Four Staples High School seniors have been named finalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program.  As Merit Scholar finalists (l-r) , Nicole Arellano, Jessica Xu, Marshall Heiser, and Leya Luo will have a chance to earn one of 7,500 National Merit Scholarship awards, together worth more than $35 million. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

It was an uneventful return to school today for Westport Staples High School students, Aside from a police and media presence, it seemed just like another day, one day after early dismissal and word that a Staples student had uttered threats against a teacher and threatened a mass shooting. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Staples High School Principal James D’Amico tonight sent the following email to Staples parents about today’s events at the school that led to an early dismissal and a student detained for making threats against a teacher and talking of a mass shooting:

Staples Principal James D’Amico (r) at today’s Westport Police Headquarters news conference with Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“Dear Staples Families,

“I write to you this evening at the close of a very trying day at Staples High School. 

“We have been working with the Westport Police Department throughout the day, including a complete sweep of the school this afternoon through this evening.

“School will open on time tomorrow, Wednesday, February 28th. We will meet with our staff before the opening of school to make sure that they have accurate information, and to provide them with strategies to support our students.

Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer tonight sent an email to all Westport school parents about today’s events at Staples High School. Here is the text:

Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer with Police Chief Foti Koskinas at today’s Westport Police Headquarters news conference. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“Dear Families of Westport Students,

“This morning, a student at Staples High School reported to administration that they had overheard some threatening statements by another student targeted at a staff member within the school. We commend this student for the courage to come forward to share this critical information about our safety. 

“Within minutes of this knowledge, a Staples administrator had the student of concern supervised in the main office, called the police, and called my office. From that point on, our Central Office administrative team, the Staples High School administrative team, the Westport Police Department, and our First Selectman worked hand-in-hand to address the presenting issues throughout the day.

Here is the text of a Westport Police Department news release on today’s incident at Staples High School:

Police cars were on hand today at the Staples High School early dismissal. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“This morning at approximately 9:00am, the Westport Police Department was contacted by Staples High School officials and advised a juvenile male student was overheard making threats to shoot a teacher. The student who overheard this statement reported it to school officials this morning. 

“Officers and detectives responded to Staples High School where the male student was already being interviewed by school administration. Based on the information learned by school administrators, it was confirmed the student did have thoughts of executing a mass shooting at the high school. 

“At this time, we continue to investigate whether these thoughts developed into a plan. Our detectives were able to establish that there were firearms in the student’s home. The firearms belong to the student’s father and were reportedly locked in a safe. 

Police spent much of the day searching a home on Kirock Place, off of Center Street, as part of their investigation into threats made by a Staples High School student against a teacher and the general school population. Police Chief Foti Koskinas said police obtained warrants to search two locations in Westport but did not specify where they were. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Staples High School students head for their buses today after an early dismissal ordered because of “some information that has been uncovered during the school day.” Students were ordered to shelter in place until the buses arrived. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

UPDATE Westport Schools Superintendent Colleen Palmer told parents today Staples High School was having an early dismissal due to an “abundance of caution.”

Westport police cars were outside Staples High School today after Superintendent of Schools Coleen Palmer said “some information that has been uncovered during the school day” and ordered an early dismissal. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Police scheduled a 4 p.m. news conference at Police Headquarters to provide an update on the situation from Palmer, Police Chief Foti Koskinas, and First Selectman jim Marpe.

One day after the Board of Education discussed school safety and possibly putting a police school resource officer (SRO) at Staples, Palmer sent this email to parents at 1:06 p.m.:

“There is no known threat at this time, but out of an abundance of caution due to some information that has been uncovered during the school day, Staples High School will be dismissed at approximately 1:15 p.m. this afternoon.