Hamilton police say a parent and student are both facing weapons charges after a "schoolyard disturbance" where the woman brought a baton to a school and got into a verbal dispute with the teen who was holding a knife.

Officers were called to St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School around 1 p.m. Tuesday after reports of a disturbance in the back parking lot.

Police say they found a large crowd, including a mother standing by her vehicle.

The 38-year-old woman brought an expandable baton to the school "during a verbal dispute with a student holding a knife," according to investigators.

The woman was upset about a previous altercation involving her child that happened off school property before migrating to the parking lot, say police.

"The situation was largely contained thanks to the professional and prompt response of school staff," according to a post on the school's website.

Both the woman and the 17-year-old threatened each other, say police. They were arrested and charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, but have since been released.