By Jordan Copp, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter COAST REPORTER

While trees were falling and power lines were breaking as the Sunshine Coast was being buffeted by high winds earlier this week, a school field trip took an unexpected turn.

Monday morning, all 110 students from Madeira Park Elementary School along with staff and parent chaperones set out for Raven91裸聊视频檚 Cry Theatre in Sechelt to watch The Bad Robot.

They got to the theatre just before 10 a.m. and were about 20 minutes into the movie when school principal Nicole Zilkie said they started getting messages that the school had no power and cellphone communication was also down.

With no way for the school to communicate with parents, Zilkie stepped into the lobby to make some calls and gather information.

91裸聊视频淲e were supposed to be heading home in about half an hour when we got the first message that the highway was totally closed, and the first information we had was that it was going to be anywhere from one to five hours before it was open,91裸聊视频� she said, adding that they were originally scheduled to leave the theatre at 11:30 a.m. to get back to the school for lunch.

She said that Kevin McGarry from Raven91裸聊视频檚 Cry Theatre immediately stepped up and started proposing solutions.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 like, we can start another movie, we can play some trivia games on screen. He said we91裸聊视频檝e got lots of options that we can put up and do for the kids,91裸聊视频� Zilkie said. 91裸聊视频淎nd then his wife came and said, `Yes, whatever you guys need, we91裸聊视频檙e just so happy to help, and however we can support, we91裸聊视频檙e here for you.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

On top of all this, the theatre offered to cancel its 7 p.m. show that evening if the school needed more time to stay.

With a place to stay solved, Zilkie said the 91裸聊视频渘ext big hurdle91裸聊视频� was now they had 110 students who had no lunch because they were planning to be back at the school by then.

Looking at which stores still had power, Zilkie went over the McDonald91裸聊视频檚 to explain the situation.

91裸聊视频淚 spoke to the manager there, and she was also completely lovely, and I just explained to her that we had 110 students who didn91裸聊视频檛 have food, and was there any way that they could help out,91裸聊视频� Zilkie said. 91裸聊视频淎nd she said,91裸聊视频� Absolutely, we91裸聊视频檙e more than happy to help whatever we can do.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

School staff put in an order for 110 kids91裸聊视频� meals which McDonald91裸聊视频檚 said they could have ready in 30 minutes, which Zilkie said was 91裸聊视频渁stounding.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭hey put a total rush on it. It was all hands on deck. I watched, I went in, and they were all working on it, there was like, six or seven staff back there just trying to get the food out,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淚 know it really messed with their lunchtime service like they were really backed up and put a lot of stress on the staff to try to get this huge extra order out on such short notice, but they did it, which we were so appreciative of,91裸聊视频� Zilkie said.

The movie ended and the staff explained to the students they were stuck there and that lunch was on its way. Zilkie said the parent chaperones went over to the Independent Grocer and set up a snack table for the students while they waited for lunch.

With some students as young as four years old, Zilkie explained that just getting on a bus and going to a theatre is already a big day and that staff were careful to keep the messaging positive as major changes to what91裸聊视频檚 expected can be confusing and upsetting.

91裸聊视频淲e just made sure that they knew that their parents were safe, and that their parents knew that they were safe and that we were in really good hands with the Raven91裸聊视频檚 Cry Theatre,91裸聊视频� she said.

The students got to eat their lunch in the theatre seats and then began another movie until about 4 p.m. when they said they received word the road was open.

The group ultimately arrived back at Madeira Park Elementary shortly after 5 p.m., what Zilkie called a 91裸聊视频渓ong, tiring day for those little guys.91裸聊视频�

She said that while it could have been a hard, stressful day for everybody involved if not for the support they had from the community.

Zilkie said it was an 91裸聊视频渆asy, gentle day,91裸聊视频� at the school a day later. He said they had quite a few students who she thinks were 91裸聊视频渏ust exhausted after all the excitement yesterday and have chosen to stay home.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e had multiple kids come up to me and say they91裸聊视频檒l never forget it, like it turned into a real adventure 91裸聊视频� what could have been a major inconvenience and a huge worry for these little guys turned into something really fun and exciting, just because of all the support we received from the community.91裸聊视频