West kicks off week of graduations

GLENDA SANDERS |, The Meridian Star, Miss.
·2 min read

May 13—It's that time of year when family and friends gather to celebrate this year's class of seniors.

West Lauderdale High School will kick off a week of commencements at the county's four high schools Monday night with an evening ceremony relocated from the football field to the Lauderdale County Agri-Center due to a chance of rain.

Southeast Lauderdale High School, in an announcement Monday morning, also is relocating its graduation ceremony set for Tuesday night to the Agri-Center due to the potential for rain. Both the West and Southeast graduation ceremonies are slated to start at 8 p.m.

Northeast Lauderdale High School will hold its commencement at 8 p.m. Thursday on the Northeast football field. Clarkdale High School will conclude the week of commencements with a ceremony at 8 p.m. Friday on the school's football field.

School officials are keeping a close watch on the weather forecast and will keep the public updated if either the Northeast or Clarkdale ceremony needs to be moved to the Agri-Center due to the threat of rain, according to a district news release.

Guests to Lauderdale County high school graduations are reminded that no food or drink will be allowed into the graduation ceremonies. Also prohibited are bags, purses, camera bags, balloons, flowers, airhorns, cowbells and other artificial noise makers. Medical bags and small diaper bags will be allowed.

Meridian High School will hold its graduation ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday, May 24, at Ray Stadium on the high school campus. The ceremony will also be livestreamed on the MPSD website.

Both entrances to the stadium on the visitor/press box side will open at 7:30 a.m. for family and friends seating. The home side of the stadium will be seating for MPSD staff only.

Guests to MHS graduation are reminded that construction is underway on the high school campus, and they are asked not to double park or park in construction areas. The district also suggests guests use caution while traveling through these areas on campus and to arrive early to allow enough time to park and enter the stadium.

MPSD police will be on hand to direct visitors to the appropriate parking areas.

Another reminder for the MHS graduation, school officials say, is only small clear tote bags or clear zip-top plastic bags will be permitted into the ceremony. Balloons, flowers, signs and banners, noise makers, coolers, backpacks, purses, fanny packs, camera bags, briefcases and other non-clear bags are prohibited.

Contact Glenda Sanders at gsanders@themeridianstar.com.