Senior School Weekly Bulletin

Principal’s message

This Wednesday was the International Day of Happiness, marking the 7th World Happiness Report. The first was published in 2012 in conjunction with a UN meeting on well-being and happiness. Each annual report presents global data and reviews related evidence from the emerging science of happiness, showing that the quality of people’s lives can be coherently and reliably assessed by a variety of subjective well-being measures, collectively referred to as ‘happiness.’ Each report includes updated evaluations and specific chapters on special topics, digging deeper into the science of well-being, and on happiness in specific countries and regions.

This year’s theme is ‘happiness and community’ and it promises to consider some of the main forces that influence happiness by changing the ways in which communities and their members interact with each other. I’ve only just started to read it (so please ask me more after the Easter holidays!) but it already strikes me yet again that this importance of sharing lives and cultures, embodied by schools like GSAL, is vital. Even in this world of immediate communication and worldwide travel, experience and daily news shows us that we still cannot connect appropriately with our fellow citizens. Never before have other people been so accessible, yet we are often as suspicious of each other as we ever were. Our children and pupils are the generation now charged with taking up the baton, to build better communities and so, hopefully, spread a greater sense of happiness and well-being.

Of course, this is one of the key reasons we spend so much time celebrating our community’s successes here at GSAL, to share the excitement and pleasure we feel in each other’s achievements. So this week, we are proud of our badminton teams who reached the national semi-finals, of our netballers, with the U19s taking a fantastic 2^nd place in the national finals and of Mrs Williams, also a national runner up in a prestigious national teaching and innovation award.

However illusory or nebulous happiness might appear to be, when schools are full of celebration, of fun and laughter, full of children enjoying their time in and out of the classroom, the greatest learning takes place. And greater still, the most powerful sense of well-being that will be a foundation for their adult lives to come. May we continue to strive for this and keep it at the heart of everything that we do.

Sue Woodroofe
Principal

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Whole school notices

Classics trip to Greece for current Y8 to Y12

Sunday 27 October to Friday 1 November

The classics department is arranging a visit to Greece during the 2019 October half term. The visit is intended for pupils currently in Y8-Y12 who are studying classical subjects or are interested in the classical world. Full details can be found in the attached letter from Mr M Gibson, head of classics.

If your son/daughter would like to join the trip please provide your permission and deposit payment no later than Friday 5 April 2019 via the sQuid listing which will go live at 18:00 this evening.

GSAL fun run

Saturday 30 March, 08:45 registration

The GSAL fun run is open to all GSAL families and friends. Please register at the pavilion by 08:45 for a 09:00 start. There will be an option of running a 2km course (one lap) or 4km. All abilities and ages welcome. Children under 11 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Parking is available in the staff car park.

2kit – nearly new uniform shop

Saturday 30 March 10:00 to 12:00 in the theatre foyer

The PFA will be holding a sale of nearly new uniform for all sections of school, offering a good reduction on the cost of buying new. All proceeds to support PFA projects for the school.

Charity Update

Last Friday the charity collection raised an impressive £1800 for Comic Relief. Today’s collection was in aid of Friends of Alfie Martin.

Next Friday we will be collecting on behalf of Friends of Otley and Dales Riding for the Disabled. Thank you to everyone for your continued support for the weekly charity collections.

Year 7 notices

Internet safety evening

Tuesday 26 March at 19:00 in the assembly hall

Parents of pupils in Y7, Y8 and Y9 are invited to attend an internet safety information evening. Full details can be found in the attached letter from Mrs H Stansfield, senior deputy head, pastoral.

Eid 2019 and school exams

We recognise that Eid takes place during next term’s internal exams. We leave the decision as to whether to attend school on the day to the discretion of individual families and have scheduled a catch up day for missed internal exams during the following week.

If you know that your child is going to be absent for Eid, please can you let us know in advance, via the school absence email address seniorabsence@gsal.org.uk

Golf lessons summer term 2019

Golf is offered as an option in games lessons during the summer term. Please see the attached letter from Mr J Veitch for further details and how to apply for your son or daughter. Deadline for applications is Monday 1 April.

Year 8 notices

Internet safety evening

Tuesday 26 March at 19:00 in the assembly hall

Parents of pupils in Y7, Y8 and Y9 are invited to attend an internet safety information evening. Full details can be found in the attached letter from Mrs H Stansfield, senior deputy head, pastoral.

Author visit – Steven Camden

Tuesday 26 March

Writer and performer Steven Camden will be visiting GSAL to talk to Y8 and Y9. He is the author of a number of fiction books, including Nobody Real and Tape, and a poetry collection, Everything All At Once, set over a single week in a secondary school. Steven will have copies of Everything All At Once for sale and for signing on the day – books are £6 and students are reminded to bring in money if they would like to buy one. Alternatively, you may pre-order the book on Squid now for your child to collect on the day.

Eid 2019 and school exams

We recognise that Eid takes place during next term’s internal exams. We leave the decision as to whether to attend school on the day to the discretion of individual families and have scheduled a catch up day for missed internal exams during the following week.

