A Hazelwood School District fifth-grader is in trouble after bringing a BB gun to school.

The Armstrong Elementary School student brought the gun without pellets, according to a letter school principal Roger LeBlanc's sent home with students.

"I want to provide you with the facts about a situation at our school," he wrote in the letter. "The student who saw it (the gun) immediately reported it and the student with the BB gun was disciplined according to our District's Behavior Guide."

LeBlanc went on the commend the student who reported the incident and staff that quickly worked to defuse the situation.

"It is very important for all of us to keep an open line of communication and share crucial information," LeBlanc said.

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Diana Gulotta, superintendent for communication in the Hazelwood School District said there is a wide range of punishment for similar instances after a Hazelwood West Middle School student brought a bullet to school in December of last year.

"We cannot legally share specifics (regarding the student's specific punishment), she said at that time, "but I can give you a range of punishment for that offense, which is 10 days out of school suspension up to expulsion."

The letters were printed, folded and stuffed in envelopes for each student, instead of being electronically sent via the parent email communication system. Gulotta said this is a better method for parents at the elementary level.

"Not all parents subscribe to the e-blasts, so it is more effective at the elementary level to send home a letter in each backpack," she said.

To read the letter, click on the photo in this article's photo gallery.