A student from McGarity Elementary School in Paulding County died Thursday during a class field trip to Carlton Farms in Rockmart, according to school officials and police.
What Happened: Police were called to the farm at 12:16 p.m. Thursday after reports of a child not breathing. First responders found the student unresponsive and performed life-saving measures. The child was taken to a hospital where she died. On-scene witnesses say the child drowned, though school and police officials have not confirmed this.
What’s Next: The Polk County Police Department is investigating the death. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is helping with the case.
School Response: Parents can keep their children home today with an excused absence. The school will provide counseling services for students and staff who need support.
McGarity Elementary Principal Jamesa Hodge said counselors will be available at school. She encouraged parents to talk with their children about the loss.
The Sources:
- Letter from McGarity Elementary School Principal Jamesa Hodge
- Polk County Police Department statement
B.T. Clark is the Publisher of The Georgia Sun and author of Principles Are Like Pants… You Ought to Have Some. Over two decades in journalism, he has served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc., earning multiple awards along the way. His work has appeared in newspapers across the state, including The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal.
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- B.T. Clark
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