BETHEL – Telstar Regional High School was closed Monday afternoon after a hand-written message described by police as a “bomb threat” was found on a boy’s bathroom wall.

Police Chief Alan Carr said the school was evacuated around 1 p.m. The chief declined to elaborate on the message other then to say it was a “bomb threat.”

The school, located on Walkers Mills Road, houses about 325 students and about 35 staff members.

“We did a cursory search of the building,” Carr said of the 30-minute check of hallways, bathrooms and other areas. “We’re just looking for anything out of the ordinary,” he said.

Students were bused to Gould Academy and Crescent Park Elementary School while the search was conducted. From there they were bused home. Activities at the school were canceled for the rest of the day and Monday night.

Carr said he has several leads and hopes to wrap up the investigation shortly.

“We take all threats seriously and handle all the same way. Hopefully this will be the last last,” Carr said.

It was the first bomb scare at the school in about two years, Carr said.