Ottawa police are on the hunt for a lone male after a 15-year-old girl was attacked in the girls' washroom of Nepean High School Wednesday morning.

Police say the girl was grabbed from behind and knocked to the ground by an unknown male at about 7:25 a.m.

The girl kicked and screamed and the male left the school, which is located in the 500 block of Broadview Avenue. The girl was uninjured in the attack, which was not sexual in nature.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is now working with Ottawa police to investigate the attack, which is being described as an isolated incident.

Students told CTV Ottawa the school did not send home a letter or discuss the incident with students. The school board plans to meet with staff and students on Thursday.

Still, the school was buzzing with details of the attack on Wednesday.

Students say they can't believe someone was able to get into their school and attack one of their classmates.

Many girls who attend Nepean High School say the incident makes them question their safety.

"I think it's kind of odd because you wouldn't think that would happen in school," said Magdaleane Wieczorek, a Grade 9 student.

"I don't know how no one noticed there was a man at our school. I think it's shocking to a lot of the girls and they will be scared to go to the bathroom alone."

"I'm a bit nervous because if they're allowing random older men into the school, not that they necessarily meant to, but someone did get in, and it makes us feel uneasy," added Grade 9 student Michelle Horricks.

"It's weird for something like this to happen at our school. We have cameras and our teachers are protective and stuff," said Grade 9 student Jennifer Tran.

Police describe the suspect as a white male in his late teens or early 20s. He is about five feet five inches tall, with short reddish-brown hair and a stubble beard. He was wearing a hooded sweat shirt and blue jeans at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Ottawa police at 613-236-1222, ext. 5944 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-TIPS.