Senior School Weekly Bulletin

Principal’s message

As one of the last remaining Holocaust survivors living in the UK, it was a wonderful moment this week to see Arek Hersh’s portrait unveiled as part of the Prince of Wales’ commission of seven portraits to mark Holocaust Memorial Day yesterday; his tribute, he said, to the six million people ‘whose stories will never be told, whose portraits will never be painted’.

At GSAL, we are privileged to welcome Arek to school every year to speak to our pupils. After surviving the camps, Arek came to the UK where he was one of the Windermere Children (a recuperation project in the Lake District immediately after the war). This year, he is coming into school at the beginning of the summer term to share his story with the next cohort of pupils.

In his foreward to the art catalogue, Prince Charles also talks about the resilience and courage of Holocaust survivors to keep sharing their lived experiences so that we never forget ‘the depths of depravity and evil humankind can fall to when reason, compassion and truth are abandoned’.

This annual remembrance day and the visits of Arek and other survivors to schools and colleges provide a constant reminder to everyone involved in education that we have a moral duty to keep reason, compassion and truth at the forefront of all that we do, as unfailing standards that we teach our young people, standards that every one of us should hold dear.

Sue Woodroofe
Principal

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Whole school notices

COVID-19 vaccinations

Tue 1 Feb

The NHS Leeds School Immunisation Service will be vaccinating pupils aged 12-15 on Tuesday 1 February 2022. Please read this letter for information about the vaccination programme which includes a link to the form to enable you to give or refuse consent. Please note the deadline to submit the form is Saturday 29 January. If you have any questions please contact leedsschoolcovidvaccinations@nhs.net.

Can you help the PFA?

We are looking for parents to help strengthen the senior school parent community – could you help?  The aim is to foster friendships and a sense of community in the senior school through social events and clubs.

What we need are ideas and participation in clubs and activities such as:

• Parent sports events: 5-a-side football matches, netball nights, summer cricket events, running or walking/dog walking clubs etc
• Parent choir/singing/music group, book club etc
• Parent social evening out, prom night out for parents, parents’ ball, International Food Festival and any more you can think of!

We know you have many more ideas and experience to contribute and if you would like to add or take part, then please email GSALPFA@gsal.org.uk. We would like to welcome any parents from senior school to create a fun and inclusive community spirit.

Sport update

Please find Mr O’Brien’s weekly sports update here.

Year 9 notices

GSAL ski trip – February 2023

The letter to parents from Mrs Walker introducing the school ski trip to Italy in February 2023 is here. The deadline to pay the deposit is Friday 25 February 2022. The trip is open to students currently in Years 9-12.

Year 10 notices

GSAL ski trip – February 2023

The letter to parents from Mrs Walker introducing the school ski trip to Italy in February 2023 is here. The deadline to pay the deposit is Friday 25 February 2022. The trip is open to students currently in Years 9-12.

Year 11 notices

GSAL ski trip – February 2023

The letter to parents from Mrs Walker introducing the school ski trip to Italy in February 2023 is here. The deadline to pay the deposit is Friday 25 February 2022. The trip is open to students currently in Years 9-12.

Year 12 notices

GSAL ski trip – February 2023

The letter to parents from Mrs Walker introducing the school ski trip to Italy in February 2023 is here. The deadline to pay the deposit is Friday 25 February 2022. The trip is open to students currently in Years 9-12.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

This letter from Mrs Andrea Walker, Head of Careers and EPQ regarding the EPQ was sent to Year 12 pupils this week.

Academic support subject clinics

Following the recent contingency assessments, a reminder to students and parents that the A-level academic support timetable is available here.

Year 13 notices

Academic support subject clinics

Following the recent contingency assessments, a reminder to students and parents that the A-level academic support timetable is available here.