Senior School Weekly Bulletin

World class? I think so! You only have to follow the GSAL sport Twitter feed to see GSAL’s success week by week, and the last few weeks have been no exception. Amidst our annual Sports’ Days (Senior School happening as I write) we have celebrated national champion swimmers, rounders’ teams and, this week, international champion netballers with our U15 team winning the World School Games and the U13 team taking bronze. What a superb list of achievements! Also this week, Luke Johnson (GSAL12) has been selected as a wildcard into the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, his first grand slam.

Of course all of these achievements prove that persistence and stamina, self-discipline and ambition can pay dividends and, as teachers and parents, we all do our best to instil that in our children. It makes me proud to hear about our 45 successful Silver DoE expeditions this week too, a project that develops just that in our young people – but I have another reason to smile. Unbeknownst to the students, some old friends of mine, visiting from Australia, bumped into lots of the DoE groups in Grassington yesterday, at the end of their treks. And, to a person, every group they met showed them courtesy and kindness and my friends described them as ‘delightful’. That’s GSAL when ‘no one is looking’, that’s deep-seated decency and old fashioned good manners and I was bursting with pride to hear it. Impressive and lovely young people, right up to the end of the academic year – thank you all!

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

GSAL Park Run

Saturday 29 June, 08:45 registration

The last GSAL fun run of the year 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.

PFA Summer Fête

Sunday 30 June, 12:00 to 15:00, Alwoodley Gates

Please join us on Sunday for the PFA Summer Fête, an afternoon of food, fun and games in and around the marquee beside our cricket pitch. The big bash cricket tournament will be in full swing for added entertainment. Free admission.

Senior School Musical 2020 – We Will Rock You!

March 2020

We are pleased to announce that next year’s senior school musical will be We Will Rock You and we are on the lookout for singers, actors, dancers and backstage crew. Auditions will take place in Week 2 in September. Please click here for further details including the songs that should be prepared for students who are wishing to audition for a role with solo singing (lead roles). For those wishing to join the ensemble, there will be a group chorus audition for which there will be no need to prepare.

Mary’s Meals Backpack Appeal!

If you are having an end of term sort out please click on this link to see how you can help change lives in Africa.

Charity Update

Last Friday the charity collection raised £155 for The Market Place. Today’s collection was be on behalf of Vision Romania. The collection on July 5 will be on behalf of PAFRAS. Thank you to everyone for your continued support for the weekly charity collections.

Message from Finance

Please could all pupils return their school books to their correct subject teachers before they break up for school otherwise an invoice will be raised by the finance department for all non-returned /missing and lost items. All outstanding bus fares, lunch money, padlocks and library fines should also be paid for before Friday 5 July.

Lost property

We have a large volume of unclaimed items in particular glasses and coats. Please encourage your child to take responsibility for their belongings and to check at pupil reception if they have lost something. Any items not claimed by Friday 5 July will be donated to charity.

Thursday 4 and Friday 5 July

Please note, on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 July there will be no after school clubs or late buses. On both days the Rose Court Shuttle bus will operate as normal. After school care will operate at Rose Court and Junior School until 6pm. Anyone not attending after school care should have left site by 4:15pm.

If there are genuine reasons why this is not possible on Thursday, students should inform their form tutor in advance so that specific arrangements can be put in place.

School transport 2019-20

The 2019-20 bus routes and booking form are now available on the travel pages of our website. Please complete and submit your booking form by Friday 5 July to enable us to plan resources appropriately. Please note all bus users must complete a new form each year.

Monkhouse & 2Kit – summer holiday uniform sales

Monkhouse will be selling GSAL uniform and sports kit on the following dates from 11:00-17:00 in the Year 7 common room – Thursday 11 & Friday 12 July; Friday 2 August; Friday 30 & Saturday 31 August. Stock will be available for students to try for size. Please enter school via main reception.

The PFA will be running their nearly new uniform shop 2Kit on the same dates as the Monkhouse pop up shops (except 2 August) from 10:00 till 12:00 in the theatre foyer.

Year 7 notices

Year 7 Flamenco Workshop

As part of their unit of work on Flamenco, Year 7 will be taking part in a workshop on Tuesday 2 July. The students will get to see dances, hear some guitar music and also learn some of the fundamental moves and techniques of Flamenco. It is always incredibly informative, exciting and gives the students a far deeper understanding of this uniquely Spanish art form.

Music Tour 2020 – The Netherlands

Sunday 5 to Friday 10 July 2020

We are delighted to inform you that we are taking a music tour to The Netherlands in July 2020. The tour is open to all those currently in Year 7 to 12 who are committed members of a choir and/or jazz group. Please see attached letter from Mr A Knowles for more information and note that deposits are required to be paid through sQuid by Monday 1 July 2019.

Immunisations and data protection

The school immunisation team at Leeds Community Healthcare currently visit schools to offer the HPV vaccination to girls in Year 8; and DTP, meningitis ACWY and MMR vaccinations to boys and girls in Year 9. Please note that the school immunisation team will be introducing electronic consent forms next year in order to obtain your agreement to the vaccinations. You will receive details on 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 8 notices

Music Tour 2020 – The Netherlands

Sunday 5 to Friday 10 July 2020

We are delighted to inform you that we are taking a music tour to The Netherlands in July 2020. The tour is open to all those currently in Year 7 to 12 who are committed members of a choir and/or jazz group. Please see attached letter from Mr A Knowles for more information and note that deposits are required to be paid through sQuid by Monday 1 July 2019.

