Senior School Weekly Bulletin

Principal’s message

Teachers often tell pupils that they have eyes in the back of their heads and can see everything, even when their back is turned. Many an assembly in the month of January talks about the Roman god, Janus, after whom this month is named. Of course, he is depicted not just with eyes but with a full face in the back of his head.  He was also known as the god of doors and doorways, and it was thought that because he had two faces, he could see forwards and backwards at the same time. So the start of a new year provides an opportune moment for us to pause and reflect, to look back at the past and use that knowledge to make a better future, for ourselves and our communities.

In particular this month, another important focus in our assemblies is to acknowledge Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January. Every year we are privileged to welcome Arek Hersh into school. Arek is an Auschwitz survivor and long term friend of GSAL, who is still able and willing to come and tell his remarkable and harrowing story to senior pupils. He continues to be an inspiration to us and in his parting message, he always urges us to strive for the highest standards of mutual cooperation and respect.

So not just in our own lives, but also in the lives of nations and cultures, January provides a moment to consider the lessons of the past, determined to overcome whatever was wrong or shameful, so that we may all learn how to live better. As you know, GSAL embodies such hope and integrity, such decent relations between the wonderful variety of people in our community, and as I reflect on that at this time of year, once again I feel very proud to be a part of it.

Sue Woodroofe
Principal

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Whole school notices

Entrance exam day – school closure

Friday 24 January

All sections of school will be closed to current pupils for the full school day.

Nut allergies

As outlined in the 2019 Allergen Management document for parents, GSAL endeavours to be a nut free school. We have several students in school with nut allergies and in order to keep them safe, nut products should never be brought into school, consumed on the school buses or taken on school trips. People with nut allergies can have a reaction simply by being in the same room as a nut based product, touching a surface contaminated by someone else with nuts on their hands or touching the hand of someone who has been holding a nut based product. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Charity update

Today’s charity collection supported Moor Allerton Elderly Care. As next Friday is the entrance exam day, we will hold the charity collection on Thursday 23 January. This will be a special collection for the Australian Bushfire disaster charities.

Thank you for your continued support.

Schools Will Rock You

Tuesday 3 March to Thursday 5 March at 19:00 in the assembly hall

A cast and crew of over 100 senior school students will transport you into a dystopian, globalised world of the future. Through a story based on Queen’s greatest hits, you’ll join the rock rebels as they fight for freedom against the Killer Queen and embark on a search to find the unlimited power of freedom, love and ROCK!

Tickets are available on sQuid, adults £8, children/concessions £5.

Marching on together – celebrating 100 years of Leeds United

Thursday 19 March, 19:30 in the theatre foyer

Leeds United fans are invited to this lively panel discussion hosted by former Leeds Grammar School pupil, TalkSPORT’s Gary Bloom (OL71). Other panel members include BBC Sport’s Adam Pope, author Anthony Clavane, Andrew ‘Stats’ Dalton and fellow author Heidi Haigh. The event organisers Milim (A Festival of Words and Ideas), are also inviting a few former LUFC players.  We expect this event to be very popular so please buy your tickets soon, details on our website.

Play sport at GSAL

We run a sports club for parents and alumni on Mondays from 19:00 to 21:00 during term time from September to May. The club does not run on bank holidays or during the public exams in the summer term.

Subject to availability, parents and alumni may use the swimming pool and/or play squash and badminton free of charge. The gym and basketball/tennis courts are not available for use.

The club is strictly adults only. As part of the club’s agreed health and safety regulations, children cannot attend even as spectators. You may invite non parent/alumni as guests to play squash or badminton.

To book email Mrs H Ramsay on hazel.ramsay@gsal.org.uk or telephone 0113 2291552 ext 4372 before 15:00 on the day of the club or up to six days in advance. Please leave a contact telephone number in case the club is cancelled for any reason. Swimmers, please notify Mrs Ramsay if you are unable to attend. Parents/alumni should park in the staff car park (use the after-hours green button to raise the barrier).

On arrival please sign in at the desk by the PE office/sports hall entrance and sign out before departure.

