The Fredonia Central School District is mourning the death of a High School student.

In an email sent to the school community Monday, Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox stated a student passed away Sunday night. Zilliox said that Fredonia Police believes the death, while unexpected, was of natural causes.

Because the district has not connected directly with the family as of Monday morning, the name of the student who passed away was not released.

“Our sincere condolences and thoughts go out to their family and friends,” Zilliox stated.

Zilliox stated that as the school community processes the news, the district will be offering counseling and bereavement support services to all students and staff.

“A student’s death is a difficult and challenging situation that can generate a high level of anxiety and distress for some students. If you feel that your children are having difficulty, we encourage you to discuss their thoughts and feelings to help them work through their grief or concerns. Please also consider monitoring and discussing your children’s communications (social media, phone, e-mails, text messages) to further assess their potential needs,” Zilliox stated. “If you feel that your children need to speak to a counselor or other caring adult, please do not hesitate to call our schools and let us know.”

The district also urged parents and guardians to contact the building-level Student Support Services Office for guidance on how to handle and talk about any grief or concerns that your children may be experiencing. Building Level Student Support Services can be reached at (716) 679-1581. Extensions are as follows: Wheelock extension 2805; Elementary extension 2426; Middle School extension 2725; and High School extension 2708.

“This is a difficult time for everyone, but I know our students and staff will lean on each other as they fondly remember our student,” Zilliox stated.