After a long week of studying and exams, the Vikings wrapped up the first semester Jan. 20.

Quarter 3 began Jan. 23 and Quarter 2 report cards should be visible in Sapphire.

Now through Feb. 3, Central will celebrate Catholic Schools Week.

Each day has a different theme.

Jan. 30 was “Service to Others” and a sports/college jersey dress down day.

Jan. 31 was “Celebrating Students;” each grade was designated a color to wear and ice cream sandwiches were distributed at lunch. Feb. 1 is “Celebrate Our Nation” and is a red, white and blue dress down day.

Feb. 2 is “Celebrating Vocations” and will include a lunch period visit from Fr. Searles; a decades/throwback dress down day and a pep rally.

Feb. 3 is “Celebrating Our Faculty” and will have Mass with the Bishop. Students must be in uniform.

We look forward to a week of festivities and recognizing Catholic students and educators.

The Coach Mike Kopp Rockne Hall Gym Floor Dedication Ceremony was held Jan. 24.

Kopp’s signature was inscribed on the Rockne Hall court to commemorate his role as teacher and athletic director and 42 years of coaching girls basketball at Allentown Central Catholic High School.

Kopp’s many accomplishments were recalled at the ceremony, including over 1,000 career wins, the state’s all-time winningest basketball coach and induction into the Lehigh Valley Basketball Hall of Fame.

Kopp secured five Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association titles, 21 District titles and 18 Conference championships. ACCHS Chaplain Fr. Stephan Isaac presided at the ceremony, saying a prayer and blessing the new court.

Thank you for your many years of dedication to Central Catholic Athletics!

There’s still time to cheer on our basketball teams this season. Come out and support the boys basketball team for their senior night 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3 in Rockne Hall.

The Vikette basketball team has won six games in a row and has secured the #2 ranked spot. The girls’ team senior night will be 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 in Rockne Hall. Please come join the Rockne Rowdies and enjoy some basketball.

Pickup is now available for anyone who purchased Central Catholic spirit wear through the online store. Visit the athletic office during school hours to receive your order.

If you cannot pick up your order during that time, contact Mrs. Stahley at mstahley@acchs.info or call 610-437-4601 ext. 118 for alternate arrangements.

Feb. 13 will be a $2 casual spirit day and funds will go toward the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley. If any student purchased a PCFLV T-shirt during their lunch period Jan. 23 or 24, the spirit wear day is free if they choose to wear their shirt.

The 18th annual Viking Fest will be held Feb. 17 at DeSales University. The theme this year is “Vintage Viking.”

John Rosenberger will receive the 2023 Semper Fidelis “Always Faithful” Award at this event. Rosenberger graduated from ACCHS in 1974 and has taught science at the school for 45 years. He has held the department chair since 1983.

Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are open. Please view the Viking Fest Details document in the online weekly newsletter if interested.

Attention all seniors – unless you have been given one dose of the Meningitis (Menactra) vaccine after turning 16, you must have the second Meningitis shot to attend school. The exclusion date is Feb. 2, so the shot or the appointment date for the vaccine is needed by Feb. 2. Contact kmiller@acchs.info with any questions.

For any senior who is not participating in a Kairos Retreat, your senior class retreat will be a day at the Saint John Neumann Shrine. Underclassmen who still need a retreat may sign up for this one, but seniors have priority and underclassmen will be chosen if spots remain available.

Underclassmen who wish to attend should fill out the registration and waiver forms in the online weekly newsletter and you should receive an email acknowledging your spot on the retreat.