Audrey Hughes

When Audrey Hughes arises Thursday morning, graduation will still be 11 days away.

At least she’s looking forward to it.

“Finally, it’s your time,” said Hughes, who’s finished with her three years of classes at Free State High School. “It’s a bridge to adulthood and responsibility.”

Hughes and hundreds of her classmates and fellow graduates from across town are busy making plans to turn their tassels and entering the “real world” during the next couple weeks. Thousands of other students, from kindergarten through 11th grades, soon will be entering summer vacation, before making the return trips to school this fall.

Here’s a rundown of the class schedules, events, celebrations and — yes — a big party as the end of school approaches.

Bishop Seabury Academy

• Graduation: 9 a.m. Friday in the gymnasium at Bishop Seabury, 4120 Clinton Parkway. Includes Stepping Up ceremony for other students.
• Practice: 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the gymnasium.
• Baccalaureate service: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1101 Vt. Service is for seniors and families, with Senior Dinner immediately following at Maceli’s, 1031 N.H.
• Last day of class: All classes are finished.

Free State High School

• Graduation: 4 p.m. May 29 at school stadium, 4700 Overland Drive.
• Backup site, in case of inclement weather: Allen Fieldhouse, with decision to be made by 10 a.m. May 29.
• Practice: 10:30 a.m. Friday at the stadium, followed by indoor practice at noon at Allen Fieldhouse.
• Last day of classes: Seniors are done; others have finals Monday and Tuesday.

Lawrence High School

• Graduation: 1 p.m. May 29, school stadium, 1901 La.
• Backup site, in case of inclement weather: Allen Fieldhouse, with decision to be made by 10 a.m. May 29.
• Practice: 8:30 a.m. Friday at the stadium, followed by indoor practice at 10:30 a.m. at Allen Fieldhouse.
• Last day of classes: Seniors are done; others have finals Monday and Tuesday.

Veritas Christian School

• Graduation: 5 p.m. May 27 at Free Methodist Church, 3001 Lawrence Ave.
• Practice: None.
• Baccalaureate service: 4 p.m. Sunday, at Lawrence Wesleyan Church, 3705 Clinton Parkway.
• Academic Awards Night: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Clinton Parkway Assembly of God Church, 3200 Clinton Parkway.
• Last day of classes: Seniors are done, and are off in the Ozarks for their class trip; others attend through Wednesday.
• Party: Summer Blast-Off, 8 a.m. to noon May 26, at the school.

Graduating seniors from all schools are invited to attend Project Graduation, which begins at 10 p.m. May 29 and continues through 3 a.m. May 30 at Abe & Jake’s Landing, Sixth and New Hampshire streets. Tickets are $10, and the graduates will be eligible to win prizes through raffle drawings — from flat-screen TVs to cash to a 1999 Ford Explorer, courtesy of Laird Noller Ford.

Again, Hughes is looking forward to graduation, the big party — after the 20 or so other parties she’s slated to attend — and, ultimately, entering adulthood.

“I don’t want it right now — not this second, not this summer,” said Hughes, who plans to study fine arts at Kansas University. “I’m still in high school for the summer. Once I go to college, I’m going to lock down.”