Today is National Poetry Day, and to celebrate a poem chosen by Mr Swinney,

Snow in the Suburbs

Every branch big with it,
Bent every twig with it;
Every fork like a white web-foot;
Every street and pavement mute:
Some flakes have lost their way, and grope back upward when
Meeting those meandering down they turn and descend again.
The palings are glued together like a wall,
And there is no waft of wind with the fleecy fall.
A sparrow enters the tree,
Whereon immediately
A snow-lump thrice his own slight size
Descends on him and showers his head and eye
And overturns him,
And near inurns him,
And lights on a nether twig, when its brush
Starts off a volley of other...

In 2014, we all have an important decision to make: should we vote for Scotland to become independent?

On Thursday two brave teachers, Mr Illingworth and Mr Redford, went head to head and debated this question in front of a huge and very enthusiastic audience of pupils and staff.  I'm sure everyone who attended would agree that the quality of the debate was excellent and the questions from the pupils were thoughtful, mature and showed that teenagers are engaged in politics and are intellectually curious.  It was very impressive and encouraging to see such a massive turnout from pupils across all age groups. 

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