Senior School Weekly Bulletin

Vice Principal’s message

It is a pleasure to be able to write my first introduction to the weekly bulletins in what has been such a wonderful week. In addition to the regular, busy sporting programme, and following on from the inspirational visit of Eddie Jones last week, our first XV met with significant success in the quarter final of the NatWest Plate and are now only one step away from playing in a final at Twickenham. Our girls’ football teams showed wonderful spirit and determination in their fixtures against local opposition this week. At the time of writing, the sporting ‘highlight’ of the week is still to come, with the football match that Amazon Prime did not get the rights for, when our prefects take on the staff at lunchtime on Friday. This last event brings to a close Prefects’ week, where members of the school community have come together to support Cancer Research UK and WWF in a series of events ranging from sponge the teacher to GSAL’s very own version of Family Fortunes.

The last two nights have featured the wonderful production of Alice, an abridged version by Laura Wade. It was fantastic at every level: from the acting of the whole cast, to the production, and direction, and pupils staying in character for the pre-show announcements and serving refreshments in the interval. Almost on a par with the joy that came from the performance on stage was being able to watch the reaction of pupils in the audience: from the older pupils seeing the transformations of their friends and peers into the magical world of Wonderland, to the reactions of younger members of the audience giggling through the Mad Hatter’s tea party and then sitting on the edge of their seats throughout the more pensive moments in the second act. This evening brought together so much of what makes GSAL such a special school and a wonderful community.

Dr Graham Purves
Vice Principal and Head of Senior School

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

Infectious illnesses – Information for pupils and parents

Illnesses such as diarrhoea/vomiting and flu-like illness are common at this time of year. Please read the Public Health England guidelines, which we follow in school to minimise the risk of illness spreading.

The spread of most infectious illnesses is reduced through good hand hygiene. Please ensure that you and your child wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap, particularly after using the toilet, after using a tissue to catch a cough or sneeze, and before eating.

We’ve updated our privacy notice

GSAL is committed to protecting your personal information and that of your child in accordance with local data protection laws. Our updated privacy notice will help you better understand how and why we use your personal information. These updates apply to all pupil applicants, current pupils, and parents/carers of GSAL.

Lost property

As we near Christmas lost property is bursting at the seams. If an item is named we ask the pupil to collect it, however there are still a number of items awaiting collection despite repeated reminders.

We also have a number of high value items that we would dearly like to return to the rightful owners. Anyone suspecting they have lost a high value item, phone, watch, jewellery should be able to clearly identify or log into the item in question.

If your child has lost an item during the past half term, please ask them to visit lost property at the campanile. Unnamed items are stored in lost property for a term before being distributed to either the second hand uniform shop or local charities. Please remember to label all your child’s belongings as this makes it much easier to return items to their rightful owner.

In the event of bad weather

In the event of severe weather conditions, we endeavour to keep school open if safe to do so. Please read the attached letter for details of our procedures if there is any change to the school day due to adverse weather conditions.

Charity update

The charity collection on Friday 29 November supported Guide Dogs, raising over £350. Today’s collection was on behalf of Danby Rovers FC.

On 13 December the collection will in aid of Simon on the Streets. Thank you for your continued support.

GSAL fun run

Saturday 7 December, 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.

Winter Concert

Thursday 12 December at 19:00 in the assembly hall

All welcome to hear our senior musicians perform a variety of music including a selection of festive tunes. Admission free, no need to book.

Service of Nine Lessons and Carols

Sunday 15 December at 18:30 in the assembly hall

GSAL families and friends are invited to attend our traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.

House quiz

Monday 16 December at 17:00 in the assembly hall

Parents are welcome to attend the annual house quiz, when around 160 pupils from all year groups will represent their houses in this relaxed and fun competition. The coveted house quiz trophy was made for GSAL by Peter Jolly from an old school desk at the Moorland Road site of Leeds Grammar School.

No tickets are required and we expect to finish at around 19:30.

Year 8 notices

Trip to Spain for current Y8 pupils

Monday 19 October to Friday 23 October 2020, Valencia

The Spanish department is organising the annual trip to Valencia, Spain, to run entirely during school holiday time in the October 2020 half term.

The aim of the trip is to introduce our pupils to Spain and speak as much Spanish as possible whilst we are there. Full details can be found in the attached letter. If you would like to register your son/daughter’s interest for a place please do so via the sQuid listing no later than Thursday 19 December.

Trip to Germany for current Y8 pupils

Saturday 17 October to Wednesday 21 October 2020, Rhineland

The German department is organising a trip to the Rhineland for the first few days of the October 2020 half term. Full details can be found in the attached letter.

We have run a very enjoyable trip to this most beautiful part of Germany for a number of years and it is open to current Y8 pupils studying German. If you would like to register your son/daughter’s interest for a place please do so via the sQuid listing no later than Thursday 19 December.

Year 9 notices

Parental consent for Y9 DTP immunisations

Online consent is now available for all Y9 pupils for their upcoming diphtheria, tetanus and polio (DTP) immunisations.

The Leeds Community Healthcare school immunisation team will administer the DTP vaccine to male and female students in Y9, on Thursday 27 February 2020 in school.

Please read the information letter and follow the instructions to complete the online consent form by Friday 13 December. You will need the code for GSAL – EE108113. Even if you do not wish your child to receive the vaccination(s) it is important to complete the refusal section of the consent form so we are aware of your wishes.

Any questions can be directed to Hazel Ramsay in student support services by emailing hazel.ramsay@gsal.org.uk.

Year 11 notices

Subject teacher consultation evening

Wednesday 11 December, 17:00-20:30

We invite parents to meet with their child’s subject teachers and discuss progress, following the recent mock GCSE examinations.

Please visit the Y11 page on GSAL World for a letter from Mr J Veitch, head of Y11, giving further details. The online booking system for appointments with teachers closes on Monday 9 December at 16:00.

Speech Day photographs

Photos taken at Speech Day of all prizewinners and GCSE certificate holders are available to view and purchase from the photographer’s online gallery until 31 January 2020. The password is prize.

Year 12 notices

Speech Day photographs

Photos taken at Speech Day of all prizewinners and GCSE certificate holders are available to view and purchase from the photographer’s online gallery until 31 January 2020. The password is prize.

Y12 Future Choices Presentation

Last Monday Y12 students attended a talk aiming to stimulate research in preparation for making decisions about their post 18 plans. The emphasis at this early stage is on carrying out enough research into what they wish to pursue, to ensure they ultimately make the informed decisions that only they can make about their futures.

We gave students advice on looking at a wide range of options that should include university education and possibly degree apprenticeship routes. We highlighted that they should use their Morrisby profile and Grofar to explore a range of courses around their chosen subject and not focus on one single degree title. For example there are many biology, geography and even economics courses that do not have these words in their title that may be of greater interest or have added features offering extra benefits.

We encouraged students to attend the university open days which will be offered in the coming months.

The next whole year session will take place in early February; this will continue the emphasis on the need to first decide what to study, but will also increase the focus on the choice of where to study and the range of HE options available.

Year 13 notices

Speech Day photographs

Photos taken at Speech Day of all prizewinners and GCSE certificate holders are available to view and purchase from the photographer’s online gallery until 31 January 2020. The password is prize.