Senior School Weekly Bulletin

Principal’s message

As parents, I suspect a good number of us felt some sympathy for Gwyneth Paltrow this week when her 14-year-old daughter shamed her for ‘sharenting’ a photo from their skiing holiday. Despite having acquired 150,000 likes on Ms Paltrow’s account, her daughter’s Instagram message told her mum in no uncertain terms that she did not have permission to post any images of her without her consent. I must admit, I was very impressed by her daughter’s wisdom and strength of character!

At a point when we are trying to educate our young people to guard their online profiles carefully, to curate and control the information they share to protect their reputations, we find more and more that we are out of step with the current agenda at any given moment, as adults trying to catch up with our children. Things that could be kept private as my generation was growing up are now too easily accessible in the public domain and too many people can (in my view) know our business.

Given that anyone over the age of 30 faces being perennially on the back foot vs young people in this digital age, I was so pleased at the support for the internet safety parents’ information evening held in Senior School this week. The slides are available online via this bulletin for those who missed it but parents should know that, from next year, we are planning a series of parent information evenings on issues that are most pressing to our families. The sessions will sometimes be led by our own staff and at other times by external speakers. So, we would be delighted to hear from you about the issues you want to make sure we cover in those evenings, so that we can publish the programme well in advance and people can reserve the dates in their busy schedules. We talk a lot about the triangle of support needed for every child, with school and parents working together with them to create the most positive and consistent childhood experience. We hope that, with the addition of this new parental programme, together with the online resources always available via the student support site, we will all feel equipped to support our children in the best way possible, whatever the issue.

Visit The Student Support Site now or find it via the GSAL World homepage at https://sharepoint.gsal-world.org.uk/SitePages/Home(2).aspx

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

Final day of term

Friday 5 April

There will be no late buses or after school library supervision or activities, and pupils are expected to leave immediately at the end of the school day. If there are genuine reasons why this is not possible they should inform their form tutor in advance so that specific arrangements can be put in place.

Internet safety

We delivered an internet safety information evening this week for parents of key stage 3 children. Keeping children safe whilst online is hugely important to us and those of you with older children may also find the slides, notes and video clips from the evening helpful – visit the internet safety page on GSAL World. We hope these will be useful as conversation starters at home with your children, and help you set good online habits as a family for the long term.

Classics trip to Greece for current Y8 to Y12

Sunday 27 October to Friday 1 November

The classics department is arranging a visit to Greece during the 2019 October half term. The visit is intended for pupils currently in Y8-Y12 who are studying classical subjects or are interested in the classical world. Full details can be found in the attached letter from Mr M Gibson, head of classics.

If your son/daughter would like to join the trip please provide your permission and deposit payment no later than Friday 5 April via the sQuid listing.

GSAL fun run

Saturday 30 March, 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.

2kit – nearly new uniform shop

Saturday 30 March 10:00 to 12:00 in the theatre foyer

The PFA will be holding a sale of nearly new uniform for all sections of school, offering a good reduction on the cost of buying new. All proceeds to support PFA projects for the school.

Monkhouse school uniform sale

Thursday 11 April from 11:00-17:00, Y7 common room

Monkhouse will be selling GSAL uniform and sports kit, with stock available for students to try for size. Visit our website to see the dates of Monkhouse sales in the summer holidays.

Strings Concert

Tuesday 2 April from 18:00 – 19:30 in the assembly hall

Parents are invited to attend this concert featuring string players from Y3 to Y13. Admission is free and no ticket is required.

My Children link in GSAL World

We are sorry to advise that we are experiencing technical issues with the My Children facility within GSAL World. We have been working with the provider of our management information system to try and resolve this issue but there is no imminent solution available.

In the meantime, should you require information about your child’s timetable or attendance record, please contact your child’s year group administrator or form tutor. To advise us of updates to your contact details please email datamanager@gsal.org.uk.

Charity update

Last Friday the charity collection raised over £290 for The Friends of Alfie Martin. Today’s collection was in aid of the Cyclone Idai Appeal, a change to the published charity (Riding for the Disabled), which has been postponed to Friday 3 May.

Next Friday we will be collecting on behalf of Friends of St Gemma’s Hospice. Thank you to everyone for your continued support for the weekly charity collections.

Year 7 notices

Internet safety

Thank you to all those parents who attended the internet safety information evening on Tuesday. Keeping children safe whilst online is hugely important to us. You can review the slides on GSAL World, including the notes and the clips shown during the evening. We hope these will be useful as conversation starters at home with your children, and help you set good online habits as a family for the long term.

