Senior School Weekly Bulletin

Principal’s message

At the end of another lovely week, I was bursting with pride this morning as our pupils toured over 100 prospective families around the school for Open Doors. A busy and bustling schedule for sure, but there was nothing but praise for our pupils. They were routinely described as ‘delightful’, ‘polite’, ‘impressive’, ‘a pleasure to meet – and I had to agree! In turn, their enthusiasm and sense of pride in their school was wonderful to watch and hear – another slice of that much needed normality we’ve been waiting for.

In addition to the usual array of Saturday sport, this weekend is very important for GSAL Scouting – the centenary celebration. Scouts, leaders, scouting alumni and families are all welcome to attend this important event marking 100 years of leadership, outdoor activity and service to others, in the grounds of the school’s own campsite. With record numbers of scouts at school over so many years, including record numbers of recipients of the prestigious Queen’s Scouts awards, this is a tremendous testimony to a long-standing ethos of team work, positivity, commitment to others and not just ourselves; real skills for life. As we celebrate this weekend, we owe a huge debt of thanks to the dedicated teams of staff and volunteers who have made this possible – another very special GSAL moment and a cause of joy and celebration.

Sue Woodroofe
Principal

Please note that to access the downloads in this bulletin you will need to be logged into the school intranet GSAL World. Should you have any difficulty logging in please visit the GSAL World home page and follow the instructions under Password Reset Request.

Whole school notices

Message from Dr Purves

Please see the attached letter from Vice Principal and Head of Senior School, Dr Purves.

Sport update

Please see the attached update from Mr O’Brien, Director of Sport

Instrumental and singing lessons

The application form for instrumental and singing lessons can be found here, along with all relevant information, including a list of instruments taught. We hope to be able to offer Sitar and Tabla lessons later in the term.

Please contact Adrian Knowles, Head of Co-curricular Music awk@gsal.org.uk for further information.

2Kit pop-up shop

Sat 18 Sept 10.00am-1.00pm, Theatre Foyer

The PFA will be holding a pop-up shop at GSAL selling used uniform.

Flu vaccinations

Please complete by 20 Sept

If your child is in Y7-11 and you would like them to receive the nasal flu vaccine in school between 13-15 Oct please click here to complete an online consent form before 20 September. Should you have any queries, please DO NOT contact school as we will be unable to help, please contact the School Immunisation Team on 0333 358 3397 (option 2 ext 3). If your child has received the nasal flu vaccine since September 2021 please disregard this message.

Open Morning – Save the date

Saturday 9 Oct 2021

All senior school students are expected to be in school on the morning of Saturday 9 October to represent GSAL at our annual Open Morning. Staff will inform students in the coming weeks of the various ways they can get involved such as being a tour guide, running activities in classrooms, sports activities, drama rehearsals or music performances and what time they are required to be in school. Students who are participating in school sports fixtures, either home or away will not be required. Thank you for your support.

Parents’ sports club

The parents’ sports club is available on Monday nights between 7.00pm and 9.00pm during term time (excluding exam periods). In the first two weeks of November there will only be swimming as the sports hall will be in use for examinations. Bookings can be made for swimming, squash, badminton and tennis (summer only). The fitness room may be used if open and supervised.

Please register for the club with Mrs Jacqui Gale in Student Support Services or email jacqui.gale@gsal.org.uk. To ensure activities are not double-booked, please book with Mrs Gale by 2.00pm Monday.

Applications for September 2022

The school is currently full in most year groups so we would encourage families interested in September 2022 entry to apply before the deadline on 30 November 2021. If you know of any family or friends who are interested in applying to GSAL for their child please share this link so they can register for one of our open events.

Travel

Please note, there are no late buses operating on Fridays.

Year 7 notices

Outdoor discovery course

The Y7 outdoor discovery course is due to take place this term, information for parents and pupils can be found here.

Year 8 notices

Parents’ presentation evening

Please see the attached letter from Mr Rushworth, the Head of Year 8, for information and guidance about the Y8 presentation evening on Wednesday 22 September.

Year 9 notices

DTP and Meningitis ACWY

In Y9 your child is routinely offered two vaccinations. These are the meningitis ACWY vaccine which helps to protect against meningitis and septicaemia, and the DTP (teenage booster) which helps to protect against diptheria, tetanus and polio. If your child is in Y9 and you would like them to have the above vaccine in school please click here to complete an online consent from as soon as possible. Should you have any queries, please DO NOT contact school as we will be unable to help, please contact the Leeds School Immunisation Team on 0113 8433101.

Year 10 notices

Parents’ presentation evening

Tue 28 September  

Please see the attached letter from Mrs M Collins head of Y10.  

Year 12 notices

Outdoor leadership course

The Y12 outdoor leadership course is due to take place this term, information for parents and pupils can be found here.

Notice for Y12 parents

As part of the sixth form Wednesday afternoon programme, we offer your sons and daughters the opportunity to volunteer at Parklands or Manor Wood Primary School on Wednesday afternoons. Pupils will catch the GSAL bus to and from the primary school, leaving school at 1.00pm and returning at 3.30pm. Pupils will not be supervised by a GSAL teacher on the bus or at the primary school. If your son/daughter would like to take up this opportunity please give consent via Squid. For further detail email ay@gsal.org.uk