Schools preparing for graduations, last days

SIKESTON — Many seniors in Southeast Missouri are preparing to walk across the stage to receive their high school diplomas, and at the same time, school districts are preparing for the last day of the school year.

Some area high school seniors have even already received their diplomas from their schools.

Bell City High School was the first to graduate this year with the ceremony for its 19-member class of 2024 on Thursday, May 2 in the high school gymnasium. The last day of school for the rest of the district is May 10 with dismissal is at 12:30 p.m.

Gideon High School’s class of 2024 also had its graduation, which was at 7 p.m. Friday, May 3. The school had a total of 12 seniors graduate and the last day of school is May 16 with dismissal at 12:20 p.m.

The graduating seniors at Oran High School will have their graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5 in the high school gymnasium. While seniors’ last day was April 26, he last day of school for the rest of the district is May 16 with a noon dismissal.

This year’s 48 seniors make up the graduating class of Portageville High School. A ceremony will be at 7 p.m. May 9 at the Vic Reeves Athletic Field. Each graduating senior will be given six tickets the week of graduation. All other seating is $10 for the bleachers. Tickets can be purchased in advance. Contact the high school to purchase tickets. The last day of school districtwide is May 10 and dismissal is at noon.

Charleston High School will also have its graduation at 7 p.m. May 9. It will be in the high school gymnasium. Graduation tickets are available at the high school office. The graduating class will have tickets to give to family and friends. May 15 is the last day of school for Charleston schools and dismissal is at noon.

Also on May 9, The Christian Academy in Sikeston will have a graduation ceremony for its two seniors. The event will be at 7 p.m. at the Miner Baptist Church. Last day of school for the private Christian school will be May 14 with dismissal at 11:30 a.m.

This year, 79 students will graduate from Thomas W. Kelly High School in Benton, Missouri, and the ceremony will take place at 7:30 p.m. May 9 on the high school football field. The last day of school for the rest of the school district is May 17 with a 12:30 p.m. dismissal. 

The outdoor graduation ceremony for Sikeston High School’s 225 graduates will begin at 7 p.m. May 13 on the high school football field. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be relocated to the Sikeston Field House. Sikeston Alternative Education Center’s New Horizons High School will have a special ceremony for its graduates at 10 a.m. May 10 at the alternative school in Sikeston. The last day of school for the district is May 10 with seniors dismissing early.

New Madrid County Central High School in New Madrid will have its graduation on May 14. The ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Central High School gymnasium. Last day of school for the district is May 23, and it will be a full day.

East Prairie High School will have its graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. May 15 in the high school gymnasium. Last day of school for East Prairie is May 17 and is a full day.

Richland High School in Essex, Missouri, has 15 graduating seniors, who will be celebrated at 2 p.m. May 19 in the high school gym. The last day of school is May 16 for the district and dismissal is at noon.