Three high school graduations will be held this weekend in Coahoma County and each senior will have their chance to be honored, but the crowds will be limited.
Coahoma County High School’s graduation is at 4 p.m. Friday at the quad in front of the school. Clarksdale High School’s graduation will be at 9 a.m. Saturday on campus. Lee Academy’s graduation will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the gym.
“They are going to be required to wear masks and everything,” said Coahoma County High School principal Cortney Jackson.
Jackson said she, interim superintendent Dr. Ilean Richards, valedictorian Jan’Nise Thomas and salutatorian Ja’Tavia Osborne will all provide remarks.
The ceremony is not open to the public, but Jackson said it will be recorded and uploaded to the district’s website no later than Friday, May 29.
“We’re going to have our school resource officers at all of our entrances,” Jackson said. “We only have two entrances to campus. Each graduate is allowed one car per graduate on campus.”
Jackson said the ceremony was at Coahoma Community College the past couple of years. This year, the plan was to hold the event in the school auditorium to show all of the renovations taking place. However, Jackson said CDC guidelines allow more people to attend a ceremony outside.
“We’re just trying to make sure that our students get a chance to walk across the stage and grab a diploma and parents can see that moment,” Jackson said.
Clarksdale High School principal Herbert Smith sent out a press release saying the graduating seniors and their parents will lineup in numbered vehicles one after another in the Coahoma County Expo Center parking lot beginning at 8 a.m.
“The ceremony will feature a drive-through format allowing parents and guardians the opportunity to witness this major milestone,” Smith said. “Parents have been asked to decorate their vehicles with their senior’s name and the year. Only one vehicle per graduating senior is allowed.”
No additional vehicles or spectators are allowed. Those present at the ceremony are required to wear face coverings. It will be shown on the Clarksdale Municipal School District’s website and Facebook page.
Dr. John Bobo will be the speaker at Lee Academy’s ceremony. Broadcast Media Group out of Starkville will live stream the event to the school’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
“It’s a regular graduation ceremony except for the people that can come are the students’ parents and their siblings, so it will be social distance in our gym,” said Lee Academy head of school Rone Walker.
