Winona Area Public SchoolsHello families,
This morning, a bus taking Winona Middle School sixth-grade students on a field trip to Mystery Cave and Forestville State Park was involved in an accident on a Fillmore County highway.
The bus ended up on its side. Three students were transported by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. The families of the three students have been contacted by either law enforcement or school administration. Other students and staff who received minor injuries were treated on site.
Ready Bus Company, which provided the buses for the field trip, sent another bus to take students back to the middle school. Some students were understandably not comfortable getting back on a bus, and alternate forms of transportation were being arranged to return them safely back to Winona Middle School. Students and staff were waiting in a safe space away from the road.
Families who would like to pick up their 6th grade middle school student early may do so by contacting the attendance secretary at 507-494-1030.
We are grateful for the immediate and compassionate response of Fillmore County law enforcement. Safety is our top priority, and we are thankful for all the individuals who work together to keep our students and staff safe.
This is a traumatic experience for the students involved in the event and for those who witnessed it. It can also be unsettling for students who hear about it. Please check in with your child throughout the weekend to see if they need help processing what happened. The National Association of School Psychologists has many great resources for parents. This resource provides tips for discussing school violence, but many of the same strategies are applicable to this situation.
Again, we want to thank Fillmore County law enforcement and the emergency first responders for their immediate and compassionate response to help our students and staff during a scary situation.
Thank you,
Winona Area Public Schools