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A Stronsay Junior High School pupil has had a “divine” experience as St Magnus Cathedral’s first ever work placement student.

Although having no previous knowledge of the cathedral or direct interest in history, S4 student Lilly says she came away with a new-found respect for the building and its story.

The Council’s waste team has been working hard to minimise disruption to domestic and trade waste customers as a result of the next planned industrial action on 7-10 September.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what has been put in place if there’s no agreement on the national pay deal -

The Council can confirm there will be significant school and nursery closures throughout Orkney if the planned national strike action over pay goes ahead on three days next week – 6, 7 and 8 September.

School catering staff, cleaners, caretakers, teaching assistants and early years practitioners are involved in the national industrial action.

The Education Service has reviewed in detail staff members expected to be on strike and the this would have impact on health, safety and support provisions for every nursery and school.

Wreaths will be laid at the Kirk Green War Memorial outside St Magnus Cathedral on Saturday 3 September during a remembrance event to mark Merchant Navy Day.

The Red Ensign will be flown at the Royal British Legion in Kirkwall, and, as always, the flag will be aloft at the Scapa OIC Harbour Authority Offices as Orkney joins UK-wide events in recognition of the nation's merchant seafarers.

The children at Rousay School have a message to any keen cooks out there – “We love our school lunches, they are yummy.  Please come and be our cook.”

You can live on the island or commute from the Mainland as the hours fit in with the ferry times.

There’s 22 bairns at the school and Head Teacher, Mrs Katie Lucas, says: “School lunches play a crucial role in ensuring that all children get to eat healthy and nutritious foods - which in turn supports their ability to learn at school.

In a bid to ease a build-up of domestic waste for those households affected by the national strike action, the waste and recycling teams will be rescheduling collections.

Areas 13 and 15 that did not receive a domestic collection on Friday 26 August will have a rescheduled domestic collection on Friday 2 September instead of their recycling collection.

Areas 1 and 6 that did not receive a domestic collection on Monday 29 will have a rescheduled domestic collection on Monday 5 September instead of their recycling collection.

Education officials in Orkney met on Monday (29 August) to discuss the potential impact on schools and nurseries if the planned national strike action over pay goes ahead on three days next week – 6, 7 and 8 September.

Further detailed information is required before confirmation can be given as to which settings may be closed, however, it is likely that there will be significant disruption. Parents and carers are advised to seek alternative childcare provision for those dates.

The peedie folk at Glaitness Nursery have been enjoying their new accommodation thanks to a £1.5m Council-funded project.

The project to extend and alter the nursery got underway in June last year and is now complete.

The works, completed by Orkney Builders (Contractors) Ltd, has seen an 365m2 extension to the front to provide additional nursery accommodation.

The Council is advising of changes to public transport and to Scapa Flow Museum opening times as a result of the ‘Hoy on Hoy’ events on the island on Saturday 17 September.

Due to the continued national strike action over pay, there will be no waste or recycling collections in Orkney today, Monday.

This will affect Mainland areas 1 and 6 for refuse, area 9 for recycling and commercial waste. Collections on Westray are going ahead.

There will be no litter bin emptying throughout the county today either.