Alma School District Newsletter
December 20, 2019
Long time AHS History Teacher, Coach and Voice of the Airedales Retires
We had a wonderful opportunity on Thursday, December 19 to honor the Voice of the Airedales at his retirement reception at Alma High School. Toney McMurray (TMac) has been a mainstay for the Alma High School History Department for 35 years. His teaching style brought history to life, and he made learning an enjoyable experience for thousands of students. He also coached tennis and led the boys’ tennis team to a State Championship in 2005. To go along with his positive influence on Alma students, he also provided steady leadership to the staff at Alma High School. He served on the teacher leadership committee and as a mentor to many novice teachers. In addition to his activities at Alma High School, Toney was also instrumental in the National History Day organization as a regional and state leader. Under his guidance, hundreds of Alma students were able to compete in National History Day competitions in Washington D.C. over the years. Though TMac is retiring from teaching, he will never retire from being an Airedale. Thank you TMac for all your years of service to Alma School District and the thousands of kids you have taught.
Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas!!
Alma High School
Making Spirits Bright
AHS Band Winter Concert
Alma Middle School
Ms. Lee’s 7th graders
Middle School Spelling Bee Winners
Airedale Theatre
Winter Band Concerts
Safe Santa STEM Activity
Alma Intermediate School
Intermediate School Spelling Bee Winners
Kindness is Sweet and Contagious
AIS students have continued to spread kindness leading up to the holiday break. Students wrote about kind acts they saw around school on paper ornaments and hung them on a Christmas tree. Kindness is the gift that keeps on giving and one of the cool things about it is that it is free! We are excited to see how else we can make an impact on our world with our kind deeds when we return to school in January!
The pictures below were sent to us from Mrs. Pupura, the school counselor at B.C. Cate Elementary in Montour Falls, NY.
Operation Cozy Christmas
Alma Primary School
APS Star Students
Miss Shore's Class
Congratulations to our two newest Airedale Coaches!
The Airedales Welcome Kimberly Weaver
Alma School District is excited to announce the addition of Kimberly Weaver as head volleyball coach.
Coach Weaver graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and holds the Master of Education degree from Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth Texas.
She has coached volleyball at Little Rock Central High School, been head volleyball coach at Midland College in Midland, Texas, the volleyball coach at Liberty Christian School in Dallas, the head volleyball coach at Texas Wesleyan University, and currently serves as assistant volleyball coach at the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith. Throughout her career, she has also coached in many Junior Olympic Volleyball programs.
Coach Weaver has received numerous awards including the Sunbelt Conference Academic Award, Academic All-American, UALR Dean’s List and Chancellor’s list along with an Outstanding Sociology Graduate. She was also awarded the WJCAC and the NJCAA District Volleyball Coach of the year for 2010.
Coach Weaver is married to her husband, Blake, who is a Physician Assistant in Van Buren. They have two children; Harper, who is in kindergarten, and Wyatt, who is three years old. Harper will be enrolling in Alma next fall, as will Wyatt in the future.
Coach Weaver is excited to be swapping her blue and white for green and gold. “I have known about the great athletic programs at Alma for many years. I am looking forward to the challenge of continuing in the footsteps of the many great coaches that have been a part of Alma Athletics before me. This is a very special opportunity, and the chance to work with the young ladies at Alma High School is thrilling".
The Airedales Welcome Rusty Bush
The Airedales are thrilled to welcome their new Head Football Coach, Rusty Bush.
Coach Bush was born and raised in Fordyce, Arkansas. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s from Henderson State University and most recently his Education Specialist in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.
Coach Bush’s coaching career began as a student assistant at Henderson State University and then moved into the role of a graduate assistant while working on his Master’s degree. He then spent four years at Benton as an assistant varsity football coach, serving at various times as offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach, linebackers coach, and co-defensive coordinator. Coach Bush next moved to El Dorado where he spent four years as assistant head football coach and head girls track coach. He has been at Fort Smith Northside High School since 2003 where he has served as assistant head football coach and track coach. Additionally, he has served Northside High School as Testing Coordinator. Throughout his coaching career Coach Bush has always been a part of successful programs and worked alongside numerous outstanding coaches.
In addition to his career as a football coach, Bush devoted a great deal of time and energy to his passion of the American Legion Boy’s State program, serving as the State Director for eleven years.
Coach Bush is married to his wife, Mandy, who is a teacher at Sunnymede Elementary in Fort Smith. They have three children; Addison, who is a freshman at Arkansas Tech University, Laney, a student at Kimmons Junior High, and Andrew, a student at Sunneymede Elementary. Laney and Andrew will be enrolling in Alma School District.
In comments about becoming an Airedale, Coach Bush said, “There is only a very short list of football programs that I would consider leaving Northside for. The opportunity to lead the Airedale football program is one that is a dream come true for me and is an obligation that I take very seriously. Being an Airedale is a very special thing. I promise the community that I will uphold the long traditions that have been established of hard work, high ethics and morals, and winning football.”
Airedales in Action
Parade Fun
All Tournament Team Honors
AHS Cheer
AMS Robotics Competition
All Region Band
Bryson McCaslin, Clarinet- 2nd Band, 1st Chair
Logan McKay, Clarinet- 3rd Band, 1st Chair
Aiden Mackay, Trumpet- 1st Band, 2nd Chair
Tanner Gil, Trumpet- 2nd Band, 2nd Chair
Daniel Dyer, Flute- Alternate
KJ Lloyd, Alto Sax- 3rd Band, 4th Chair
Jadan Mahar, French Horn- 3rd Band, 4th Chair
Faithlynn Hargis, Percussion- 1st Band. 2nd Chair
Mariah Osburn, Percussion- 1st Band, 4th Chair
Outstanding job!!
Committed
AHS Cheer is READY, Okay!!
Airedale Football Banquet and Coach Loughridge Appreciation
At the end of the day, it isn't about the wins or losses that someone is measured by; It is the mark they leave on everyone in their program.
It is the legacy of helping raise and develop young athletes so that as they leave your program you know they have become better men.
Thank you Coach Doug Loughridge.
You have made an immeasurable impact on all of us.
We are part of your legacy. Thank you Coach!!!
Citizens Bank Airedale Classic
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2019-2020 Varsity and JV Basketball Schedule
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