On Jan. 27 an accident occurred during a physical education class at Porterdale Elementary School (PES). According to a Feb. 1 statement released by the Newton County School System (NCSS), a student’s beaded braids were caught in a volleyball net when she jumped to hit the ball. When she landed, two of her braids were pulled off her head.

NCSS further reported that the girl was given ice for her injury and immediately taken to the school nurse. The family was notified and arrived at the school soon thereafter. This sequence of events was confirmed by the student to PES officials and to her mother.

PES Principal Nikkita Warfield, is reported to have contacted the family Jan. 30 to see how the girl was doing. The student returned to school and resumed her studies on Feb. 1.

In a Feb. 1 WSB-TV report, the mother disputed the sequence of events, saying her daughter’s injury was not immediately treated. She also raised concern that the volleyball net was not installed with a “break away” attachment.

According to NCSS officials, “The safety of our students is our number one priority and the school administration’s review of the incident confirmed this was an unfortunate accident.”