Hardin-Simmons University announced Sept. 8 that Jay Lester, AISD Executive Director of Fine Arts, has been named the new Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at HSU beginning in January 2024. Jay will retire from AISD in December after more than a decade of distinguished service to our fine arts students, instructors, and programs. You can read the HSU announcement here. Please join us in congratulating Jay on his new adventure! 

 

 

In case you missed it, Cooper High School junior running back Daniel Brays mashed the school record for rushing yards in a single game in the Cougars’ 53-45 win over San Angelo Central on Sept. 8 in San Angelo. Bray carried the ball 21 times for 369 yards and seven touchdowns in the win. The previous record for yards in a game was 306 yards by A’mon Pimpton vs. Hereford in 2008. Bray also broke the school record for rushing TDs in a game with seven, breaking the record of six by Tyrees Whitfield against Abilene High in 2017. Bray tied Whitfield’s record of seven total touchdowns in a game (Whitfield had seven total touchdowns against AHS in 2017). 

 

 

Cooper will host Odessa Permian at 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at Shotwell Stadium. If you can’t make it to Shotwell, you can watch and listen to the game at live.abileneisd.org. The Abilene High Eagles will be in Lubbock to take on Lubbock Monterey in the District 2-5A Division I opener for both teams. Kickoff from Lowery Field is set for 8 p.m. You can listen to the game at live.abileneisd.org and watch the Monterey TV feed here.

If you’re an AISD employee looking for a way to get into shape, shed a few extra pounds, or just a place to work out, AISD’s insurance provider – BlueCross BlueShield of Texas – is offering a special deal that eliminates the $19 enrollment fee for new members who sign up for its Fitness Program in October. Members will be asked to enter a coupon code OCTOBERWAIVED at checkout to qualify for the waived fee. The Fitness Program offers four flexible gym options from $19 to $99, convenience, and access to a nationwide network of participating facilities so members can work out whether traveling, at home, or work:

  • Members can select a plan option that suits their lifestyle based on location and facility access.
  • Once they join, they’ll have access to all locations within the purchased plan and locations in any of the lower-priced plan options.
  • Access thousands of digital fitness videos and live classes, including cardio, boot camp, barre, yoga, and more, through an online platform. Digital access is included with Base, Core, Power, and Elite memberships.

For more information on enrolling in the program, please see the flyer here.

Both the Abilene High and Cooper volleyball teams will be in action in multiple matches over the next two weeks, beginning tonight (Sept. 22). The Lady Eagles (3-1 in District 4-5A play) will host Lubbock Coronado at 5 p.m. at Eagle Gym, while the Lady Cougars (0-3 in District 4-5A action) will be at Lubbock Monterey at 5 p.m. The rest of Abilene High’s schedule over the next two weeks is as follows: Sept. 26 at Lubbock Cooper at 6 p.m., Oct. 3 vs. Wylie at 6 p.m. at Eagle Gym, and Oct. 6 at Cooper at 5 p.m. at Cougar Gym. Cooper’s schedule after the Sept. 22 match – at Monterey is Sept. 26, vs. Lubbock High at 6 p.m., Sept. 30 at Lubbock Coronado at 12 p.m., Oct. 3 at Lubbock Cooper at 6 p.m., and Oct. 6 against Abilene High at Cougar Gym at 5 p.m.

 

 

The Abilene High and Cooper tennis teams are wrapping up their fall seasons in the next 10 days, with both teams pushing for a spot in the Class 5A State Tennis Tournament. The Eagles – ranked #17 in the state – are 19-4 overall and 2-1 in District 4-5A play and have a huge district match Sept. 23 at 9 a.m. when they take on No. 4 Lubbock High in Lubbock. The Westerners knocked off AHS last year in the state quarterfinals. The Eagles’ final two regular season matches will be Sept. 30 vs. Lubbock Coronado at 9 a.m. at the AHS Courts and Oct. 3 vs. No. 3 Wylie at 5:15 p.m. at the AHS Courts. Cooper is 13-9 overall and 1-3 in district play and will play Saturday (Sept. 23) at Lubbock Coronado at 9 a.m. before hosting Snyder at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 26, and then closing out the regular season against Lubbock High at 9 a.m. at the CHS Courts. Abilene High knocked off Cooper, 12-7, on Sept. 19 at Cooper in their only meeting of the regular season. The top four teams in the district will advance to the state playoffs.

 

 

Everyone loves a parade! Congratulations to the Cheerleaders, JROTC, Color Guard, Drill Teams, and marching bands from Abilene High and Cooper High for performing Saturday, Sept. 9, at the West Texas Fair Parade through downtown Abilene.

 

 

Fine Arts programs at both Abilene High and Cooper High will be featured over the next week as their fall shows will be in full swing. Next Thursday (Sept. 28), the AHS Marching Band will lead the annual Homecoming Parade beginning at 6 p.m. at the corner of North 6th and Beech Streets. The parade will move toward Abilene High, ending at Eagle Gym, which will then host the Homecoming Pep Rally. The Cooper Choir Fall Concert will be Monday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. at the Cooper Auditorium, and the Abilene High Choir Fall Concert will be on the same night (Oct. 2) at 7:30 p.m. at the AHS Auditorium. And the Cooper Theatre program will host its Fall Show – Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” – Oct. 5-7 at the Cooper Auditorium. All shows will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased at the door upon arrival.

 

 

More than 30 vocalists from the Abilene High and Cooper High choirs have advanced to the Texas Music Educators Association Region Audition set for Saturday, Sept. 30, at Odessa Permian High School. The 20 AHS students who competed at the Region District Vocal Audition on Sept. 9 at Cooper and advanced to the regional audition are Bailey Hinds and Zoe Wilson (Soprano 1); Caitlyn Bowman and Natalie Bowman (Soprano 2), Hazel Samuels, Kaylie Enriquez, Mary Lowe, Merit Albright, Mattie Spaulding, and Hope Arrazola (Alto 1); Anaja Woah, Bella Flores, Paradice DeMartini, and Lauren McGrew (Alto 2); Diego Castillo, Davis Goolsby, and Aiden Schwartz (Tenor 2), and Brady Westmoreland, Izayah Jaramillo, and Jackson Liske (Bass 1). The 13 Cooper students who advanced from the district competition to the regional audition are Kaley Rutledge and Bryana Parson (Soprano 1); Cierra Brown and Mia Cortez (Soprano 2), Aaricka Fullam (Alto 1); Claudia Jacques and Doris Ndayishima (Alto 2); Mathis Kanda and Deori Newman (Tenor 1); David Mugoya and Logan Hamilton (Bass 1); and Heath Reid and Trevon Davis (Bass 2).