The school is closed Jan. 15 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Students will take their Semester One Exams Jan. 16-19. Semester One Exams comprise 20% of a student’s first semester grade and 10% of their final grade for every major course.

Each day Jan. 16-19 will follow an A-Day schedule, with an 11:30 a.m. dismissal every day. Each exam period will be 75 minutes long with a 20-minute break in-between exam periods and students may bring a snack if they wish.

Students will have exams for their first and second period classes Jan. 16, their seventh and eighth period classes Jan. 17, their third and fourth period classes Jan. 18 and their fifth and sixth period classes Jan. 19.

If students do not have an exam during a given period, they do not have to be in school. If they do not have an exam during the first period, they must be present in their second period exam room by 10 a.m. or they will be marked late.

Any students arriving before 9:55 a.m. should go to the cafeteria to study silently. If students do not have an exam during the second exam period, they may leave school if they have personal transportation. If they rely on bus transportation, they must wait in the cafeteria for their bus until 11:30 a.m.

The school requires all students to complete exams and the administration will only approve planned absences during exam week for extreme reasons.

Both students and parents received an email regarding Semester One Exams before Christmas break with all important information. Semester One Exams also marks the end of the second quarter Jan. 19 and the third quarter/semester two will begin Jan. 22.

Central will hold a $2 casual spirit day Jan. 4 to help the Bodor family. Good Shepherd alum Madi Bodor was recently diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor.

Madi will have radiation and chemotherapy treatments at CHOP. Please keep the Bodor family in your prayers and consider providing monetary support through the casual spirit day or by visiting the GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/f/8tx6hu-madis-medical-bills.

Any student who donated toys to the National Honor Society Toy Drive last month may dress in spirit wear Jan. 8 as well.

Viking lacrosse will host its 2024 season kick off party 2-5 p.m. Feb. 3 at Volpe’s Sports Bar, 501 Broad St., Emmaus. There is a cost for the event but all players may attend for free. Attendees may pay at the door via cash or check.

The afternoon will include raffle baskets and 50/50 and speciality raffles. Viking lacrosse cornhole boards will also be raffled. RSVP through the link in the Viking weekly newsletter.

Allentown Central Catholic High School and Catholic Charities will present a Parenting Teens Webinar 6 p.m. Jan. 25. The presentation will focus on today’s teens, how they communicate through social media and how parents can appropriately respond. Parents will learn about different social media platforms and teenage usage. Register via the link in the Viking weekly newsletter. Participants will receive a Zoom link the week of the presentation.

Congratulations to several student athletes with their recent awards. The Morning Call released its All-Area Girls Soccer list, with Defender Emma Wells making First Team, Midfielder Ryleigh van Beek earning Second Team and Forward Meredith Eisenmann receiving an Honorable Mention.

The Morning Call All-Area Volleyball Team honorees also included some Vikettes. Setter Milly Wolf had the most assists in Pennsylvania at 1,178, 149 kills, 222 digs and 50 blocks and earned First Team accolades for the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District 11 3A.

Outside Hitter Anna Quinn and Outside Hitter Emerson Springs made the Second Team and Elizabeth Trump and Amelia Michener earned Honorable Mentions.

Finally, the 2023 Lehigh Valley Live All-Area Football Team honors list included some Viking football players.

Luke Myers secured a spot on First Team Offense after successfully kicking 36 out 36 extra points this season, along with two long field goals at 51 and 49 yards to win two games in the final seconds.

Myers was also named an EPC South Division First Team kicker and punter.

Nasir McLean made First team Defense after completing 32 tackles and 25 receptions for 344 yards and four scores as a wide receiver.

McLean was also awarded Eastern Pennsylvania Conference South Second Team Safety. DL Braheem Battles and DB DJ Delly earned Second Team defense, Quarterback Antonio Fontanez made Third Team Offense and OL/DL Nick Balisage, WR/DB Jareel Calhoun, OL Flynn McDonald, LB Luke Shimko, RB/LB Nate Schultz and DL Harry Stewart-Smith all received Honorable Mentions.

Viking Nation is so proud of all our fall athletes and their accomplishments. Please continue to support ACCHS athletics by watching our winter athletes as well.

The ACCHS swim and dive team will face Stroudsburg High School 5 p.m. Jan. 3 and Southern Lehigh 10 a.m. Jan. 6. Shoutout to Gavin Mahon for his impressive performance against Easton Dec. 19, 2023 naming him swimmer of the meet. Congratulations also to Will Haring for his best times in the 100 free and 100 breast and swimmer of the meet award Dec. 27, 2023.

The Vikette basketball team will face Pleasant Valley 6 p.m. Jan. 3 in Rockne Hall, will travel to play William Allen High School 7 p.m. Jan. 8, and will take on Liberty 7 p.m. Jan. 10 at home.

The boys basketball team achieved a five win streak after defeating Palmerton 63-35 in the first round of the holiday tournament Dec. 27, 2023 improving their record to 7-3.

Lucus Mushrush downed a game-high 23 points, including five 3-pointers.

The boys advanced to play Conestoga Dec. 28, 2023 for the championship.

The Vikings will play at home their next three games, facing Wayne Hills High School 2 p.m. Jan. 6, William Allen High School 7 p.m. Jan. 8 and Pocono Mountain West High School 7 p.m. Jan. 12.

Save the date for the ACCHS Partner School Basketball Night Feb. 5 in Rockne Hall. The JV Vikettes will play 4 p.m., the Varsity Vikettes 5:30 p.m. and the Vikings 7 p.m. All partner school students may attend the games for free. Students will receive giveaway items, and the first 50 to arrive will earn Viking foam fingers.

The annual “Casual for a Cause” fundraiser which supports Viking Fest 2024 begins Jan. 3.

Viking Fest encourages anyone to donate unwanted gift cards they received at Christmas. You may donate gift cards of any value which are redeemable at restaurants, stores or for various services.

Any student who brings in a gift card earns a casual spirit day Jan. 22. Students should give their donation to their homeroom teacher in an envelope with their name and room number, Attn: “Viking Fest - Casual for a Cause.