Roughly 2,000 Cherokee County school district students will don their caps and gowns and participate in their schools' graduation ceremonies Friday and Saturday nights.
Each of the Cherokee County school district's high schools will conduct their ceremonies at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, located at 777 Neese Road.
Sequoyah High School's graduation is set for 4 p.m. Friday. School board member Kim Cochran and Jackie Hopkins, assistant superintendent for accountability, strategic planning and technology will attend the ceremony.
Sequoyah will graduate 351 seniors this year, up from last year's 297, said Sequoyah counselor Maria Baldwin.
Polaris Evening School's graduation will begin at 6 p.m. Friday. County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Petruzielo and school board member Mike Chapman will attend Polaris' graduation.
Principal Bob Hahn said 133 students will graduate Friday night, down slightly from 143 that graduated last year.
Hahn said the number decreased because of many students using the school district's Credit Connect program in which they are allowed to pick up courses online they previously failed.
Etowah's graduation is set for 8 p.m. Friday at the church.
School board members Rick Steiner and Janet Read and Dr. Carla Cohen, assistant superintendent of educational programs, student support and professional development will attend this year's ceremony.
Principal Ron Dunnavant said 466 students will graduate this year, up from last year's 420. Dunnavant noted that the school has 180 honor graduates and graduates have been awarded more than $5 million in academic and athletic scholarships.
"This is truly an outstanding class who have distinguished themselves academically and athletically," he said. With 180 honor graduates holding an overall A average for four years of academic work, the class of 2010 can be proud. Athletically, we have athletes who will move on to compete at the college level in every sport we play."
Creekview High School's graduation will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday. School board member Dr. Gary Puckett and Russ Sims, assistant superintendent of support services and facilities/construction management will attend Creekview's festivities.
There are 322 graduates in Creekview's second senior class. Its first senior class had 292 students, said counselor Casey Cox.
Woodstock High's graduation ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday. Board member Stephen Bentley and Candler Howell, assistant superintendent of financial management, will attend the graduation.
Woodstock is graduating 449 students this year, down slightly from 472.
Cherokee High School's graduation will round out the district's ceremonies. Graduation will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday. School board chairwoman Debi Radcliff and retiring Assistant Superintendent of School Operations Randy Martin are scheduled to participate.
Assistant Principal Dr. Pam Andes said there are 404 students graduating this year, up from last year's 320.
Graduation for summer school students have not been finalized, but school board member Janet Read and Trey Olson, assistant superintendent for personnel management, will attend the ceremony.
PLEASE INFORM YOUR READERS