Westmount Secondary was evacuated by police Tuesday morning, after reports of a phone threat were announced.

Police and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) said the students are safe and are now being dismissed for the day after having been temporarily moved to Westmount Recreation Centre, near the school.

The school board Tweeted that two nearby schools, Westview Elementary School and Westwood Elementary School were in a "hold and secure."

Hold-and-secure status is used when there's a threat in the general vicinity of a school, but not on or near school property.

Jackie Penman, corporate communications manager for HWDSB, confirmed that the school did receive a phone threat earlier Tuesday morning, and that staff and students were immediately moved to the nearby Recreation Centre.

She said that students at Westview and Westwood are still in the 'hold and secure' protocol.

Const. Stephen Welton of Hamilton Police said that the threat was phoned in just before 10:30 a.m., and that officers are currently on scene investigating into the validity of the threat.

Police state that the investigation is still underway, but that the investigation is expected to end later this evening.

Parents and students are asked to visit the HWDSB website for any updates. No arrests have been made.

Police are with & working alongside students & <a href="https://twitter.com/HWDSB">@HWDSB</a> staff. Westmount school was evacuated after threat to school safety made by phone ^sw —@HamiltonPolice

Parents of students at Westmount School. <a href="https://twitter.com/HWDSB">@HWDSB</a> indicates that Students being dismissed for day. Can be picked up at Recreation Centre. —@HamiltonPolice