Welcome back, Catasauqua High School students. The summer went by so fast I can't believe it's the start of a new school year already.

My daughter, Emily who has been the Roughies Report columnist for a couple of years, is off to college, and I will be writing the column now. Please send your CHS announcements to me and I will be glad to get them in the column for you.

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Ninth-grade and new-to-the-district students attended an orientation program Wednesday. New Lehigh Career & Technical Institute students also attended an orientation at the LCTI campus today, Aug. 23. Student schedules were mailed home this week, so you should be receiving your class schedule and teacher information in the next few days.

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The first day of classes for the 2012-13 school year will be Monday, Aug. 27. The doors will open at 7:34 a.m. and homeroom begins at 7:40. Schools will be closed on Friday, Aug. 31, and Monday, Sept. 3, for the Labor Day holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 4.

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Students will see some new faces in the high school hallways at the start of the school year. Let's welcome CMS staff members Michael Baclawski (wellness / fitness), DiAnne Galm (wellness / fitness) and Tara Roseman (guidance counselor for grades 9 and 11). Kaitlin Lutz will be joining the staff as a short-term substitute for Mrs. DeBoer until Sept. 28 and Katrina Bullock will be a long-term substitute for Mr. Wismer.