The Banks Bulletin

Jennifer VanWagnen, Principal

JenniferVanWagnen@wlcsd.org

(248) 956-2200

We Are Banks!

Please plan on joining us for our annual Curriculum Night on Tuesday, September 16th. During the fall of each school year, we set aside one evening for teachers to present to parents information about the educational material and content that will be covered in each class throughout the year.

All classroom teacher presentation is will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16th. Curriculum Night is an evening function that is intended for parents only. Please use your best judgment if younger children need to attend along with you. The chart below represents the shortened class period schedule that will be followed for the evening:

Bell Schedule

6:35 – 6:45 1st hour

6:50 – 7:00 2nd hour

7:05 – 7:15 3rd hour

7:20 – 7:30 4th hour

7:35 – 7:45 5th hour

7:50 – 8:00 6th hour

What to Bring

You will want to bring a printed copy of your student’s schedule or have access to it through your electronic device and our Family Access system. The Family Access link can be found on our website under the Parents tab.

If you are the parent/guardian of an 8th grade student, please join us from 5:30-6:30 p.m. that evening for an informational Washington, D.C. trip meeting.

If you are unable to attend Curriculum Night on September 16th, please visit the Banks website at www.wlcsd.org/banks to access teacher email addresses, school news, and to link to the Walled Lake Schools website where you can take an in-depth look at District curriculum, policies, and programs. If your answers are not found via the web, please contact me directly and I will assist. My direct office number is 248.956.2200 and email is jennifervanwagnen@wlcsd.org.

I know you will enjoy meeting all of the astonishing teachers here at Sarah Banks!

Please consider the safety of our entire Bulldog Community when you are dropping off or picking up your students. Following the procedures at SLOW SPEEDS is the best way to keep everyone safe. Say long good byes while you are driving to school. When dropping off, make sure your student is prepared to exit the car quickly. Families who are prepared for this will help ensure more efficient traffic flow.

• Front Parking Lot Closed Daily, 7:45–8:10 AM
  To promote safe, calm arrivals, the front lot will be blocked to vehicles during this window. Inconsistent use of the lot has created unsafe drop-off situations. This procedure eliminates those risks.
• Bus Loop Closed Until All Buses Unload
  The bus loop is not open to cars during arrival or dismissal. Please do not park or leave your vehicle in the loop. Timing may vary slightly day to day based on bus arrivals.

How you can help:

• Please use district busing as the primary mode of transportation whenever possible.
• Use the pick-up/drop-off line only if you live outside the busing limits.
• Carpool when possible.
• Have backpacks zipped, instruments ready and goodbyes said before unloading to keep lines moving safely. When dropping off, make sure your student is prepared to exit the car quickly.
• Pull all the way forward even after dropping off to help ensure more efficient traffic flow.
• Refrain from cutting through the parking lot. Refer to the map below and adhere to it.
• Unload at all 6 spots-do not wait until you get to spot #1 to unload

If your student has not ordered a Chromebook, please click here and scroll down to complete the Chromebook Device Agreement and pay the necessary fees through E-fund as soon as possible. As a reminder, each student will be required to bring a device to school each day as the middle schools do not have Chromebook carts in the building for students to use a Chromebook during the day. District issued Chromebooks often work much better within the building than personal devices do as they are set up to connect to the District Wi-Fi.

September

9/15-Volleyball vs. Power MS @ 4 PM (Oak Valley)-Away

9/16: ALICE Drill to, Review Safety Protocols

9/16-Curriculum Night @ Banks-6:30-8:00 PM

• 8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip Parent Meeting @ 5:30 in Cafeteria

9/17- CC vs. Smart @ 4 PM- Away

9/17- Volleyball vs. Centennial @ 4 PM- Home

9/18-Half Day of School, Staff Professional Development, Dismissal at 11:40 AM

9/23- No School for Students or Staff

9/24- CC vs. Millennium @ 4 PM- Home

9/24- Volleyball vs. Creek @ 4 PM- Home

9/26- 8th Grade Band Performance @ WLW Pink Out Game

9/29- Volleyball vs. East @ 4 PM- Away

Next week, volleyball has an away match on Monday at 4:00 p.m. at Power Middle School, as well as a home match on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. versus Centennial Middle School. Also on Wednesday, our cross country runners have a race starting at 4:00 p.m. at Clifford Smart Middle School. Good luck next week, Bulldogs!

