An elementary school in Topsham was evacuated Friday morning following a bomb threat.

Students at Woodside Elementary School were evacuated and taken to the Orion Performing Arts Center to be picked up by their parents, according to the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office.

Topsham police were stationed outside Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham earlier in the morning in response to a threat of violence in School Administrative District 75 system. School administrators said the threat was not credible and two students are being disciplined for using language that scared other students.

An officer was stationed outside the school entrance Friday morning as students arrived, but there was no sign of an increased police presence by 9 a.m. Topsham police posted a statement on Facebook that said, “We understand that recent events in South Florida have many people on edge and rightfully so.”

Principal Donna Brunette said in a notice to the school community that administrators had received reports from students “about unsafe language used by other students that made them feel unsafe.” She said the words focused on violence at school.

“Follow up interviews confirm a conversation between two boys about an online video game focused on school violence and other comments that suggest one might do something at our school to scare students,” Brunette wrote.

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The students involved are being disciplined for creating a “significant disturbance” at school and using language that suggests a threat, Brunette said. Topsham police are conducting an investigation.

Brunette said a separate report that suggested a threat of violence at the school Friday was determined to be a rumor and there was no credible threat to violence at the high school.

Superintendent Brad Smith said students have been talking, texting and posting on social media since the fatal school shooting in Parkland, Florida, on Wednesday.

“Be aware that such information is often inaccurate or speculation. Nevertheless, we take any and all reports very seriously. We are currently unable to verify any specific threats to our high school or any of our schools,” Smith said.

Smith said he hopes an increased police presence at the high school will “bring some sense of comfort and reassurance to parents, students, and staff.”

Mt. Ararat High School serves students from the towns of Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell and Topsham.


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