TOPSHAM — The Mt. Ararat High School community is “feeling uneasy” after ammunition was discovered at the school, according to a letter sent to parents Thursday by Principal Donna Brunette.

Brunette said the ammunition consisted of small caliber bullets that were found by a student in a restroom Monday, she said.

“Through various conversations and reports made by students, parents and staff, it is clear there are a lot people in our community feeling uneasy after hearing the report that ammunition (bullets) were found at Mt. Ararat High School,” her letter states.

“We have been talking with students through the week and our goal was to make sure that students knew that we heard that they were uneasy and ultimately we wanted to make sure that they talked to their parents and had the right supports that they needed in order to feel comfortable coming to school,” she said Friday.

Mt. Ararat High School serves students of Maine School Administrative District 75 from Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell and Topsham.

“At this point we do not know who brought the bullets into our school,” Brunette wrote.

Brunette said no crime was committed by bringing ammunition into the school, through school policy prohibits it.

State and federal law prohibit firearms at K-12 public schools, but bringing ammunition by itself to a school doesn’t appear to be explicitly prohibited.

“There are things that people do outside of school that they sometimes use a backpack for, so occasionally we are dealing with things a student wouldn’t normally bring to school and nor would we allow them to,” Brunette said. In those cases, “Ultimately we figure out what was the intent.”

Because the school doesn’t know who brought the ammunition into the school, the intent remains unknown.

“The unresolved concern makes us all feel unsettled,” she adds. “I wish I had answers for you all.”

With the matter unresolved, people are questioning the safety of the school’s homecoming dance on Saturday, the letter states. This week is school spirit week at the school, according to the school calendar.

“Given the horrendous reports of violence in schools and various venues that all of us have heard or read about, and some been directly impacted by, people are alarmed,” Brunette wrote.

This is not the first threat that the school district has dealt with over the last two years.

In March 2018, police arrested a 19-year-old for allegedly making a threat against the high school over social media.

Students are very aware of instances of school violence like the mass shooting in Parkland, Brunette said.

“It’s hard on the kids,” she said. “They shouldn’t have to worry about coming to school and we try to make Mt. Ararat feel like a safe place.”

She has requested an additional officer be present at the dance and invites parents to attend to increase adult presence.