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NORTH ATTLEBORO - Police will be at the high school this morning in response to a vague threatening message that forced officials to lock down the building Wednesday, then dismiss school early and cancel afterschool programs and athletic events.

The message was similar in tone to a threat that forced school officials to dismiss school just before the end of the day on May 4, police and school officials said.

Police Chief Michael P. Gould Sr. would not reveal the contents of Wednesday's message because of the ongoing investigation.

"The threat was vague and indirect. There was no reason given for the threat, nor any means by which it would be carried out," Gould said, adding that the threat included no date, time or place.

Nonetheless, some students were upset by the incident. "People were crying. The teachers had to comfort them and stuff," said freshman Jessica Hanley, 15.

The anxiety of the event is more acute during a lockdown, students said, where doors are locked, blinds are closed and students are told to remain silent.

Superintendent Rick Smith said the message was discovered about 11 a.m. Students were held in lockdown until shortly before noon, when buses arrived in preparation for the early dismissal.

Classes at the middle school next to the high school were not affected, but afterschool events at the middle school were cancelled.

Smith and Gould said the dismissal process was orderly and uneventful.

Parents were notified of the incident and the school's response by a Reverse 911 automated phone system.

Gould commended the school administration, staff and students for the manner in which the incident was handled.

"They were very professional, calm and very businesslike,' Gould said. "It's a shame they have to go through this because of the actions of a bad individual."

The police chief and the superintendent urged parents to talk to their children and urged anyone with any information regarding the incident - or who was responsible for it - to call police.

The school was searched by school officials, janitorial staff and police, but nothing suspicious was found, Gould said. The experience frayed the nerves of some students, some of whom lingered outside the school afterwards, waiting for rides home.

"It's really scary. The principal got on the speaker and said this was the real thing. It's not just a practice one," said freshman AnnMarie Leitao, 15, who was in gym class when the incident was announced.

"We've had practice lockdowns but not the real thing," said 16-year-old sophomore Chris Winn.

Students were told to shut off their cell phones during the lockdown, but they said that order was largely ignored.

Although some were upset during the incident, students said the mood changed when they were allowed to return to their lockers and learned school was being dismissed.

Seniors are no longer in classes, and the last exam for seniors is today. The last day of school is June 20.

Attleboro police handled emergency calls under a mutual aid pact because local police were tied up with the lockdown.

Smith said the decision to dismiss school early Wednesday was to allow the police department to conduct an investigation and ensure the safety of students.

"Each individual event of this nature will be critiqued upon its own characteristics, and a variety of responses may apply - including a brief lockdown and dismissal, to searches and longer periods of lockdowns," Smith said.

Students will be greeted with a heavy police presence today and a change in procedures.

Among the changes, which will be implemented until further notice, is that entry into the high school will restricted to just one door.

Smith also asked parents and students to provide any information they might have about the incident to the police department.

"We hope that the North Attleboro High School community will come together to help us solve these crimes and end the disruption of the education of our students," Smith said.

Police are serious about finding whoever is responsible for leaving the messages and even offered a $500 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person who scrawled a similar threatening message on May 4.

In early May, a rash of threatening messages were received at area schools, which lead to lockdowns and evacuations.

Similar anonymous written messages or phone calls were reported at Foxboro and King Philip Regional schools.