The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is examining security at Nepean High School after a male suspect managed to get into the school and allegedly attack a 15-year-old girl in the girls' washroom.
The school's principal addressed the student body on Thursday morning, advising students the school remains safe.
"With respect to the incident and the law, nothing can be disclosed while police are investigating," said Principal Rene Bibaud.
"However, we at Nepean pride ourselves on being a safe and caring school."
He told staff and students that safety remains a top priority, and advised students not everyone can be trusted.
"Like any community we depend on the participation of all of our members to report unexpected visitors to staff and/or office. It is an unfortunate reality that not all people live up to the Nepean standard," Bibaud said.
Police were called to the school on Wednesday morning after a female student reported being followed into the bathroom. Police say she was grabbed from behind and knocked to the ground at about 7:25 a.m.
The girl reacted by kicking and screaming. She managed to escape unharmed. Although the girl was attacked, she was not sexually assaulted.
Police are now looking for a white male suspect in his late teens or early 20s. He is described as 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.