As a reminder, athletes have weekly academic eligibility requirements, which is passing four out of six of their classes. Grade checks are run by administration on Fridays to determine the following week's eligibility. If your athlete is found academically ineligible, coaches will be informed and will be communicating with the athlete and family. Students must remain out for that entire week of participation until the following Friday when the next grade report will be pulled. Coaches will be given discretion of whether or not they allow the student to attend practice for those who are academically ineligible.

Additionally, students must be in school for at least half of a day on a game day in order to participate in the match that afternoon. Exceptions will only be given to students who are absent due to participating in a school-related function.

Go Bulldogs!

Please complete the information by clicking the link below, if you are interested in signing up to get more information to participate in the upcoming swimming and diving season. This season typically starts the first week in December and goes through late January. For that reason it covers part of the Winter 1 season and part of the beginning of the Winter 2 season. Please only complete the form if your swimmer/diver is interested in participating in the 2025-26 season. We will be collecting information from 6th, 7th, and 8th grader swimmers and divers and the team is co-ed. We are using this form in order to gauge interest in the teams and does NOT mean that your son/daughter is signed up for the season.

If you have more than one swimmer/diver, please complete the SWIMMER/DIVER section of the form twice, no need to fill out the Parent section twice, just leave it blank.

Competitive swim/dive team experience is not required, but students MUST be a confident swimmer and comfortable in the water. This is NOT a "learn how to swim" program. As the swim/dive team is not a cut sport, our coaches will assess students various abilities in the the pool, in order to provide a safe experience for all.

Thank you to the group of 7th graders who have applied to be a part of Journeys: World Religions. We have some space available and want to open this opportunity to 8th graders who missed it last year.

If you are interested in learning about world religions, cultures, and trying new foods, this is a great opportunity. We will take 6 field trips this year to different places of worship. We will learn about the religion and take part in cultural activities. If you are interested, please see Ms. Bryant in room 114 for an application. All applications are due by Tuesday, September 16th.

In the next few weeks and throughout the year, we will be conducting Safety Drills with our staff and students. These drills include Tornado, Fire and ALICE drills. ALICE is a federally endorsed safety protocol. WLCSD has adopted ALICE curriculum and safety protocols for all of its schools. At Banks, we do our best to prepare our students for emergency scenarios, but strive to ensure our students social and emotional well-being as well.

English Language Development Paraprofessional

Bilingual Spanish preferred but not required

25 hours/week

Monday-Friday 8:00-1:30

Starting pay is $17.33/hour

Working with a great team!

It would be a great job for a parent who is looking to earn some extra money while kids are in school!

Contact Kallie Iverson at KallieIverson@wlcsd.org for more information.

Our first fundraiser for the 8th grade Washington, D.C. Trip begins on Tuesday, September 2. Information was provided during Banks Blast Off, including brochures and order forms. Additional copies can be found in the flyer rack by the front office. Click here for more information, including how to sell online to friends and family. This fundraiser will close on September 16th and physical order forms should be turned in to Mr. Yu in room 222 by that date. 6th & 7th grade students are also welcome to participate, and any profits raised will be saved in an account here at school for use when they reach 8th grade.

It's not too early to order a yearbook! Scan the QR code below and order now for $40, which is a savings of $20! Please email TorryYu@wlcsd.org, KaysieStassi@wlcsd.org or LauraShipes@wlcsd.org with any questions or concerns.

In a world dominated by instant communication, cell phones can be a major distraction during the school day. At Sarah Banks Middle School, our goal is not to limit contact between students and families, but to promote responsible and appropriate use of technology in an academic setting.

Policy Overview:

• Student cell phones must remain in lockers throughout the school day.
• If a student needs to contact a parent or guardian, they must do so through the attendance office.
• Students are not permitted to text or call parents directly during school hours, including when they are feeling unwell or need something.
• In alignment with a district-wide directive, iPads are not permitted at school this year. If used during the school day, iPads will be treated the same as cell phones and subject to the same consequences.

Consequences for Cell Phone Use During the School Day:

• 1st Violation: Phone is confiscated and held in the office until the end of the day. Parents will be contacted with a reminder of the policy and informed of next steps for future incidents.
• 2nd Violation: Phone is confiscated and must be picked up by a parent or guardian in person.
• Repeated Violations: May result in progressive disciplinary action.

