PRIMARY 6 and 7 youngsters took to the discipline of haiku poetry like ducks to water when a representative from the Scottish Poetry Library visited Merkinch before Christmas. Samples of the children’s work features in the current edition of the school magazine and on the walls of the reception area.

HIGHLAND Council has offered MPS the chance for pupils and their families to take part in an important paper recycling scheme. The kind of paper wanted are newspapers, magazines, office paper and junk mail - but not envelopes or plastic wrapping. The scheme is to run for a trial period and if it is successful it is hoped to increase the number of collection points around Inverness.

STILL on the subject of recycling, Mrs Campbell is still collecting used stamps for charity, and plastic ring can carriers and old toner cartridges are still being collected as are outgrown school uniforms, PE shorts and T-shirts.

A CALL has gone out to MPS parents who can play the recorder. Said head teacher Mrs Sheena Morrison, “We are looking for parents who could help with our group of recorder players. The pupils have the basics and are ready to move on to bigger and better things.”

INVERNESS High School, following the inevitable increase in mobile phones after the gift-giving season, has repeated their policy towards these. Phones may be brought to school but must be switched off during lessons. Anyone using a mobile in class will have it confiscated until 3.30pm. Anyone regularly breaking the rules will have the phone confiscated until a parent comes to the school to discuss the problem. The school wants to remind pupils and their parents that valuables should be left at home. The school can take no responsibility for personal items brought to school which may be stolen and parents are advised to report these to the Police if they have not been solved right away within the school.