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OKLAHOMA CITY -- This tornado-torn region is celebrating new beginnings Saturday, going through with graduation ceremonies for three high schools, a bittersweet milestone for a community that has lost so much.

"I think graduation's a good thing to get everyone's mind off" the storm, said senior Brandi Johnson, one of about 450 Westmoore graduates. "It didn't hit me until a few days after the storm that we wouldn't be going back to school."

Three highs schools in tornado-ravaged Moore and South Oklahoma City -- Westmoore, Southmoore and Moore high schools -- were holding back-to-back ceremonies at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, a large venue often used by the high schools for its size.

PHOTOS: Powerful tornado slams Oklahoma

Free caps and gowns were distributed to students who lost their homes. The celebrations were tempered by the disaster's continuing aftermath of as funerals for two 9-year-old children -- Emily Conatzer and Christopher Legg -- also were taking place. Christopher's funeral was to occur at the same time as the Southmoore graduation.

The Monday afternoon tornado ripped a path of destruction that killed 24 people, including 10 children. At least 33,000 people have been directly affected by the twister.