High-school commencements begin in earnest this week

With announcements sent and post-graduation plans made, high-school seniors throughout the region are preparing to take the leap into adulthood.

While most regional students have yet to don their robes and mortarboards, several local high schools, such as Advance and Chaffee, have already held commencement ceremonies before the end of their semesters. Zalma High School’s graduating class also has received its diplomas, and unlike other area schools, the students have been released for the summer.

But with the exception of these early convocations, graduation season starts in earnest this weekend, with many ceremonies planned, beginning Friday.

Cape Girardeau County

At 4 p.m. Sunday, 253 students from Cape Girardeau Central High School will graduate at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

The Jackson High School graduation ceremony also will take place at the Show Me Center at 7 p.m. May 20. This will be the first time in several years the ceremony will take place on a Friday rather than a Thursday.

Oak Ridge High School will hold a ceremony for its 23 graduates at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the multipurpose building.

Eagle Ridge Christian School’s convocation also is Friday, at 7 p.m. Not only will the six-student senior class graduate, but also the kindergarten and eighth-grade classes.

Saxony Lutheran High School graduation will take place in the Gerhard Bink gymnasium at 2 p.m. Sunday. Forty-six students will graduate.

The ceremony for the 138 graduating students at Notre Dame Regional High School is a ticket-only event at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the school.

Scott County

Fifty-seven students will receive diplomas from Scott City High School. The event takes place at 2 p.m. Sunday in the school gymnasium.

Thomas W. Kelly High school has a graduating class of 93 students. Commencement will be at 2 p.m. May 22 in the high-school gym.

Chaffee High School graduation took place May 5. The 46 students will continue to attend classes until the last day of school, May 17.

Scott County Central High School commencement will be at 7 p.m. Friday in the school gymnasium for the 24 graduating seniors.

Perry County

Perryville High School’s commencement will take place at 8 p.m. May 20. About 170 students will participate in the ceremony at the Perry Park Center.

The 35 graduating students at St. Vincent High School will graduate at 7 p.m. May 27 in St. Vincent Church.

Bollinger County

The senior class at Advance High School graduated Saturday. The 21 students will continue attending class until the school year ends Friday.

The 13 students in Zalma High School’s graduating class also graduated Friday, and the last day of class was May 9.

At 7:30 p.m. May 19, 34 students will graduate from Meadow Heights High School in a ceremony in the school gymnasium.

Two Bollinger County high schools will hold commencement ceremonies Friday.

Fifty-eight seniors at Woodland High School will graduate at 8 p.m. in the high school’s gymnasium.

The six graduating students at Leopold High School will participate in a commencement at 7 p.m. in their high school gym. The 2016 graduating class is smaller than previous years. In 2015, 14 students graduated from the high school.

bbrown@semissourian.com

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