The energy was electric at Catalina Foothills High School as eighth graders experienced their first taste of life as Falcons during the annual Falcon Fly-Ins. Esperero Canyon Middle School students visited on Thursday, January 23, and Orange Grove Middle School students visited on Tuesday, January 28. From the moment students stepped onto campus, they were immersed in Falcon spirit. The CFHS Drumline set the rhythm, while Pomline and Cheer brought the energy and enthusiasm. Student Council members greeted their future classmates with genuine warmth, setting the tone for a day that made the transition to high school feel exciting rather than intimidating.Each eighth grader received a Class of 2030 t-shirt—their first piece of official Falcon gear and a tangible reminder that they're already part of the CFHS family.A Warm Welcome from Dr. Lambert
Dr. Chris Lambert, CFHS principal, opened the day by welcoming students to what he called home. "I have been privileged to serve as the principal here, having worked here for 24 years as a teacher, assistant principal, and then principal," Dr. Lambert told students. "So this has always been my home. This place is very special to me. This high school is one of the best in Arizona, and we're incredibly glad you're gonna be with us next year."
Dr. Lambert encouraged students to envision their future as Falcons. "Today's gonna be a great day. We're gonna get a little preview of what your life's gonna be like for the next four years. I want you to see yourself as you go through the day—see yourself here—and be thinking about what it is that I'm going to go after. What am I gonna pursue? What am I gonna devote my life and my energy to for the next four years?"
He acknowledged the exciting challenge ahead: choosing from CFHS's wealth of opportunities. "There are so many awesome things in this school, one of the hardest things is what to pick, because there are so many good choices," Dr. Lambert said.
A Roadmap for Success
In the music hall, Lambert introduced the leadership team, including Assistant Principal Tony Gerrettie, who works specifically with ninth graders, and ninth-grade counselor Ms. Kat Graham.
Mr. Gerrettie framed the transition to high school as the beginning of a new chapter. "I've always thought about these school years as kind of like a book," he told students. "Chapter one was those formative years with your parents before you got to school. Chapter two was your elementary school, chapter three was your middle school experience. You got well taken care of—that's where you came from. You're ready for the next step. You are more than capable, and you're gonna do great things when you come here."
He encouraged students to see high school as an opportunity to write their own story. "The next four years are high school years, and you get to write them however you wish. I want you to enjoy this day, to think about what you want to become, where you want to become involved, and how you're going to leave your mark here, making this place the great school that it is."
Ms. Graham introduced students to the counseling team, including college and career counselor Mr. Hsieh, emphasizing that help is always available. "If there's anything while you're here at the high school that you don't know how to do, you have questions about, if you're just feeling a little bit out of place and you can't find your spot—come and talk to us," Graham told students. "Our whole job is to help support you, academically and socially, to make sure that you're able to find your slot here at CFHS. Because no matter what you want to do, we have a spot for you here."
Ms. Graham walked students through what a typical ninth-grade schedule looks like, explaining that while course options are somewhat limited in ninth grade, students will have increasingly more choices in grades 10-12. She outlined the core requirements—Algebra 1 or Geometry, Biology, World History, Health and PE, and a world language—while also introducing students to Advanced Placement (AP) courses.


Student-Led Campus Tours
Following the presentation, Student Council President Fiona Westmoreland and her team took over, welcoming their future classmates with excitement and school pride. Eighth graders circled up with Student Council leaders who served as tour guides and mentors. These small-group sessions gave future Falcons a chance to explore campus, ask questions, and get to know current students who were once in their shoes. The getting-to-know-you conversations helped break the ice and build connections that will carry into the next school year.

Building Community Over Lunch
The day wrapped up with lunch in the cafeteria, where future Falcons experienced another slice of high school life. Hanging out in the cafeteria gave students one more chance to connect with peers and Student Council guides in a relaxed setting before heading to a goodbye ceremony, where students enjoyed a slideshow (created by senior Sophie Roth Gordon) and cheered loudly every time their picture appeared.
More Than Just a Visit
The Falcon Fly-In is more than a campus tour—it's an intentional bridge between middle school and high school designed to ease anxiety, build excitement, and create connections. Dr. Lambert's invitation to "see yourself here," Mr. Gerrettie's message about writing your own story, and Ms. Graham's emphasis on finding your place at CFHS all reinforced the same theme: high school is what you make of it, and there are people ready to help you succeed.
Next Steps for Future Falcons
As the day concluded, Ms. Graham reminded students of important upcoming dates. A week after the Fly-In, CFHS counselors will visit both middle schools to collect course selection forms. Students should ensure they've had conversations with parents, received necessary signatures, and obtained any required teacher initials before the forms are collected. Counselors will meet one-on-one with each student to review course selections and ensure schedules are set up correctly.
Mark your calendars: Freshman Orientation is scheduled for July 30. Students will return to campus for meetings, tours, and opportunities to connect with their new classmates before the school year begins.
Welcome to the Falcon family, Class of 2030! We can't wait to see you soar!