School Superintendent Joseph Erardi, Jr, said in a prepared statement issued at 2:22 pm Friday, November 14 that, “Earlier this afternoon, St Rose School received a threatening call.”

That school was placed on a “lock-in closed” status,” he said. The parochial school is located at 40 Church Hill Road.

During such situations, visitors are not allowed on school grounds and all people in the school remain inside the building.

“Newtown Middle School and the Hawley School have been placed on ‘lock-in open’ status because of their proximity to St Rose,” he added.

“No threat was received at the middle or Hawley schools. School dismissal will occur at the regular time,” he said.

“All students and staff throughout the district are safe,” he said.

The nature and means of the threat made against St Rose School are unclear.

Police were not immediately available for comment on the school  security situation.

Town police and the FBI are investigating a threat which was made against Newtown High School on November 11.