BOSTON (AP) — A 16-year-old student whose school principal had told her to leave the area grabbed the woman's hair and punched her several times in the head and face, knocking the 61-year-old victim unconscious for several minutes, authorities said.

The girl appeared in Boston juvenile court Thursday to face several assault charges. Bail was set at $5,000. She was ordered to have no contact with the victim, stay away from the school and remain under home confinement with GPS monitoring.

The attack occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Dr. William W. Henderson K-12 Inclusion School in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. School safety officers took the girl into custody immediately.

The principal was taken to the hospital and is recovering at home, according to the city school department. Authorities didn't say why the principal asked the student to leave the school area, but the confrontation occurred around usual dismissal time.

Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins said the attack was unprovoked, and she pledged to protect educators.

“My office is here to support them, to hold offenders accountable and to work in partnership to ensure the wellbeing of our educators, students and communities," she said in a statement.

She also said the teenager will get help.