I just want to take a moment and say thank you to the elementary staff for recognizing me during the retirement luncheon for the others. It was completely unexpected.
I have really enjoyed my time here at Viola, and I will miss everyone.
Austin Gardner is proud to call Viola his lifelong home. Born and raised in the community, Viola has always held a special place in his heart. He and his wife, Jessica, feel grateful to be raising their two children, Bryson and Zoey, in the very place where their roots run deep.
Family, sports, and the outdoors have always played a central role in Austin’s life. His involvement in athletics growing up inspired him to pursue a degree in education, with the goal of becoming both a teacher and a coach.
Now, as he steps into the role of head coach for the Viola Longhorns, Austin considers it an incredible honor—a dream come true. He and his family are excited to be part of the Longhorn family and look forward to growing alongside the team and the community. Hook ’Em!
ATTENTION BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYERS
There will be a Jr High and Sr High boys basketball meeting on June 2nd in the Viola main gym. We will have a short meeting and then have a practice so bring practice clothes. A summer schedule with practice and camp dates will be handed out during this time. All boys basketball players that will be in grades 7-9 in the 2025-2026 school year will meet at 12:30 and be done by 2:30. All boys basketball players that will be in grades 10-12 in the 2025-2026 school year will meet at 2:30 and be done by 4:30. Please reach out to Coach Gardner if you have any questions at (870) 371-2683. Thank you!
May 23rd marks our last day of school. Wishing everyone a restful and enjoyable summer break. Stay safe and take care!
Congratulations to our Viola School District retirees! Your years of service, commitment, and passion have helped shape generations of students and strengthen our school community. We are truly grateful for the countless hours you've dedicated—inside the classroom and beyond. Your legacy of excellence, kindness, and leadership will continue to inspire us all. Thank you for everything you've done. You will be greatly missed, but never forgotten!
VHS Book Club presents: The Longhorn Summer Reading Challenge of 2025! Avoid the summer slump by keeping those pages turning, and win prizes when school starts back in the fall. All instructions for joining the challenge are included in the photo and links below:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17fDsL3l7J37WDNx_0HGpb_r0wn5n5xVppNDSCoKAEFc/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1esQV5UVko7-_a8vjBbnaewbAFbQ3E0PmIN2DrV70I3Y/edit?usp=sharing
This challenge is available for all incoming 7th-12th grade students at Viola High School. Have a great summer!
Any questions: Email Mrs. Guffey at taylor.guffey@violalonghorns.org.
Reminder: Elementary awards will be held tomorrow, May 22nd, at 9:00 AM in the high school gym for grades 1st–5th.
Join the Viola Athletics Department for an unforgettable day on the green at the Longhorn Scramble, happening June 28, 2025, at the stunning Turkey Mountain Golf Course!
This isn't just another golf tournament — it's a full day of fun, friendly competition, and Longhorn pride! Grab your team, show your support for Longhorn Athletics, and compete for awesome hole prizes and surprises along the way.
Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just in it for the good times, you won’t want to miss this exciting event. Let’s rally together and make it a day to remember!
Shelby Harris is excited to be the new Head Softball Coach and Head Volleyball Coach at Viola. A graduate of Mountain Home, Arkansas, she is proud to return to this part of the state to pursue her passion for coaching and working with student-athletes.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in Pk-12 Health and Sports Science Education from Northwestern Oklahoma State University and is nearing completion of her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University. Coaching has been a passion of hers since high school, and she has had the opportunity to coach softball and volleyball at the high school level across Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Each experience has helped shape her coaching philosophy and enhanced her ability to connect with athletes at all levels.
Outside of her professional life, Shelby has been married to her husband for three years. When she’s not on the ball field or tending to their horses, she enjoys relaxing with her dogs and a good book.
She is looking forward to a great year and to becoming a part of the Viola community. Go Longhorns!
We would like to thank Trevor Himshoot and Mike Stockton with Ascend Wealth Management for providing breakfast burritos from Fun Days for our staff on May 15. They were very much appreciated, and didn't last long!
Kindergarten enjoyed their field trip around the community!
Please take a moment and fill out this short survey about the Save the Children programs from this school year. Viola Elementary works with Save the Children to provide a math and literacy program here at our school. Save the Children would appreciate if you would take the time to fill out this short survey so they can make any changes necessary to their program to best support our students and families here at Viola Elementary. Thank you. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7HZFCY3
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Viola School District will have its regular scheduled board meeting on Wednesday, May 21st at 6:00pm in the Viola High School Family and Consumer Science room (room 2002).
The Sports Athletic Banquet will be held this Thursday, May 22nd at 6 pm in the high school cafeteria. Dinner for our athletes and their families will be provided.
Today, we celebrate the incredible work of speech-language pathologists who help students find their voice, improve communication, and build confidence every day. A special thank you to Amy Rucker for your dedication, patience, and expertise. You make such a positive impact on our students' lives, helping them overcome challenges and reach their full potential.
Your support goes far beyond speech therapy — you help our students thrive academically and socially. We appreciate you more than words can express!
Let’s take a moment to recognize the amazing speech-language pathologists, especially Amy Rucker, for all the hard work and care they provide.
We would like to remind you that the Viola High School Graduation Ceremony will take place on Monday, May 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM in the High School gym. Please come out and support our graduating seniors!
Attention Incoming 3rd Through Outgoing 6th Graders!!
Mechanically Challenged will be hosting the 4th Annual Balloon Warfare Robotics Camp in just a few weeks! Informational flyers should be going home with elementary students today. Camp will take place June 9–13, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, with the final day extended until approximately 1:30 PM. Join us for fun coding challenges, exciting balloon warfare, and team competitions as Mechanically Challenged mentors guide students in building and coding a balloon-popping machine. Expect mayhem, prepare for fun, and learn to code and cooperate at the same time! Winner takes all!
The event will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel on Thursday and Friday. Spectators are welcome! All of this is free and includes a snack! Sign-ups and registration will begin promptly at 8:30 AM on Monday, June 9, in the High School Science Lab. For more details, contact Mrs. Cooper at the High School.
Please welcome Mason Bryan to the Longhorn family. He is originally from West Plains, Missouri, and is a graduate of Missouri State University with a degree in Agricultural Education.
He's excited to step into the classroom and share his passion for agriculture with our students. His goal is to help them discover the many possibilities in Agriculture, whether it’s through hands-on learning, field trips, contests, or conventions.
Outside of school, he and his wife, Caitlin, operate Bryan Farms. When he's not teaching or working on the farm, you’ll likely find him enjoying time in the hunting woods. He is looking forward to the year ahead.
Meet our K-12 Special Education teacher!
Kaitlin Lamborn is delighted to join the Longhorn community as our new 10th-12th English teacher
She and her son Kylan recently moved back to the area after living in Northwest, Arkansas for several years. She has loved reconnecting with friends, family and the special blessings of small-town communities.
She believes that rural schools offer unique opportunities for students and instructors to optimize engaging, student-centered learning.She is so excited to join Viola’s team of collaborative instructors who share a student-first mindset in all they do.
Coming from a long familial line of Longhorns, she and Kylan are thrilled to carry on the family tradition and join the Viola Alma Mater.
Kaitlin says, "Thank you for welcoming us into your family—we are so happy to be here!"
