Senior School Weekly Bulletin

Principal’s message

This week marks a wonderful week of belated celebrations in Senior School as we are holding our year group prize-givings and speech day. It would be easy to remember the toughest moments that all of our children and families – and the school itself – have been through, not least because they have felt so overwhelming at times. But as we reflect on these past 20 months, we must not forget how our pupils of all ages stretched themselves in new ways and extended their skills, from topiary to snow sculpture, from digital learning to online performing and everything in between. That these pupils walk around school now with a spring in their steps is testament to their resilience and fortitude, and they should be so proud of themselves, what they have achieved and overcome, just as we are so very proud of them, too.

However, what is most humbling for me, looking back, is to see how much this community focused on others and not just ourselves, from the thousands of pieces of PPE produced in the DT department to the thousands of pounds raised for charities close to our hearts, along with other practical support shown to those in need, from clothes to laptops, shopping to phone calls. This week, independent schools across the UK are marking Partnerships’ Week and you will see the support we are able to offer in our Beyond our Gates report confirming our intent to live out our values and make a difference wherever we can, in Leeds and beyond.

At this time of year, we work with Child Friendly Leeds to collect Christmas gifts for vulnerable children in our city, a project that is just one of many partnerships that we support. Please see below the details about this year’s collection, supporting the Gipton Fire Station project working with local families living in poverty. As many of us plan the gifts for our own children, this is a great opportunity to remember those who have so much less. GSAL families have always been so generous and as you look below at the ways you can support this cause, I know that you will be generous again; thank you so much for your care and compassion.

Sue Woodroofe
Principal

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Whole school notices

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

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Tue 7 – Thu 9 December, 7pm

This year’s senior school production is the children’s classic The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. This ambitious production involves over 130 of pupils who bring to life C.S. Lewis’s story of the magical world of Narnia and the struggle between good and evil.

Tickets available on sQuid and also via the school website here

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

Donations of gifts that are suitable for children between the ages of 3-14 in support of the Gipton Fire Station project can be left at reception in primary and senior school, before 30 November.

Beanie hats

Please help support raising awareness of testicular cancer by buying and wearing a GSAL Oddballs beanie.

GSAL World access

We are improving how parents access GSAL World. From Monday 22 November parents should access GSAL World via the school website (www.gsal.org.uk), if using a laptop or PC, the GSAL World tab is in the top right of the homepage, on a mobile device the link is at the bottom of the homepage.

Sport update

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

Year 8 notices

Prize-giving

To access a recording of the prize-giving for the academic year 2020-21, please click here.

Year 9 notices

Prize-giving

To access a recording of the prize-giving for the academic year 2020-21, please click here.

Year 10 notices

Prize-giving

To access a recording of the prize-giving for the academic year 2020-21, please click here.

Year 11 notices

Parents’ Evening

Mon 6 December

Please see the attached letter from Mr J Veitch, Head of Y11.

Sixth Form Open Evening

Wed 24 November, 5-8pm

We are looking forward to welcoming Y11 students and their parents to the Sixth Form Open Evening. Please arrive from 5pm onwards and register in the Sixth Form café. The time of the Welcome to Sixth Form talk has changed slightly. It will be at 6pm in the assembly hall, and repeated at 6.45pm. Staff will be on hand in the Lawson Library and the Sixth Form Centre to answer questions about A-level subject choices and sixth form life in general until 8pm. Y11 students will be given a sixth form prospectus before Wednesday.

Students can either go to the refectory at the end of the school day until their parents arrive or come home as usual and come back with their parents.

Speech Day

To access a recording of Speech Day for the academic year 2020-21, please click here.

Year 12 notices

Speech Day

To access a recording of Speech Day for the academic year 2020-21, please click here.

Year 13 notices

Speech Day

To access a recording of Speech Day for the academic year 2020-21, please click here.