Senior School Weekly Bulletin

Principal’s message

I’ve decided there is not much point in making a point if a pupil can make it far more effectively! This week, a poem by Leo Khan in Year 8, written in the style of famous poet Benjamin Zephaniah, was not only commented upon by the renowned poet himself, but liked and retweeted many times from our own GSAL Journal of inspiration – praise indeed! Based upon the style of Zephaniah’s poem, ‘The British’, Leo continues the extended recipe metaphor to create the wonderful bowl of talent that is GSAL, from the origins of the founding schools to the present day. Another very proud Principal moment; read and enjoy!

A GSAL Salad – makes enough for 2000 or more

First, sprinkle a few local industrialists and some architects, both should be passionate about education, covering the bottom of the bowl.
Then add some scholars, youths and some children to form the main part of the salad.
Pour some care and opportunity into the dressing. Note: do not tolerate bullying from the other ingredients – everyone is equal.
Next, splash some new facilities and resources to the school to make it unique.
Mix in some very professional and well-educated staff for flavouring and excellence.
Combine and put some students on grill to make them do so well. And then turn the heat to the highest.
Pressure cook some of the musicians, sportsmen and women, artists and more, and provide them with a unique, indigo dressing.
Let the grilled students cool and make them settle into classes before giving them some hot chilli-education sauce. Spice is nice!
Add a small library of croutons to the mix to power the students’ education and give some of the staff lead positions and roles to help the salad taste nicer.
Combine the salad’s strengths and aspirations to make a badge to sit on top of all of the ingredients.
Then add a sprinkle of different types of students all from different backgrounds and parts of the world; for unity, freedom, equality, justice and variety.
Please consider all the ingredients to make sure everyone is happy and so that they can BE INSPIRED by other hot, spicy, grilled students.
Make sure that the older ingredients are being influential towards the younger ones and they set a good example in order to compliment the taste of the salad.
Finally, after mixing the hot, grilled students with the other ingredients, expect to see a change in the nature and the taste of the salad all together and you will give equality to all.
Serve with talent, intelligence, smartness, safety and unity with some cubes of education on the side.

Sue Woodroofe
Principal

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Whole school notices

Nut allergies

GSAL endeavours to be a nut free school to ensure the safety of students who have nut allergies.

Nut products should never be brought into school, consumed on the school buses or taken on school trips. People with nut allergies can have a reaction simply by being in the same room as a nut based product, touching a surface contaminated by someone else with nuts on their hands or touching the hand of someone who has been holding a nut based product.

Please refer to the document  Allergen Management 2019 – parents for further guidance. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Open Morning

Saturday 12 October 09:00 to 12:00

We require all Senior School students to be in school to represent GSAL at our annual Open Morning. We expect a high number of visitors therefore the only exception is for those students who will be participating in school sports fixtures, either home or away.

In the coming weeks staff will inform students about the ways they can get involved and what time they are needed in school. Students may be acting as tour guides, running activities in classrooms, or taking part in sports activities, drama rehearsals or music performances.  Thank you for your support.

If you know of any family or friends who are interested in a GSAL education for their child please let them that bookings are now open via the school website.

Charity update

Every Friday in Senior School we hold a charity collection, with the beneficiaries chosen by students. Each form has a charity representative who will collect money during form time from students who wish to donate.

Today’s collection supported the survivors of Hurricane Dorian which devastated The Bahamas recently. The collection on Friday 20 September will be on behalf of C-R-Y (Cardiac risk in the young).

In the last academic year members of the GSAL community raised over £63,000 through the weekly collections and many other fundraising activities, and we are grateful for your continuing support.

Mary’s Meals backpack appeal

New term, new schoolbag? We are collecting used backpacks in good condition filled with everyday essentials in support of Mary’s Meals backpack appeal, which equips schoolchildren in Africa with the basics they need for daily life and learning. The collection runs until the end of next week. Please read the attached letter from Mr L Hughes, head of faith, to see how you can donate.

Play sport at GSAL

From Monday 16 September

We run a sports club for parents and alumni on Mondays from 19:00 to 21:00 during term time from September to May. The club does not run on bank holidays or during the public exams in the summer term.

Subject to availability, parents and alumni may use the swimming pool and/or play squash and badminton free of charge. The gym and basketball/tennis courts are not available for use.

The club is strictly adults only. As part of the club’s agreed health and safety regulations, children cannot attend even as spectators. You may invite non parent/alumni as guests to play squash or badminton.

To book email Mrs H Ramsay on hazel.ramsay@gsal.org.uk or telephone 0113 2291552 ext 4372 before 15:00 on the day of the club or up to six days in advance. Please leave a contact telephone number in case the club is cancelled for any reason. Swimmers, please notify Mrs Ramsay if you are unable to attend. Parents/alumni should park in the staff car park (use the after-hours green button to raise the barrier).

On arrival please sign in at the desk by the PE office/sports hall entrance and sign out before departure.

Extracurricular activities

Our extracurricular calendar outlines which activities are on offer for pupils each day. You can filter the activities by date using the navigation buttons on the left, or by category using the filter menu on the right.

The calendar is easy to locate on the school website in the For Parents pages or on GSAL World via Senior School Parents or Life at GSAL.

Year 7 notices

Y7 outdoor discovery course

The Y7 outdoor discovery trips will take place between Monday 16 September and Wednesday 2 October. Visit the Y7 outdoor learning pages on GSAL World for further details and the date of the trip for your child’s form.

Year 8 notices

Y8 parents’ presentation evening

Thursday 26 September 17:00

We invite parents to a presentation evening to introduce you to aspects of academic and pastoral life in Y8 and Y9. Please read the attached letter from Mrs C Heatley, head of Y8, for further details and booking information.

Please book an appointment with your child’s form tutor using the online booking system, which opens tonight at 19:00 and will close on Wednesday 25 September at 16:00.

Year 10 notices

Y10 parents’ presentation evening

Wednesday 18 September 17:00

We invite parents to a presentation evening to introduce you to aspects of academic and pastoral life in Y10 and Y11. Please read the attached letter from Mrs M Collins, head of Y10, and refer to the Y10 presentation evening booklet for further details and key dates.

Please book an appointment with your child’s form tutor using the online booking system, which will close on Tuesday 17 September at 16:00.

Hanover exchange

March and April 2020

The German department is organising an exchange visit to Hanover for Y10 and Y12 students studying German. Please visit the Y10 trips and visits folder on GSAL World for a letter giving full details and the application form. Places are limited and therefore if your son/daughter would like to take part please complete and return the application form by hand to Mrs E Whittaker, director of languages and cultural studies, or your child’s German teacher no later than Monday 16 September.

Year 12 notices

Hanover exchange

March and April 2020

The German department is organising an exchange visit to Hanover for Y10 and Y12 students studying German. Please visit the sixth form trips and visits folder on GSAL World for a letter giving full details and the application form. Places are limited and therefore if your son/daughter would like to take part please complete and return the application form by hand to Mrs E Whittaker, director of languages and cultural studies, or your child’s German teacher no later than Monday 16 September.

Y12 outdoor leadership courses

The Y12 outdoor leadership courses will start after half term. Visit the Y12 outdoor learning pages on GSAL World for further details and the date of the trip for your child’s form.