Principal’s message
It is without doubt the most poignant moment of the annual calendar every year when the school stops for a minute’s silence at 11am on 11 November. The usual bustling and busy campus falls silent, the usual fun and laughter is paused and hundreds of young people pay their respects to those former pupils of LGS and LGHS who lost their lives in 20th century conflict. Their names are marked on the stones under the porte cochère for everyone who enters our site to see, a permanent reminder of pupils who walked in the footsteps of our current pupils, but whose lives were cut so terribly short.
That we still do this, in 2021, is a crucial part of our children’s education and is testament to the importance of cherishing our history and heritage, and honouring those from our community who have paid the ultimate price. And this weekend, so determined were we that COVID would not interrupt our Remembrance Sunday service, that we have decided to hold a shorter, 30 minute ceremony outside, under the porte cochère, starting at 10.45am.
All GSAL families are very welcome to join us for this event and I hope to see you there. However, whether or not you can join us on Sunday, I hope that you will be moved and inspired in equal measure by the virtual assembly held in Senior School yesterday which can be viewed here.
They are our old boys and our old girl – and we will continue to remember them.
Sue Woodroofe
Principal
Accessing links in the bulletin
Please be aware that in order to access links you will need to login with your GSAL email address which is parentusername@gsal.org.uk. If you have forgotten your username or password please email your year group administrator.
Whole school notices
Anti-bullying week
Monday 15 November – Friday 19 November
‘One Kind Word’ is the theme of anti-bullying week starting next week.
Kindness is more important today than it has ever been. One kind word can be a turning point and can brighten the lives of the people around us. Best of all, one kind word leads to another and we can all play our part in a chain reaction that powers positivity.
To mark anti-bullying week and our commitment to kindness, pupils are asked to join others across the nation to wear odd socks to school. Our ‘odd socks’ to school day is on Tuesday 16 November. Pupils are encouraged to wear the craziest odd socks on top of their tights or with their trousers. We also ask for a £1 donation to the anti-bullying alliance.
There’s a serious message behind the fun: let’s pull on odd socks to show we’re ALL unique and different, and let’s be kind to each other and respect each other’s individuality.
UPSoc & Eco-committee present a special joint event.
Wednesday 17 November 4.20pm, 1552 conference room
‘How can society find socially just solutions to climate change?’ with Kerry Payton from the University of Leeds. All year groups welcome.
Student wellbeing survey
Tuesday 23 November
Senior school students will be completing the My Health My School Survey, a confidential and anonymous survey created and managed by LCC Health & Wellbeing Service. The survey asks students about their health and wellbeing and about school, in order to gather their honest views and opinions. The survey will be completed electronically by students in their tutor groups, where they will be supported by a form tutor who can answer any questions.
Senior School Winter Concert
Thursday 25 November, 5.30pm or 7.30pm
Please follow the links below to book tickets for the Winter Concert. Please limit bookings to two per household, as the event will socially distanced and therefore capacity is limited.
5.30 – 6.30pm performance / 7.30 – 8.30pm performance
Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
Sunday 12 December, 6.30pm
This service is open to everyone but tickets will be limited. Tickets will be available via Eventbrite from 19 November. This year the choir membership for the carol service will be restricted to members of GSAL Singers and GSAL Cambiata. Members of these groups will be emailed with details of the rehearsals which will take place on Saturday 11 December (daytime) and Sunday 12 December (afternoon/evening).
The Robert Tebb Senior House Instrumental and Singing Competition (prelim round)
18 – 20 January 2022
Information about Tebb Instrumental and Singing Competition and how to enter can be found by clicking here.
Christmas gift collection for the Gipton Fire Station project
For the past few years we have worked with Child Friendly Leeds to collect Christmas gifts for vulnerable children. Thanks to the generosity of the GSAL community we have been able to ensure that children across Leeds have a happy Christmas. This year we are supporting the Gipton Fire Station project who work with families living in poverty. They are asking for gifts that are suitable for children between the ages of 3-14, suggestions include:
- Educational toys
- Family games
- Arts and crafts
- Colouring books
- Teddy bears
- Stationery
- Selection boxes
Gifts can be left at reception in primary and senior school, and the deadline for donations is 30 November.
Car park – a request from Mrs Woodroofe
We are so proud of our pupils’ work alongside COP26 and all of the progress that the school has made in general in recent years in terms of our green agenda. As part of our ongoing commitment to improve the environment, please can we ask that parents turn off car engines whilst waiting in the car park so that they are not left idling. Thank you for your support.
Friday late buses – reminder
Following a few recent incidents, please be reminded that late services DO NOT run on a Friday.
GSAL rangoli competition
Congratulations to this year’s winner, Ishita, in Year 8. Her winning rangoli design can be seen here.
Beanie hats
Please help support raising awareness of testicular cancer by buying and wearing a GSAL Oddballs beanie.
Sport update
Please see the attached update from Mr O’Brien, Director of Sport.
Year 7 notices
Speech Day 2021 – school closure Y7-Y9
Friday 19 November
Please note that school will be closed to all pupils in Y7, Y8 and Y9 on Friday 19 November due to Speech Day.