• First Bell, 8:00 a.m. - This is when students are permitted to enter the hallways from the front lobby and buses.

• Warning Bell, 8:05 a.m. - This bell lets students know that they have five minutes left to make it to class.

• Tardy Bell, 8:10a.m. - This is the official start of 1st hour. Students arriving after this bell are considered tardy for their first class.

WLCSD has a 1-to-1 Chromebook Program in all of our middle and high schools. Please review the information about the 1-to-1 Chromebook Program as part of your Back-to-School Online Registration Process.

Each student will be required to bring a device to school each day as the middle schools do not have Chromebook carts in the building for students to use a Chromebook during the day. District issued Chromebooks often work much better within the building than personal devices do as they are set up to connect to the District Wi-Fi.

Important Highlights

Students will have two choices for technology use while at school:

1. Bring your own device from home

2. Sign up for a District issued Chromebook*

*Additional carts of Chromebooks will no longer be available for students to utilize extra building devices on a daily basis. Students will be expected to bring a charged device (personal device or District issued Chromebook) daily in order to utilize online curricular resources as well as participate in daily instruction within the classroom.

We strongly encourage families to sign up for a District issued Chromebook.

There are advantages to this practice including:

• Better Wi-Fi connectivity in District

• Increased support from District IT staff including

• curriculum resources

• support apps

• Streamline repair process

MIDDLE SCHOOL students (grades 6-8) must complete PAYMENT for the Chromebook deposit ($50) and Technology Protection Plan ($20) in order to receive the District issued Chromebook. Payments made after August 11 will still receive a device, but not until the first few days of school. Please be sure to review the entire 1-to-1 Chromebook Program Information that is linked on our Back-to-School Packet Website. If you are in need of financial assistance to participate in this program, please reach out to Mrs. VanWagnen directly at JenniferVanWagnen@wlcsd.org.

Our students’ safety is of primary importance to us. The Walled Lake School District uses a video entry system at every school. During school hours, all visitors must enter through the Main Entry and use the video system by pressing the button and stating their name and purpose. Once verified, you will be admitted into a secure vestibule. Please do not attempt to enter through any other doors. We ask for your patience, as our office staff may be busy, and there could be a brief delay at certain times of the day.

For the security of our students and staff, all entrances are locked once the school day begins. Please do not ask a staff member or student to let you in through any door, and do not hold the door for another adult approaching the building. All visitors must be admitted individually through the front entrance by office staff. Your cooperation helps us maintain a safe and secure environment for everyone in our school community.

As you are aware, we live in an ever-changing, technological world. A major shift that we are all experiencing is the pervasiveness of artificial intelligence (AI). To help our students navigate this new addition to our world we will be providing background and instruction to our 6-12 grade students on how and when it is appropriate to use AI tools in the classroom this school year. These tools will be introduced thoughtfully and responsibly, with staff receiving ongoing professional development throughout the year.

Please refer to the attached parent letter and student agreement and reach out if you have any questions about the use of AI in the classrooms.

As we begin another school year, keeping our students safe on the way to and from school is a top priority. Families, drivers, and students all play an important role in school bus safety.

• For Drivers: Always stop when red lights are flashing on a school bus. It is the law, and it protects children as they board or exit the bus. Be alert in neighborhoods and near bus stops.

• For Students: Arrive at the bus stop a few minutes early, wait safely away from the road, and always cross in front of the bus when given the signal by the driver. Stay seated and keep the aisles clear while riding.

• For Families: Remind children about safe behavior at the bus stop and on the bus. Encourage younger students to use handrails and listen carefully to driver instructions.

Together, we can make sure every child has a safe ride to and from school each day.

The Michigan School Meals program will continue to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students through September 30, 2025. Funding for the program beyond that date has not yet been finalized. If the state does not extend funding, families who do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals under federal guidelines may need to pay for meals beginning October 1.

To help us prepare, families are encouraged to complete the Child Nutrition and Education Benefits Application in Skyward Family Access during online registration. This form helps secure funding, supports educational programs, and may provide additional benefits such as reduced testing fees, discounted college applications, and lower internet costs.

The District's Food Service Department will share updates as soon as more information becomes available.

Please follow the steps below when your student's District Chromebook needs to be repaired.

