North Mainland Notes

Parent council

The Mossbank Primary School Parent Council would like to see as many parents as possible at an open evening on Wednesday at 7pm in order for folk to find more out about the new Curriculum for Excellence.

Curriculum for Excellence aims to transform in education in Scotland by providing a coherent, more flexible and enriched curriculum from 3-18 years. The main focus will be on the needs of the child or young person and is designed to help them to develop the four capacities of: responsible citizens; successful learners; confident individuals; and effective contributors.

SIC education department quality improvement officer Maggie Spence will be at Mossbank to give a presentation on how Scottish education is changing.

Transport to and from the open evening can also be arranged for parents who might have difficulty with transport. A creche will be available and tea, coffee and home bakes will be served.

Further chance for flu jab

The Brae Medical Practice is holding a further “drop-in” session for seasonal flu vaccinations on Wednesday between 6.30pm and 8pm. Staff are inviting anyone to attend who has not already had their flu jab.

This includes all those aged 65 or over, as well as those who will be 65 by 31st March next year. Anyone under 65 in the “at risk” categories are also asked to attend.

These categories are: dysfunction of the spleen including coeliac disease; chronic respiratory disease including asthma and COPD; chronic heart disease; chronic neurological disease including stroke or diabetes; chronic kidney disease; chronic liver disease; cochlear; or anyone who is a carer.

Food and lights

This weekend there is a chance to combine a trip to see the Mirrie Dancers light show at the Giants Grave, Lochend, with a spot of food and a games night at the North Roe and Lochend hall.

The hall will be open tomorrow night for suppers between 5.30pm and 8.30pm with a games night to follow. The menu will include fish, scampi, smoked sausage, king ribs and spaghetti bolognaise. To order call (01806) 533254 between 5pm and 8.30pm.

Invite to shop launch

As you may have read elsewhere in The Shetland Times this week, the community-owned shop at Hillswick is about to re-open after a major facelift.

The directors of Hillswick Shop Ltd would like to extend a warm invitation to everyone to call along the shop when it opens at 2pm on Thursday. The official launch will take place at 6.30pm.

Vice-chairman of the shop management committee Peter Sinclair said: “We hope that as many folk as possible will come along in the evening for a cup of tea or a glass of wine to support the launch of the shop.”

The board of directors are very conscious that many people living in the area have to travel outside Hillswick for work, so the shop will be open until 7pm each night, except Sunday when it will close at 5pm.

Folk will also be able to purchase a copy of The Shetland Times before heading to work on Friday mornings as the shop will open at 7.30am.

Christmas opening

Following the success of extended opening hours during the run up to festive season last year, the Ollaberry shop will remain open till 9pm on Tuesday.

The extra hours will give folk a further opportunity to browse the huge Christmas range available. Further extended opening evenings will be added.

Busy times at Hillswick

The week ahead is packed with a variety of events at the Hillswick hall.

Tonight the quiz night kicks off at 7.30pm. As well as a prize for the worthy winning team, there will also be a raffle and snacks provided. Teams should consist of a maximum of four people.

On Thursday at 7.30pm there is a further chance to learn the art of the game of 500 from some of the local masters.

The week will be rounded off with a fund-raising day and night including an indoor car boot sale, stalls and bairns activities. The day kicks off at 3pm and fish suppers will be available from 5pm.

More details of the evening events will be available next week. Anyone who wishes to book a table at the indoor car boot should phone (01806) 503246.

Toddlers don wellies

Every nine days one baby dies of cot death in Scotland. The Mossbank Toddlers are putting on their rubber boots and taking part in a national Welly Waddle on Tuesday to help raise awareness and vital funds for the Scottish Cot Death Trust (SCDT).

The SCDT is the only charity in Scotland dedicated to fighting cot death through research and education. They also offer support to families who have suffered the loss of a baby to cot death and less than three per cent of their income comes from local government – so community support is vital.

The Welly Waddle at Mossbank starts at 10.30am and organiser Marie Gifford said: “We were inspired to organise a Welly Waddle because it is such a worthy and important cause and because it’s great fun for the bairns. They really love getting their wellies on a going out for a splash in the puddles, so now they can do it and raise funds for the Scottish Cot Death Trust at the same time.”

Festive hours at surgery

Any delusions I had that Christmas was still light years away were suddenly wiped out this week when I received the Christmas and New Year opening hours from the Hillswick Health Centre.

As Christmas Day falls on a Friday this year, the health centre will be closed longer than usual. Staff will finish on Wednesday 23rd December and the centre will re-open on Monday 28th December from 9am to 1pm and will be open on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th December as normal.

The surgery will be closed on New Year’s Eve and will re-open on a half-day service on Monday 4th January from 9am to 1pm. Normal opening hours will resume on Tuesday 5th January.

Maree Hay