Work will be set on Teams, there will be no live teaching. It is therefore not necessary that pupils do the work in the timetabled slot, but it should be completed before their next lesson of that subject where possible. Please be assured that students will revisit the work set within forthcoming lessons, should they struggle to complete it.
Academic support timetable
The academic support timetable for Y7 can be found here on GSAL world.
Year 8 notices
Prize-giving
Thursday 18 November 11am
Prize-giving for the academic year 2020-21, will be held on Thursday 18 November at 11am in the GSAL assembly hall.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only parents of prize winners and performers have been invited into school for the ceremony. The event will be live-streamed and recorded for all parents. To access the event please follow this link. If you have any queries, please email your child’s form tutor or year group administrator for advice
Speech Day 2021 – school closure Y7-Y9
Friday 19 November
Please note that school will be closed to all pupils in Y7, Y8 and Y9 on Friday 19 November due to Speech Day.
Work will be set on Teams, there will be no live teaching. It is therefore not necessary that pupils do the work in the timetabled slot, but it should be completed before their next lesson of that subject where possible. Please be assured that students will revisit the work set within forthcoming lessons, should they struggle to complete it.
Academic support timetable
The academic support timetable for Y8 can be found here on GSAL world.
Year 9 notices
Prize-giving
Thursday 18 November 9am
Prize-giving for the academic year 2020-21, will be held on Thursday 18 November at 9am in the GSAL assembly hall.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only parents of prize winners and performers have been invited into school for the ceremony. The event will be live-streamed and recorded for all parents. To access the event please follow this link. If you have any queries, please email your child’s form tutor or year group administrator for advice.
Speech Day 2021 – school closure Y7-Y9
Friday 19 November
Please note that school will be closed to all pupils in Y7, Y8 and Y9 on Friday 19 November due to Speech Day.
Work will be set on Teams, there will be no live teaching. It is therefore not necessary that pupils do the work in the timetabled slot, but it should be completed before their next lesson of that subject where possible. Please be assured that students will revisit the work set within forthcoming lessons, should they struggle to complete it.
Academic support timetable
The academic support timetable for Y9 can be found here on GSAL world.
Year 10 notices
Prize-giving
Monday 15 November 9am
Prize-giving for the academic year 2020-21, will be held on Monday 15 November at 9am in the GSAL assembly hall.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only parents of prize winners and performers have been invited into school for the ceremony. The event will be live-streamed and recorded for all parents. To access the event please follow this link. If you have any queries, please email your child’s form tutor or year group administrator for advice.
Speech Day 2021
Friday 19 November
Y10 students should attend school as normal.
Academic support timetable
The academic support timetable for Y10 can be found here on GSAL world.
Year 11 notices
Speech Day 2021
Friday 19 November 9am – 10am
Speech Day for the academic year 2020-21, will be held on Friday 19 November. All senior school teaching staff and students in Y11, Y12 and Y13, will have a Speech Day ceremony on Friday taking place in the GSAL assembly hall. School will be closed for all students in Y7, Y8 and Y9 on this day.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only parents of prize winners and performers have been invited into school for the ceremony for current Y11 students which will begin at 9am and finish at approximately 10am. The event will be live-streamed and recorded for all parents. To access the event please follow this link. If you have any queries, please email your child’s form tutor or year group administrator for advice.
Academic support timetable
The academic support timetable for Y11 can be found here on GSAL world.
Year 12 notices
Speech Day 2021
Friday 19 November 11am – 12 noon
Speech Day for the academic year 2020-21, will be held on Friday 19 November. All senior school teaching staff and students in Y11, Y12 and Y13, will have a Speech Day ceremony on Friday taking place in the GSAL assembly hall. School will be closed for all students in Y7, Y8 and Y9 on this day.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only parents of prize winners and performers have been invited into school for the ceremony for current Y12 students which will begin at 11.00 and finish at approximately 12 noon. The event will be live-streamed and recorded for all parents. To access the event please follow this link. If you have any queries, please email your child’s form tutor or year group administrator for advice.
Academic support timetable
The academic support timetable for Sixth Form can be found here on GSAL world.
Year 13 notices
Speech Day 2021
Friday 19 November 2pm – 3pm
Speech Day for the academic year 2020-21, will be held on Friday 19 November. All senior school teaching staff and students in Y11, Y12 and Y13, will have a Speech Day ceremony on Friday taking place in the GSAL assembly hall. School will be closed for all students in Y7, Y8 and Y9 on this day.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only parents of prize winners and performers have been invited into school for the ceremony for current Y12 students which will begin at 2pm and finish at approximately 3pm. The event will be live-streamed and recorded for all parents. To access the event please follow this link. If you have any queries, please email your child’s form tutor or year group administrator for advice.
Academic support timetable
The academic support timetable for Sixth Form can be found here on GSAL world.
Key dates
Fri 17 Dec – term ends
Thu 6 Jan – term begins
Fri 21 Jan – entrance exam (school closed)
Fri 11 Feb – school closes for half-term
Mon 21 Feb – school reopens
Fri 1 Apr – term ends
Latest news
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