reported early dismissal for Thursday afternoon ahead of the severe storms.

Duval County Public Schools announced Thursday morning that all after school activities have been canceled because of the forecast.

The following activities are canceled:

• All athletic events and practices
• Extended day programs
• Team up and other after school programs
• After school arts programs
• Clubs and any other extracurricular activities
• Parent events
• Community meetings
• Alternative certification professional development classes

DCPS released the following information about releasing students from school at the end of the day:

"At the conclusion of normal school hours, students who are bus riders will be placed on the buses to bring them home.

"Students who are normally walkers will be released to walk home as usual.

"Students who normally go home by car or with approved individuals, and those who normally stay for Extended Day or Team-Up, will be held at school until an approved individual arrives to escort those children home.

"We ask all parents and guardians to make plans for the care of their children once they arrive to their bus stops or, for non-bus-riders, at the conclusion of normal school hours.

"Normal school hours for all schools can be found on this webpage: https://dcps.duvalschools.org/domain/5275

“While we do understand that the decision to cancel activities creates a burden for parents, the safety of students and staff is always our goal. The weather forecast for this evening is expected to bring conditions unsafe for outdoor events and student transportation."

At this time, Duval County schools will close at normal school hours.

The below schools and counties have announced plans for early dismissal. We will update this article as new closures, early dismissals are made available.

Clay County Schools released the following information about the cancellation of after school activities:

"Please be advised that all after school activities will be canceled this evening, Thursday, February 6th, due to potential inclement weather. The National Weather Service Director recommends that all after school activities be rescheduled for a future date due to the forecast for Northeast Florida.

Events that will be canceled include:

• All athletic events and practices
• Clubs and any other extracurricular activities
• Parent events
• Community meetings

Please know we are taking all the necessary steps and precautions to keep everyone safe."

St. Johns County schools announcement ahead of Thursday’s storms:

“All after school activities, events and athletic contests have been canceled for today, Thursday, February 6. Extended Day services will operate as normal today.”

Putnam County schools announced Thursday afternoon all after school activities have been canceled.

Due to the inclement weather system approaching our area all after school activities have been canceled for this afternoon and this evening. This includes athletics events, the 21st-century program, and the collegiate high school meeting scheduled at Interlachen High School. Normal operations are expected to resume tomorrow.

Nassau County schools said Thursday they will be canceling all after school activities.

"We believe it is in the best interest of our students and staff to cancel all after-school activities for this afternoon.

This will include athletic events and practices, club meetings, extracurricular activities, and parent events.

The HMSH girls basketball team has a playoff game scheduled to be played in Trenton. Since this is a FHSAA event we are contacting them to consider rescheduling, but for now the game is still scheduled. We will make an announcement concerning the status of the game once we have confirmation."

Baker County Schools announced Thursday that all after school activities have been canceled.

Bradford County Schools canceled all after school activities have been canceled.

“All after school activities, sporting activities at all schools, and evening classes at NFTC are canceled for Thursday, February 6, 2020 due to the increasing winds and impending storm front.”

Glynn County after school activities and meetings are canceled.

“All school activities and meetings after 6:00 p.m. have been cancelled. We will continue to monitor the track of this storm and unless forecasts change, schools will operate according to normal schedules this afternoon.”

Columbia County schools announced early release ahead of Thursday’s storms:

"We are open and will remain open until the end of school day today.

“CCS Florida. As of noon today. We are monitoring the weather forecast. Currently, all schools and activities will continue with a normal schedule except for some after school activities postponed at the school level. Further updates will be posted as needed.”

Ware County schools announced early release ahead of Thursday’s storms:

"Superintendent Bert Smith has announced that all Ware County Schools and the Central Office will observe an early release schedule on Thursday, February 6th after receiving new information regarding the threat of severe weather conditions Thursday afternoon. All after school activities will also be cancelled.

The Ware County Learning Center will dismiss at 11:00 AM, and Daffodil Pre K will dismiss at 11:30 AM. Center Elementary will dismiss at 11:45 AM, and all other Elementary Schools will dismiss at 12:00 Noon. Ware County High School will dismiss at 12:30 PM, and both Middle Schools will dismiss at 1:00 PM. Individual schools will announce their car rider dismissal schedule."

The University of North Florida announced class cancellations and activities for Thursday after 4:30 p.m.

Jacksonville University announced they will be canceling classes Thursday.

"Classes are canceled from 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, as a safety precaution. The basketball and softball games, as well as all other indoor events, are still on. Other outdoor activities have been canceled or rescheduled. If you have questions about an event you’re attending, please contact the organizers directly.Classes will resume as scheduled on Friday, February 7.

In the event of an emergency, please contact Campus Security directly at (904) 256-7585. Officers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

Florida Gateway College released a statement Thursday on closures due to weather.

“Due to the threat of severe weather associated with an approaching cold front, all classes and activities that begin after 4 p.m. today (February 6) at all Florida Gateway College locations will be cancelled. All offices will remain open until 4:30 p.m.”

“We ask that our students and staff monitor weather alerts and take the necessary safety precautions. All offices and classes will resume on Friday morning (February 7) at 8 a.m.”

Florida A&M University has announced early closures for Thursday:

“The Crestview campus will close at 1 p.m., Central Time. FAMU DRS will close at 1 p.m. Classes on the Tallahassee main campus will be suspended at 3 p.m., and the University will be closed except for emergency operations and essential personnel. All afterschool activities for the FAMU main campus and FAMU DRS will be canceled. All retail food services on campus will be closed Thursday. The Main Dining Hall will remain open until 4:30 p.m. Box dinners will be served in residence halls Thursday evening. Alumni groups who were planning to travel to Tallahassee for the day of activities are asked to forego making the trip."

Florida State University announced there main campus will close at 3 p.m. on Thursday:

“Out of an abundance of caution, Florida State University will close its Tallahassee campuses beginning at 3 p.m. ET Thursday, February 6, 2020 due to the threat of severe weather. All Thursday classes will meet as scheduled prior to 3 p.m. On-campus housing, Suwannee Dining Room, Strozier Library and the Leach Recreation Center will remain open and continue to operate as scheduled. Individuals are advised to prepare for inclement weather and to exercise caution, seek shelter and stay indoors whenever storm conditions may impact campus and surrounding areas.”

Florida State University announced that FSU Panama City will be closed all day Thursday:

“The Florida State University Panama City, FL campus will be closed for the entire day on Thursday, Feb. 6 due to the threat of severe weather.”

“The FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory will close at 3 p.m. Thursday.”

“FSU will resume normal operations Friday morning at 12:01 a.m. All Friday classes will meet as scheduled.”

“Florida State University continues to actively monitor weather forecasts and conditions. University administrators will take additional action should conditions warrant.”

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