Allentown Central Catholic High School has been back to school for about a month now, but some significant events occurred before the year started.

Our principal for the past three years, Dennis Nemes, retired over the summer and Blair Tiger now holds the position.

Mr. Tiger served in the U.S. Army, then as director of student services at West Point and we are proud to have him as our new principal.

There is a new vice principal, as well: Joseph Disidore, taking over for Mr. DeAcetis, who has returned to the history department.

Also this summer, we lost a member of our Central Catholic family. Junior Alayna Velez was killed in a car crash in August. I knew her as a cheerleader and it is a terrible feeling to look down from the stands at a football game and not see her on the sidelines. Our first home game was dedicated to her and the Viking Nation came out sporting her memorial T-shirts. For anyone who wishes to help there is a fund at “www.gofundme.com/8726744c” to support Alayna’s mother, who was injured in the accident and the family.

Fall sports are in the thick of their seasons. ACCHS teams belong to the East Penn Conference and all dates and locations of upcoming games, matches and meets can be found online.

Homecoming weekend will be Oct. 9 and 10. The homecoming pep rally is Oct. 9 in Rockne Hall and is open to ACCHS families and alumni. The dance is later that night, also in Rockne Hall and the homecoming football game is 2:30 p.m. Oct. 10 versus Nazareth at J. Birney Crum Stadium.