Belle seniors will be able to celebrate their former graduation day May 10 with a parade, according to Maries County R-2 Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham.

“We are still going to have a graduation in June or July, but we wanted to do something on the date of their graduation day — we wanted to celebrate with them,” Basham said. “May 10 was supposed to be their day. We can’t do graduation on that day, but we wanted to do something special on the day of.”

Students are expected to decorate their cars for the event and the Maries County Sheriff’s Department and Belle Division, along with the Belle Fire Protection District will escort the students on the route.

“We hope that everyone will come out along the route and social distance by their cars and cheer them on,” Basham said. “We don’t know what the route will be. It will be a modified parade route, but don’t know what the modified version will be yet.”

Basham said the modified parade route will be determined by the police and sheriff’s departments, what they can accommodate. Usually the parade route includes the temporary closure of Highways 28, and 89 down Alvarado Avenue. The route will be released prior to the event.

“We are having it, but determining how much of the highway we want to block off first,” Basham said.

Basham said the district has dates in June and an alternative date in July set for a traditional graduation ceremony.

“We are really hopeful for the June graduation,” she said. “It depends on what Gov. (Mike) Parson decides.”

“They are planning on a prom that is also pending when we can set a graduation date,” Basham said. “We will try to do 10 days prior to whatever graduation date we are able to accommodate.”

An academic awards ceremony will be held virtually in May also.