Golf lessons summer term 2019

Golf is offered as an option in games lessons during the summer term. Please see the attached letter from Mr J Veitch for further details and how to apply for your son or daughter. Deadline for applications is Monday 1 April.

Year 8 notices

Internet safety

Thank you to all those parents who attended the internet safety information evening on Tuesday. Keeping children safe whilst online is hugely important to us. You can review the slides on GSAL World, including the notes and the clips shown during the evening. We hope these will be useful as conversation starters at home with your children, and help you set good online habits as a family for the long term.

Golf lessons summer term 2019

Golf is offered as an option in games lessons during the summer term. Please see the attached letter from Mr J Veitch for further details and how to apply for your son or daughter. Deadline for applications is Monday 1 April.

Year 9 notices

Internet safety

Thank you to all those parents who attended the internet safety information evening on Tuesday. Keeping children safe whilst online is hugely important to us. You can review the slides on GSAL World, including the notes and the clips shown during the evening. We hope these will be useful as conversation starters at home with your children, and help you set good online habits as a family for the long term.

Y9 Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge

Sunday 23 June

Y9 students are invited to tackle this famous Dales walking challenge, for a sense of personal achievement and to raise money for charity. Please read the attached letter from Mr C Law, walk organiser, for further information. If your child wishes to take part please provide your permission and other requested information via the sQuid listing no later than Friday 5 April.

Golf lessons summer term 2019

Golf is offered as an option in games lessons during the summer term. Please see the attached letter from Mr J Veitch for further details and how to apply for your son or daughter. Deadline for applications is Monday 1 April.

Senior School ski trip

Saturday 15 to Saturday 22 February 2020

The Senior School ski trip for pupils currently in Y9 to Y12 will take place next February half term to Folgarida in the Italian Dolomites. Please see attached letter from Mrs A Walker, ski trip leader, for more information and all necessary links to book a place for your child. The sQuid listing opens at 16:00 today.

Year 10 notices

Golf lessons summer term 2019

Golf is offered as an option in games lessons during the summer term. Please see the attached letter from Mr J Veitch for further details and how to apply for your son or daughter. Deadline for applications is Monday 1 April.

Senior School ski trip

Saturday 15 to Saturday 22 February 2020

The Senior School ski trip for pupils currently in Y9 to Y12 will take place next February half term to Folgarida in the Italian Dolomites. Please see attached letter from Mrs A Walker, ski trip leader, for more information and all necessary links to book a place for your child. The sQuid listing opens at 16:00 today.

Year 11 notices

Model United Nations Conference

Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 September, Hamburg

GSAL has been invited to send a team to the Model United Nations of Hamburg in September 2019. Full details can be found in the attached letter. If your son/daughter is an active member of the GSAL MUN Society and would like to take part, please submit your permission via the sQuid listing together with a non-refundable deposit payment of £250 no later than Tuesday 2 April.

If you have any queries please contact Sarah MacGregor, trips coordinator, at sarah.macgregor@gsal.org.uk.

Senior School ski trip

Saturday 15 to Saturday 22 February 2020

The Senior School ski trip for pupils currently in Y9 to Y12 will take place next February half term to Folgarida in the Italian Dolomites. Please see attached letter from Mrs A Walker, ski trip leader, for more information and all necessary links to book a place for your child. The sQuid listing opens at 16:00 today.

Year 12 notices

Model United Nations Conference

Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 September, Hamburg

GSAL has been invited to send a team to the Model United Nations of Hamburg in September 2019. Full details can be found in the attached letter. If your son/daughter is an active member of the GSAL MUN Society and would like to take part, please submit your permission via the sQuid listing together with a non-refundable deposit payment of £250 no later than Tuesday 2 April.

If you have any queries please contact Sarah MacGregor, trips coordinator, at sarah.macgregor@gsal.org.uk.

Senior School ski trip

Saturday 15 to Saturday 22 February 2020

The Senior School ski trip for pupils currently in Y9 to Y12 will take place next February half term to Folgarida in the Italian Dolomites. Please see attached letter from Mrs A Walker, ski trip leader, for more information and all necessary links to book a place for your child. The sQuid listing opens at 16:00 today.

Year 13 notices

Subject teacher consultation evening

Thursday 4 April, 17:30 to 20:00

Please see the attached letter from Mr P Rushworth, director of sixth form, for further details. Please use the online booking system to make appointments with teachers. The booking system will close on Tuesday 2 April at 16:00.

Y13 leavers’ celebrations

Please see the attached letter for details of the celebration activities and mementos on offer to Y13. Parents are invited to the Y13 graduation and prize-giving ceremony on the evening of Saturday 29 June, please save the date and look out for booking information next term.