Kindergartner gets left in pumpkin patch

Principal picks up child, who was forgotten during field trip

Getting left behind at a pumpkin patch sounds like a plot line from a Charlie Brown cartoon.

But that’s what happened to a Langston Hughes kindergartner during a school field trip last Friday.

“It was an unfortunate situation and we’re hoping something like this never happens (again),” said Langston Hughes School Principal Lisa Williams-Thompson.

First-graders and kindergartners went to the Schaake’s Pumpkin Patch on Friday for a school field trip. Shortly after the bus left, pumpkin patch employees realized that one child had been left behind and called the school.

Unable to reach teachers by phone, Williams-Thompson picked up the child. She said the child was waiting patiently and was grateful to the folks at Schaake’s. The child’s family was understanding of the situation as well, said Williams-Thompson.

“We are all very concerned about this situation,” Williams-Thompson said. She said she is reviewing school field trip policy and may make some changes.

“Teachers did follow district guidelines,” she said. “But we will go back over our policies and likely add some, and hopefully this will never happen again.”

Julie Boyle, spokeswoman for Lawrence Public Schools, said a district leader also is reviewing field trip policies to see whether any changes need to be made or whether there should be any additions.