Keyed-in pupils win internet safety prize

Council challenge

Senior students at Buchanan High came out on top in a competition aiming to raise awareness among youngsters about the dangers of the internet.

The Coatbridge school’s 6A English class won first place in the additional support needs’ category of North Lanarkshire Council’s “Internet Safety Challenge”.

Several schools from across the region took part as pupils examined a range of difficulties that young people could encounter online – and ways to protect themselves from harm.

The brilliant Buchanan team were asked to capture “the key messages for online safety” and responded by creating a collection of poems.

Their perfect prose covered subjects including cyber-bullying, identity theft, gaming addiction and suicide.

A spokesperson for Buchanan High told the Advertiser: “The maturity of the pupils’ response to this challenge has to be commended.

“They were thorough in their investigation of the dangers of the internet and their collection of poems perfectly captured the essence and importance of their studies.

“We congratulate them on securing first place in the additional support needs’ category.”

Meanwhile, intrepid Buchanan High pupils discovered an unusual fungus during a nature walk around the school.

Identified as “Hoof” or “Tinder” fungus ( fomes fomentarius) because of its historical use, it occurs locally.

Otzi the Iceman, whose preserved 5300-year-old body was found in the Alps years ago, had two of this type of fungus with him.

Fourth- year pupil James Murphy said “It’s amazing what you discover when you do a bit of research on something you find.”

Well-versed The Buchanan High team’s perfect poetry saw them crowned winners by contest judges