1. If a student needs support, he/she should fill out a Student Chromebook Support Form linked on all of the Google Classrooms and on the school website under Students. Being logged on to the school google account is required to access the form.
2. The information in the form will be sent to Mrs. Stasak, our Middle School Computer Resource Teacher. She will reply to the student at his/her school gmail account. She will offer suggestions to fix the issue or, if it needs service, she will tell the student to take the chromebook to the office and give it to building admin secretary (enter the name for your building).
3. The chromebook in the case will be sent through inner office and the student will be allowed to use a loaner chromebook AT SCHOOL. It will be the student’s responsibility to pick it up each morning from the office and return it at the end of the day.
4. When the chromebook has been repaired, it will be delivered back to the school for the student to pick up.
5. If the family purchased insurance, the first repair is free and all additional repairs carry a deductible. Deductible invoices or repair invoices, for those that did not choose insurance, must be paid before the repaired chromebook is returned.
6. If a student with a personal chromebook has a network issue, the same form can be used. We are not able to fix physical problems with personal devices and loaner chromebooks will not be provided.

WALLED LAKE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY TYPE OF HEALTH OR ACCIDENT INSURANCE FOR INJURIES INCURRED BY YOUR CHILD AT SCHOOL.

If your child is injured while at school, all costs are the responsibility of the parents and/or guardians. As a service to students and their families, our District is making available a student accident insurance plan for your child at a very nominal cost. The District offers this program because of trends in rising family health and dental insurance costs, increased deductibles, co-payments or lack of health or dental insurance coverage.

REASONS TO PURCHASE THIS COVERAGE:

1. Deductible and co-pays in your health plan. Many health plans have increased the amount of out-of-pocket expenses.

2. No insurance.

This plan will provide benefits for medical expenses incurred because of an accident. If you have other insurance, benefits can be applied to your deductible or co-pay. If you have no other insurance, this will become your primary accident plan.

First Agency, Inc., will be administering the program for Voluntary Student Accident Insurance. All information is attached to this email is also can be found on the district website under Families.

Parent Letter - To be distributed to your student population and posted to your school’s website.

Student Optional Accident Plans - To be posted on your school’s website ONLY. You may download and print a copy, however, it should be kept in the office and distributed upon parent request.

Schedule of Benefits and Premiums - To be posted to your school’s website ONLY. You may download and print a copy, however, it should be kept in the office and distributed upon parent request only.

All information may be found online, as explained in the Parent Letter, at www.1stagency.com as well as on the District’s website.

Each year we have questions regarding the District’s liability for accidents. Please note the first sentence of the Parent Letter States:

“WALLED LAKE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY TYPE OF HEALTH OR ACCIDENT INSURANCE FOR INJURIES INCURRED BY YOUR CHILD AT SCHOOLS”

At Banks, we believe that a strong school community is built on three essential values: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe. These principles guide everything we do—how we treat one another, how we approach learning, and how we care for our environment.

Being respectful means showing kindness, listening to others, and valuing differences. It’s about treating classmates, teachers, and staff with dignity and courtesy.

Being responsible means owning your actions, making good choices, and doing your part—whether it’s completing assignments, following school rules, or helping others.

Being safe means looking out for yourself and those around you. It means using technology wisely, moving through the building calmly, and speaking up when something doesn’t feel right.

When we live by these values, we create a school where everyone can thrive. Let’s work together to make Banks a place where respect, responsibility, and safety are at the heart of everything we do.

In addition to receiving phone calls and email notifications from the school district in the event of a school closing or emergency, parents can also sign up to receive SMS Text messages.

Please find the helpful step-by-step instructions linked below as well as the video tutorial on signing up for SMS messages.

· Signing Up for SMS Messages via Skylert

Jennifer VanWagnen

Principal: jennifervanwagnen@wlcsd.org

Kellan Watkins

Principal's Secretary: kellanwatkins@wlcsd.org

Anthony McNamara

Assistant Principal: anythonymcnamara@wlcsd.org

Jennifer Dean

Assistant Principal's Secretary: jenniferdean@wlcsd.org

Kevin Zurro

Student Success Coordinator: kevinzurro@wlcsd.org

Important Phone Numbers:

Main Line: 248-956-2200

Attendance: 248-956-2290

Email: JenniferVanWagnen@wlcsd.org
Website: https://banks.wlcsd.org/
Location: 1760 Charms Road Wixom, MI 48393
Phone: (248) 956-2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sarahbanksptsa