Senior School Weekly Bulletin

Principal’s message

‘Words – so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary; how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.’ Nathaniel Hawthorne’s words ring through from the 19^th century onto the UK and international stage this week. From Greta Thunberg’s emotional plea to world leaders in New York to the angry exchanges to each other in the mother of parliaments, the power and importance of language has been writ large.

Timetabled quite coincidentally, I have enjoyed spending time in a few English lessons in the last few days, talking about the importance of language. And given wider, contextual events, many students have expressed to me their dismay at the quality of debate on a range of issues worldwide, not just the hot topics of the moment. So it’s a little ironic that children are ahead of the adults on this issue. At a time when we are reinforcing our TAG and THINK principles in school, and in a week when we have marked the European Day of Languages, our pupils understand the power of words to build up or tear down, in spoken and written form. And of course they don’t always get it right (it’s in the job description of a child after all!)  but they are open to learn, they are open to apologise and they are willing to work for the greater good, to create a school environment where we value everyone, and learn to do so in the ways that we speak and act.

As parents and educators, we do well to remember the words of Rosa Parks, ‘Each person must live their life as a role model for others.’ If world leaders or national and local politicians want to see people trying their hardest to live out good principles with good language every day, they should come to GSAL and meet our pupils!

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

Macmillan coffee morning

Friday 4 October 08:00 to 11:15 in the theatre foyer

We invite parents to join us for coffee and cake next week in support of our fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support. We would be grateful for donations of baked goods, which can be dropped off in the theatre foyer from 07:30 on Friday.

Please note that all food donations must be nut free and accompanied by an ingredients list.

The document Allergen Management – information for parents explains the measures we take to protect pupils and others with allergies.

Charity update

The charity collection on Friday 20 September raised approximately £400 for C-R-Y.  Today’s collection was on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support and will be added to funds raised at next week’s coffee morning.

On Friday 4 October the collection will be split between the WWF and Cancer Research. Thank you for your continued support.

House drama

Thursday 3 October at 18:30 in the assembly hall

Each house will present a 10-minute play, written and directed by students, on the theme What If…  We invite parents to watch, admission is free with no need to book. The evening is divided into two parts, with the second starting at approximately 19:45:

Part 1 – Eddison, Ermystead, Lupton and Powell

Part 2 – Ford, Harrison, Lawson and Sheafield

Refreshments will be available in the theatre foyer, where the performances will be live streamed on the video wall.

Lost property

Please ensure that your child’s school uniform, PE kit and all equipment are clearly named so that we can notify pupils or their form tutor when items reach lost property. The lost property cupboards in the pupil reception area contain many unnamed items, which students are welcome to look through in case they can retrieve anything they own.

All lost property will be displayed in the pupil reception from Monday 14 to Friday 18 October for parents and students to look through. After this date all unnamed clothing will be sent to 2Kit or charity shops or donated to the Malawi project. In the meantime a number of winter jackets from last term await collection in a large blue box at the front of pupil reception.

Please contact hazel.ramsay@gsal.org.uk with any queries relating to lost property

GSAL park run

Saturday 5 October, 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.

The event will take place on the first Saturday of the month (avoiding holidays) throughout the year. Future dates for this term are Saturdays 9 November and 7 December.

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 know that bookings are now open via the school website.

Year 7 notices

Y7 parents’ presentation evening

Monday 7 October at 17:00

We invite parents to a presentation evening to introduce you to aspects of academic and pastoral life in Y7. Please read the attached letter from Mr S Gibbin, head of Y7, 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 Sunday 6 October at 16:00.

Year 8 notices

Y8 French language tour

Friday 3 April to Tuesday 7 April 2020, Saint-Omer

The French department is planning a school tour to Saint-Omer, France, to support curriculum plans for French language pupils in Y8. The attached letter from Mr C Belcher, deputy head of French, provides full details. Please give permission and pay the deposit via the sQuid listing no later than 10:00 on Tuesday 1 October.

Immunisations and data protection

The school immunisation team at Leeds Community Healthcare currently visits schools to offer the HPV vaccination to girls and boys in Y8.

Half of the year group have received their first set of HPV vaccination with the second date set for 25 November for those students who have not yet received the first round of HPV. Parental consent or refusal should already have been received from all parents in Y8.

Please read the attached notice for information on your rights and what data we will share with the school immunisation team in accordance with GDPR.

Year 9 notices

Immunisations and data protection

The school immunisation team at Leeds Community Healthcare currently visits schools to offer the DTP vaccinations to boys and girls in Y9. This is set to take place on Thursday 27 February 2020

Please note that the school immunisation team will now be introducing electronic consent forms in order to obtain your agreement for all forthcoming vaccinations. You will receive full details regarding vaccinations and giving or refusing consent nearer the time.

Please read the attached notice for information on your rights and what data we will share with the school immunisation team in accordance with GDPR.

Year 11 notices

Y11 mock GCSE examinations

Monday 4 to Monday 18 November

During the exam period Y11 students may study either at home or in school when they do not have an exam, however we must be aware of all students’ whereabouts at all times. Please complete the study leave options form with your child and return to their form tutor by Monday 7 October.

You will find the form along with full details of the arrangements for the exam period and the exam timetable on the Y11 page for parents on GSAL World.

Year 13 notices

Extranomics

From Monday 30 September at 07:45

Extranomics is a revision class that will recap the economics covered in Y12. It is open to all Y13 students and will take place each Monday morning. We would be grateful if you could encourage your son/daughter to take up this valuable revision opportunity.