Editor’s Note: We welcome Rachel Fleck as our Allentown Central Catholic High School columnist for Viking Voices. She is a senior at ACCHS and is a member of the varsity cheerleading team, the Vikings for Gold Club, Morgan’s Message Club, Key Club, National Honor Society and Viking Ambassadors. Outside of school, she is a competitive Irish dancer at O’Grady Quinlan Academy. She is excited to be writing the Viking Voices column this year.

This summer, Allentown Central Catholic High School students were busy in many aspects. The Central City Project, a community service based club, worked hard to upkeep its charitable garden.

In August, fall sports began official practices. The ACCHS fall sports include boys and girls soccer, girls volleyball, girls tennis, football, cross-country, girls field hockey, cheerleading and golf.

The schedules for these sports can be found on the school website, acchs.info, under the athletics section.

Upperclassmen who serve as role models in the student body, called Viking Ambassadors, hosted the annual “Locker Night” Aug. 14. Incoming freshmen practiced opening their lockers and toured the school according to their class schedule.

The first football game was Aug. 23 at J. Birney Crum Stadium against Trinity. Viking football won 18-0, with a Hawaiian-themed student section cheering them on.

The ACCHS Marching Band has been hard at work over the summer and will be playing at all home football games.

The “New Viking Social” was held in the school parking lot Aug. 25. Freshmen and transfer students got to know each other over pizza and games.

The first day of school for freshmen and transfer students was Aug. 26. Students were welcomed with a mass celebrated by the new Chaplain Father Philip Maas. Father Maas is a proud ACCHS graduate of the Class of 2009. The rest of the student body began school Aug. 27.

The senior class celebrated the beginning of the school year with a “Senior Sunrise” event in the parking lot. Students enjoyed doughnuts and other breakfast treats supplied by the Class of 2025 Student Council.

The “Matthew J. Spade Memorial Golf Tournament” is held to honor Matthew, who tragically died in an accident. The tournament supports Catholic education by fundraising for a scholarship awarded to an incoming freshman from each of Central Catholic’s partner schools. It will be held Sept. 7 with the auction beginning 1 p.m., the shotgun start 1:30 p.m. and a buffet dinner 6 p.m. For more details, visit: https://www.facebook.com/MatthewSpadeGolfTournament/.

Viking baseball and softball is hosting a golf tournament Sept. 8 at Whitetail Golf Course. There is a cost and all proceeds support ACCHS baseball and softball teams. Registration begins 12:30 p.m. and the shotgun start is 1:30 p.m. To register, visit: https://tinyurl.com/acchsgolf2024.

The ACCHS cheerleading team is holding an “Ice Cream Night” fundraiser at the Udder Bar 6-9:30 p.m. Sept. 12.

The Vikings for Gold Club encourages students and families to run, walk, donate or volunteer at the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley “Ready, Set, Gold” Sept. 14 at Ironton Rail Trail. The 8K run is 8:30 a.m., the 5K Walk is 9 a.m., the Kid’s Fun Run/Obstacle Course is 10:30 a.m. and volunteers are needed 7 a.m. to noon. To sign up, go to pcflv.org or find the link on the @vikings4gold Instagram highlights.

A Viking Football fundraiser will take place at P.J. Whelihan’s Pub and Restaurant, 3395 High Point Blvd., Bethlehem, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 15 with 15% of all sales to Viking football.

The Class of 1969 reunion is Sept. 14 at the Columbian Home, 1519 W. Greenleaf St., Allentown, 4-8 p.m. There will be appetizers, a buffet dinner, a DJ and a cash bar. For tickets, email John Krupka at jmkjr@msn.com.

The Class of 1964 reunion will be held noon Sept. 19 at Morgan’s Restaurant. There is a cost. The reservation deadline is Sept. 10. Contact Joe Kloss at joecfo@gmail.com or call 610-435-6681. More updates on ACCHS class reunions can be found at https://www.acchs.info/reunion-news.