Immunisations and data protection

The school immunisation team at Leeds Community Healthcare currently visit schools to offer the HPV vaccination to girls in Year 8; and DTP, meningitis ACWY and MMR vaccinations to boys and girls in Year 9. Please note that the school immunisation team will be introducing electronic consent forms next year in order to obtain your agreement to the vaccinations. You will receive details on 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 9 notices

Walking weekend

Friday 13 to Sunday 15 September, Yorkshire Dales and Malham

All current Year 9, 10, 11 and 12 students who would like to take part in a walking weekend in the Yorkshire Dales in September 2019 should confirm their interest via sQuid. Full details can be found in the attached letter from the trip leader Dr F Motashar. The deadline for applications is extended to Friday 5 July.

Music Tour 2020 – The Netherlands

Sunday 5 to Friday 10 July 2020

We are delighted to inform you that we are taking a music tour to The Netherlands in July 2020. The tour is open to all those currently in Year 7 to 12 who are committed members of a choir and/or jazz group. Please see attached letter from Mr A Knowles for more information and note that deposits are required to be paid through sQuid by Monday 1 July 2019.

Year 10 notices

Walking weekend

Friday 13 to Sunday 15 September, Yorkshire Dales and Malham

All current Year 9, 10, 11 and 12 students who would like to take part in a walking weekend in the Yorkshire Dales in September 2019 should confirm their interest via sQuid. Full details can be found in the attached letter from the trip leader Dr F Motashar. The deadline for applications is extended to Friday 5 July.

Music Tour 2020 – The Netherlands

Sunday 5 to Friday 10 July 2020

We are delighted to inform you that we are taking a music tour to The Netherlands in July 2020. The tour is open to all those currently in Year 7 to 12 who are committed members of a choir and/or jazz group. Please see attached letter from Mr A Knowles for more information and note that deposits are required to be paid through sQuid by Monday 1 July 2019.

Trek to Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal

Sunday 13 to Wednesday 30 October 2020

Following the success of our previous trekking trip to Everest Base Camp, we are delighted to inform you that we hope to plan a trek to Annapurna Base Camp in October 2020. The trip is open to all students currently in Year 10. Full details can be found in the attached letter from Miss M Stead. If you would like to register your serious interest in this trip please email cgs@gsal.org.uk.

Lockers and padlocks

Please remind your son/daughter, that they need to clear their locker and take their padlock and sports bags home. Anything left in lockers will be destroyed, clothes will go to charity.

Year 11 notices

Walking weekend

Friday 13 to Sunday 15 September, Yorkshire Dales and Malham

All current Year 9, 10, 11 and 12 students who would like to take part in a walking weekend in the Yorkshire Dales in September 2019 should confirm their interest via sQuid. Full details can be found in the attached letter from the trip leader Dr F Motashar. The deadline for applications is extended to Friday 5 July.

Music Tour 2020 – The Netherlands

Sunday 5 to Friday 10 July 2020

We are delighted to inform you that we are taking a music tour to The Netherlands in July 2020. The tour is open to all those currently in Year 7 to 12 who are committed members of a choir and/or jazz group. Please see attached letter from Mr A Knowles for more information and note that deposits are required to be paid through sQuid by Monday 1 July 2019.

Year 12 notices

Walking weekend

Friday 13 to Sunday 15 September, Yorkshire Dales and Malham

All current Year 9, 10, 11 and 12 students who would like to take part in a walking weekend in the Yorkshire Dales in September 2019 should confirm their interest via sQuid. Full details can be found in the attached letter from the trip leader Dr F Motashar. The deadline for applications is extended to Friday 5 July.

Music Tour 2020 – The Netherlands

Sunday 5 to Friday 10 July 2020

We are delighted to inform you that we are taking a music tour to The Netherlands in July 2020. The tour is open to all those currently in Year 7 to 12 who are committed members of a choir and/or jazz group. Please see attached letter from Mr A Knowles for more information and note that deposits are required to be paid through sQuid by Monday 1 July 2019.

Arrangements for the new term

Please read the attached letter from Mr P Rushworth, director of sixth form, with important information about the return to school in September.

Lockers and padlocks

Please remind your son/daughter that by Friday 5 July their locker should be completely empty. Padlocks and sports bags should be taken home. Lockers need to be left open to allow for holiday cleaning and maintenance. Anything left in lockers after Friday 5 July will be disposed of or donated to charity.

Year 13 notices

Year 13 prize-giving ceremony and graduation ball

Saturday 29 June 2019, from 17:15

Please see attached letter from Mr P Rushworth, director of sixth form, for a reminder of the schedule for the evening and some important additional information. Dress code for the prize-giving is smart, students may attend prize-giving in black tie ready for the graduation ball.

Year 13 post exam information

Please read the attached letter from Mr P Rushworth, director of sixth form, with important information for you and your child concerning A-level results and related matters.

Please read carefully the section concerning consent for publicity around exam results, and note that students who wish to opt out of publicity should notify school no later than 17:00 on Tuesday 13 August.

Year 13 whole year photograph

Parents wishing to order a copy of the recent Year 13 photograph can do so online via the Tempest website. You will need to enter the password to access the photograph on the small white box half way down the page. The password required is 570345.