If you know that your child is going to be absent for Eid, please can you let us know in advance, via the school absence email address seniorabsence@gsal.org.uk

Golf lessons summer term 2019

Golf is offered as an option in games lessons during the summer term. Please see the attached letter from Mr J Veitch for further details and how to apply for your son or daughter. Deadline for applications is Monday 1 April.

Year 9 notices

Internet safety evening

Tuesday 26 March at 19:00 in the assembly hall

Parents of pupils in Y7, Y8 and Y9 are invited to attend an internet safety information evening. Full details can be found in the attached letter from Mrs H Stansfield, senior deputy head, pastoral.

Author visit – Steven Camden

Tuesday 26 March

Writer and performer Steven Camden will be visiting GSAL to talk to Y8 and Y9. He is the author of a number of fiction books, including Nobody Real and Tape, and a poetry collection, Everything All At Once, set over a single week in a secondary school. Steven will have copies of Everything All At Once for sale and for signing on the day – books are £6 and students are reminded to bring in money if they would like to buy one. Alternatively, you may pre-order the book on Squid now for your child to collect on the day.

Eid 2019 and school exams

We recognise that Eid takes place during next term’s internal exams. We leave the decision as to whether to attend school on the day to the discretion of individual families and have scheduled a catch up day for missed internal exams during the following week.

If you know that your child is going to be absent for Eid, please can you let us know in advance, via the school absence email address seniorabsence@gsal.org.uk

Golf lessons summer term 2019

Golf is offered as an option in games lessons during the summer term. Please see the attached letter from Mr J Veitch for further details and how to apply for your son or daughter. Deadline for applications is Monday 1 April.

Year 10 notices

Science exam practice workbooks offer

The attached letter from the heads of science gives details of exam practice books for the science IGCSEs available at a discount through the school. The offer is live on sQuid until Friday 29 March.

Maths revision books offer

The attached letter from Mrs J Studholme, deputy head of maths, gives details of revision books for IGCSE mathematics available at a discount through the maths department. The offer is live on sQuid until Friday 29 March.

Eid 2019 and school exams

We recognise that Eid takes place during next term’s internal exams. We leave the decision as to whether to attend school on the day to the discretion of individual families and have scheduled a catch up day for missed internal exams during the following week.

If you know that your child is going to be absent for Eid, please can you let us know in advance, via the school absence email address seniorabsence@gsal.org.uk

Study abroad fair

Tuesday 26 March, 12:30 to 14:00 in the conference suite

Parents and students are invited to The Student World’s study abroad fair to find out more about higher education opportunities outside the UK.

Representatives from top international universities will be in attendance, giving students the chance to hear at first hand about courses and the application process. Full details can be found in the attached letter from The Student World team.

Golf lessons summer term 2019

Golf is offered as an option in games lessons during the summer term. Please see the attached letter from Mr J Veitch for further details and how to apply for your son or daughter. Deadline for applications is Monday 1 April.

Year 11 notices

Science exam practice workbooks offer

The attached letter from the heads of science gives details of exam practice books for the science IGCSEs available at a discount through the school. The offer is live on sQuid until Friday 29 March.

Maths revision books offer

The attached letter from Mrs J Studholme, deputy head of maths, gives details of revision books for IGCSE mathematics available at a discount through the maths department. The offer is live on sQuid until Friday 29 March.

Eid 2019 and GCSEs

With Eid taking place during the public examination period next term, please be aware that external examination boards do not make any allowances for Eid so GCSE exams cannot be rescheduled at all.

Study abroad fair

Tuesday 26 March, 12:30 to 14:00 in the conference suite

Parents and students are invited to The Student World’s study abroad fair to find out more about higher education opportunities outside the UK.

Representatives from top international universities will be in attendance, giving students the chance to hear at first hand about courses and the application process. Full details can be found in the attached letter from The Student World team.

Year 12 notices

Eid 2019 and summer exams

We recognise that Eid takes place during next term’s internal exams. We leave the decision as to whether to attend school on the day to the discretion of individual families and have scheduled a catch up day for missed internal exams during the following week.

If you know that your child is going to be absent for Eid, please can you let us know in advance, via the school absence email address seniorabsence@gsal.org.uk

Study abroad fair

Tuesday 26 March, 12:30 to 14:00 in the conference suite

Parents and students are invited to The Student World’s study abroad fair to find out more about higher education opportunities outside the UK.

Representatives from top international universities will be in attendance, giving students the chance to hear at first hand about courses and the application process. Full details can be found in the attached letter from The Student World team.

Year 13 notices

Subject teacher consultation evening

Thursday 4 April, 17:30 to 20:00

Please see the attached letter from Mr P Rushworth, director of sixth form, for further details. Please use the online booking system to make appointments with teachers.  The booking system will open on Friday 22 March at 19:00 and close on Tuesday 2 April at 16:00.

Eid 2019 and A-levels

With Eid taking place during the public examination period next term, please be aware that external examination boards do not make any allowances for Eid so A-level exams cannot be rescheduled at all.

Study abroad fair

Tuesday 26 March, 12:30 to 14:00 in the conference suite

Parents and students are invited to The Student World’s study abroad fair to find out more about higher education opportunities outside the UK.

Representatives from top international universities will be in attendance, giving students the chance to hear at first hand about courses and the application process. Full details can be found in the attached letter from The Student World team.