BELLE — Class officers from Belle High School’s 2024 graduating class believe their theme is simple: family, kindness and connection.

“I think we have a strong connection,” said Myles Butler, class president. “We have a good community.”

The class has made so many memories together over the years. Dekota Butcher, secretary, said the teachers made their time at Belle High School wonderful.

“In (Sarah) Mouser’s classroom, we would always play baseball,” Butcher said.

For Butler, it was sports and how the school could come together to support the teams.

“Basketball senior night,” said Butler, who plans to attend school to become a chiropractor. “After our game, everybody came together even if we weren’t the closest before the season. After, everyone was one big family. I got caked and had it all up my nose.”

Miranda Sanders, treasurer, said class sponsor Sarah Mouser who arranges the senior trips was a highlight.

“It was the senior trip for me,” said Sanders, who plans to attend school to become a radiologist, about her favorite memories.

Adison Seaver, class vice president, said her favorite memory was joining Book Club.

“I went to the Book Club and no one was there. They joined, they just weren’t there,” she said.

The biggest part of the class of 2024 is they all know how to laugh together.

“We’re funny,” said Butcher, who will attend college to become a pediatric nurse.

Butler said the class’s stronger connection to the community sets it apart.

“We all have separate groups,” Sanders added. “But when we all come together, it’s easy.”

“We all get along, and have good connections with our teachers,” said Seaver, who plans to attend college to become a high school English teacher.

This group has plenty of plans following their May 19 graduation.

“It’s an even split between workforce and college,” Butler commented. “Our decisions haven’t been included by what others want us to do. We are doing what we want to do.”

Sanders said several classmates are going into the medical field.

“I had three MRIs done in the past and thought it was cool,” Sanders said about her reasons for choosing radiology.

Butcher said her personality has always attracted children.

“I love helping people and kids,” she said. “I’m a cheerful person.”

Butler, who shadowed a pediatric chiropractor while in high school, plays a lot of sports and sees a need.

“I play a lot of sports and hear a lot of people complain about their bodies hurting,” he said about his reasons for choosing a chiropractor.

Seaver said teachers highly influenced her life.

“I wanna be able to make connections and help students prepare for their future,” she said.

With 51 members in the 2024 graduating class, students know each other well and have many of the same interests. Butler partially attributed their appreciation of one another to COVID.

“It didn’t affect us a lot, since we were in eighth grade,” Butler said. “We missed graduation. About six of our classmates tried to go online after that and some never came back.”

The class of 2024 plans to take their last walk together on May 19 in the Belle High School big gym to their class song Good ‘Ol Days. They’ve taken the class motto to heart: Dream as if you’ll live forever, Live as if you’ll die today. Their class flower is a rose.

While this class is eager to move into their futures, they don’t want to forget each other and are already discussing their first reunion.

“Guess we should start planning that now,” Butler said. “See you all in five years.”