PSD addresses 2025 graduation date change

PENDLETON – (News release from the Pendleton School District) For years, Pendleton High School’s Graduation has been on the first Saturday after Memorial Day.  However, the Pendleton School District has announced that in spring 2025, that will change. The OSAA (Oregon School Activities Association) has changed the 2025 and 2026 spring sports calendar for the State Track Championships and the Baseball and Softball playoffs. All three of these athletic competitions are now scheduled on the Friday and Saturday after Memorial Day. Because of this change by OSAA, the district has decided to change PHS Graduation to the afternoon of the first Sunday after Memorial Day. For the Class of 2025, graduation will be on Sunday, June 1, 2025.  

According to Superintendent Kevin Headings, the Pendleton School District did not take the decision to change the graduation date to Sunday lightly. Headings said that if the district did not change the graduation date, a significant number of student-athletes and their families may miss their graduation.  “We went through a fairly comprehensive process gathering information from our parents about moving graduation,” Headings said.  He said the PHS administration sent a survey to PHS parents explaining the need to change, along with several options for a new graduation day and time. Headings explained that 96% of parents filled out the survey, and it was clear that the afternoon of the first Sunday after Memorial Day was the preferred choice.

Headings said the Buckaroo track, softball, and baseball programs will be competitive this year and potentially compete for state titles. “There will be between 30-40 seniors combined on our track, softball, and baseball teams.That’s a significant number of seniors and their families who would potentially miss their graduation if we didn’t move the date,” Headings said. 

The 2025 PHS Graduation will take place at 3:00 p.m. and will be held in Round-Up Stadium.

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Elkhorn Media Group

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