Papdale Stores in Kirkwall are also advising folk that they are able to take financial donations for the DEC Ukraine Appeal through their Post Office service.

Just head to the shop and let the staff know you want to make a donation which is processed in the same way as any other transaction and people can pay by cash or card. The shop and Post Office is open til 9pm every evening. The UK Government are matching pound for pound the first £20 million of donations made to the DEC Appeal.

Orkney’s Jenni Wilson recently joined the charity GAiN UK as a collection point for donations to assist people in crisis situations and poverty around the world.

Little did she know when she started, that just days later she would be sharing an appeal for support for Ukraine - an Eastern European country invaded by its Russian neighbours just over a week ago.

Sssssshhhhhhh….Westray Junior High staff and pupils are keeping quiet about their fundraiser for Ukraine!

S1-3 pupils will be participating in an all-day silence on Tuesday 8 March, beginning at  9am and finishing at 3.45pm including interval and lunchtime.

It’s that time of year again when parents and carers can enrol their eligible children into primary school.

A lack of staffing due to COVID and other sickness has led to the continued and additional closure of a number of classes within Stromness Primary School tomorrow, Thursday 3 March, and Friday. Eday school is also being impacted.

We are advising motorists of the potential for delays in the coming days on the diversion route currently in place at Old Finstown Road and Zion’s Loan while the main road is closed at Finstown for resurfacing works.

St Andrews School pupils were challenged to come up with some novel ways of reusing waste items for a teddy bear “trashion” show!

The youngsters didn’t disappoint and came up with some very creative ways of recycling materials.

Teacher Fiona Reid said: “Our whole school topic this term is ‘Choose the World you Want’ focussing on – litter, being environmentally responsible, Fairtrade and ethical enterprise.

Following a fantastic response to the Orkney Matters – Your Place, Your Future consultation, it’s time to move on to the next stage of virtual community meetings.

Eleven sessions are planned covering all areas of Orkney, kicking off at 7pm on Monday 10 January with Flotta, Graemsay, Hoy and Walls. Community Councils, Development Trusts and other community groups will be invited to participate, and members of the public can attend too. To book a place email communitycouncils@orkney.gov.uk with which meeting you would like to attend and your email contact to be used.

Stromness flagstone works will restart on Tuesday 11 January 2022.

Roads staff will be starting on Victoria Street at Argo’s Bakery, working towards Victoria Street/Church Road junction which will mean Victoria Street will be closed from The Pier Bistro to Church Road. The works here are expected to take around one week, weather dependant.

Despite a continuous spread in COVID-19 across Orkney throughout the festive period and into the new year, nurseries, schools and the college were able to reopen in full on the first day of term, Wednesday 5 January.

A number of staff and pupils were absent in relation to the virus across a handful of schools, however, there were no closures as a result.