Dear Howley families,

Well, that was a busy half term! We’ve had trips, Art days, Murphy and Hugglepets not to mention SATs and a residential! I am sure our final half term of the year will be just as busy as our minds turn to moving year groups, getting to know our new teachers and welcoming our new Reception children to Howley. Children and staff will also be taking time to look back and celebrate the progress and achievements their hard work has brought about this year – I thank them all for everything they have done.   

I must give a special mention to our Year Six children who have had quite the two weeks. Last week saw them showing determination, perseverance and superb effort as they completed their SATs. I have absolutely no doubt they gave their very best and who could possibly ask for more than that?  Our children are, and always will be, so much more than simple scores.  This week, they have been having well deserved fun on their residential. My deepest thanks go to the staff who freely gave up their time to ensure our children had this super opportunity to make such happy memories. All our Year Six children have been an absolute credit to Howley and their families.

As we now take a moment to pause and rest before the final weeks of this academic year, I would like to wish everyone in our school community a lovely week enjoying some sunshine at last!

Best wishes,

Miss Lewis

Bookdrop Newsletter

The next edition of the Bookdrop newsletter is now available to view in the English section of our school website or by clicking on the link below:

BOOKDROP-age-5-11-MayJune-2026.pdf

Created in partnership with UK’s children’s publishers and the Open University Reading for Pleasure team, Bookdrop is a half-termly digital newsletter that  parents and children can share to support reading for pleasure at home.

As Children’s Commissioner, I am writing to ask your children to complete my new survey, The Big Future.

Under the Children Act 2004, it is my role to promote the views and interests of children in England, and I have done this so far by conducting the two largest ever children’s surveys: The Big Ask and The Big Ambition.

Now, for the first time, hundreds of thousands of children will be eligible to vote in the next general election, the biggest change to the franchise in half a century. Yet just one in five children say politicians listen to them. That’s why I’m launching my final survey, The Big Future.

Your children can complete the survey here: http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigfuture.

I want to make sure that I hear from as many children as possible, aged 0-18, from all backgrounds, in all schools and colleges, and in every part of the country. To do that, I need your help.

I am asking children about the changes they want to see in their communities, their biggest concerns, and their hopes for the future. More than anything, I want to know what they think a good childhood should look like today.

I will be publishing my findings next year, and they will be used to advocate at the highest level for solutions that children want to see, to the problems that they tell me are most important to them.

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely,

Dame Rachel de Souza

Children's Commissioner

Dates for the Diary

Reception Trip - Wednesday 3rd June

School Photos - Monday 8th June

Year 2 Trip - Thursday 18th June

PTA Mufti Day (Tombola) - Friday 19th June

PTA Summer Fete - Saturday 20th June 12pm - 4pm

Sports Day Monday 22nd June: 

Years 4, 5 & 6: 9.15am

Years 1, 2 & 3: 10.30am

Reception: 1.45pm

Parents Evening - Wednesday 8th July 3.45pm - 5.45pm

Year 6 Performances - Monday 13th July 9.15am & 6pm

Last day of term Friday 17th July

Bank Holiday - Monday 25th May-DB Leisure centres and Dell Stadium are OPEN this bank holiday, but with revised opening hours. Please see https://www.dbleisure.co.uk/bankholidayhours for more info.

DB Leisure have their usual school holiday offerings of:

• Free swimming for children
• SEND Family Disability Swims
• Float Fest
• Fun activities for under 5s including Splash Time at Halesowen LC and Stay and Play at Crystal LC.
• Quids In football
• Quids In badminton
• Planet Play (soft play)
• Waikiki Waves family disco (takes place in leisure pool) at Crystal LC
• SEN soft play sessions at Duncan Edwards and Halesowen LC
• Badminton and Table-tennis
• Pickleball

Please see our weblink for further details https://www.dbleisure.co.uk/school-holiday-activities

• Halesowen Leisure Centre: The Monday SEND Planet Play (soft play) session will take place earlier than usual on bank holiday Monday 25 May due to the centre closing earlier. On this date it will take place from 3.30pm to 5pm.
• Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre: The Saturday SEND swimming session will now be included in the free swimming scheme as it was previously a year-round paid session that was excluded in the free swim offer. They are still offering the usual Wednesday session that only occurs during the school holiday, again included in free swim scheme, so this holiday there are two different days customers can choose to attend and make use of the free swimming offer (or they can attend both!)