Year 7 notices

Y7 subject teacher consultation evening

Girls: Wednesday 22 January, 17:00-20:00
Boys: Tuesday 28 January, 17:00-20:00

We invite parents to meet their child’s subject teachers to discuss progress to date. Please see the attached letter from Mr S Gibbin, head of Y7, for further details of the evening and how to book appointments via the online booking system. Booking will close on Monday 20 January at 16:00 for girls and Sunday 26 January at 16:00 for boys.

Language options for Y8

During the next couple of weeks Y7 pupils will be selecting two languages to continue studying in Y8. Please see the attached letter from Mrs E Whittaker, director of languages and cultural studies, for further information.

Walking weekend

Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June, Lake District

Students in Y7, Y8, Y9 and Y10 are invited to join a walking weekend in the Lake District National Park. Please read the attached letter from Dr F Motashar, trip leader, for full details and confirm your child’s interest via sQuid by Friday 14 February.

Year 8 notices

Subject options for Y9

All Y8 students attended an assembly this week with Dr D Danks, senior deputy head (academic), about their subject options for Y9.

In anticipation of GCSE options next year we encourage students to take greater control of their own curriculum. We ask them to choose three options that they would like to study in Y9 from the following subjects – art, design technology, food technology, music, computing, drama and Latin. They will study their chosen subjects in addition to the core curriculum subjects.

Although this may seem an early stage to make such decisions, please be aware that when students later choose their GCSE subjects they can opt for subjects that they have not studied in Y9, with the exception of Latin.

Students have received a digital copy of the Y8 to Y9 Options Guide explaining the forthcoming options process and including a subject choices form for students to complete.

Students must return the form, signed by their parents, to their form tutor no later than Monday 27 January, on which day they will submit their final choices online during form time.

Walking weekend

Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June, Lake District

Students in Y7, Y8, Y9 and Y10 are invited to join a walking weekend in the Lake District National Park. Please read the attached letter from Dr F Motashar, trip leader, for full details and confirm your child’s interest via sQuid by Friday 14 February.

Year 9 notices

GCSE subject options

A reminder that next week students will complete an online choices form for their GCSE subjects in school, after which we will email parents a summary of their child’s choices to review and request changes if necessary. Please refer to the GCSE options booklet Choosing Your GCSE Courses for further information about the subjects available and the options procedure.

Y9 outdoor skills course

April and May 2020

The Y9 outdoor skills course takes place during the first half of the summer term. Please visit the Y9 outdoor learning pages on GSAL World for further information and the dates for your child’s form.

Walking weekend

Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June, Lake District

Students in Y7, Y8, Y9 and Y10 are invited to join a walking weekend in the Lake District National Park. Please read the attached letter from Dr F Motashar, trip leader, for full details and confirm your child’s interest via sQuid by Friday 14 February.

Year 10 notices

Walking weekend

Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June, Lake District

Students in Y7, Y8, Y9 and Y10 are invited to join a walking weekend in the Lake District National Park. Please read the attached letter from Dr F Motashar, trip leader, for full details and confirm your child’s interest via sQuid by Friday 14 February.

Year 11 notices

A-level subject options

A reminder that next week students will complete an online choices form for their A-level subjects in school, after which we will email parents a summary of their child’s choices to review and request changes if necessary. Please refer to the Sixth Form Prospectus 2020 for further information about the subjects available and the options procedure.

Year 12 notices

Year 12 Academic and Higher Education Evening

Monday 3 February, 18:30 – 20:00 in the assembly hall

We invite parents to a series of presentations outlining the programme of advice in school for sixth form students applying for higher education and the application process itself. Please see the attached letter for further details.

Marshall Society Conference

Saturday 1 February in Cambridge

We have a limited number of places for the Marshall Society Conference in Cambridge on Saturday 1 February.  The conference gives students the opportunity to listen to an impressive line-up of speakers as well as enjoying some time in Cambridge.  Full details can be found in the attached letter from Mrs J Street, deputy head of economics.  Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.  If your son/daughter would like to take part in the event please provide your permission and payment via the sQuid listing no later than Thursday 23 January.