Pocket Knife Confiscated at Atholton Elementary

School officials say a student who took a knife into Atholton Elementary School on Wednesday apparently had no intention of using it.

"The student found the knife on the way to school and brought it into the school," said Patti Caplan, spokeswoman for the Howard County Public School System. "Immediately a staff member saw the knife and confiscated it."

As required by policy, the police were called and the child's parents were contacted, Caplan said.

School officials are withholding the child's gender and grade.

Parents of other Atholton Elementary students were notified of the incident via email on Wednesday afternoon.

"At no time was there any danger to any student or staff member," said the email from Principal Heidi Balter and Assistant Principal Aaron Tark. "The situation was handled quickly and the appropriate consequences have been provided."

Caplan said there is more discretion at the elementary school level; principals can decide "consequences based on circumstances."