The Banks Bulletin

Dear Banks Families:

As we wrap up this part of the school year, I want to take a moment to thank our students, staff and families for their hard work and dedication. Mid-winter break is a good opportunity to rest, recharge and spend time with loved ones.

Wishing you all a wonderful and refreshing break! We look forward to welcoming everyone back, rejuvenated and ready to rock the rest of this school year.

Cheers,

Jennifer VanWagnen, Principal

We Are Banks!

February

2/13- PBIS Winners-Pizza w/ the Principals @ 1:15 PM

2/13- Blue Lake Fine Arts Auditions

2/16-2/20-Mid-winter Break, No School for Staff or Students

A Look Ahead

2/23- PTSA Council meeting; 7pm at Sarah Banks MS

2/24- After-School Yearbook Club Meeting

2/24- Girls BB vs. East @ 4 PM- Away

2/24- Wrestling vs. East @ 4 PM- Home

2/25- Art Show @ the ESC

2/25- Girls BB vs. STEAM @ 4 PM- Home

2/26- Wrestling vs. White Lake @ 4 PM- Home

2/26- 7th and 8th Grade Band Pre-festival Concert @ 6:30 PM- WLC

March

3/9: Incoming 6th Grade Family Night @ 6:30 PM

Our current math standards are more rigorous and demanding than ever. Students are expected to develop a deep understanding of concepts leading to fluency with facts and procedures, and the ability to clearly communicate their mathematical thinking. Further, students must pass a demanding sequence of high school math courses in order to meet graduation requirements. In response to the increased expectations for all students, we have adjusted the content focus and instructional approaches in all of our math courses.

Because of the higher standards and to ensure student success at all points of their

mathematical education, we are using the procedures described below to accelerate students.

In order to skip a course in the math sequence, students must demonstrate proficiency in

the content and skills of the course they are attempting to skip.

The process and procedures described on the following pages (linked below) apply to all students currently in grades 2 through 6. Students attempting to test-out of high school courses will use the existing process described on the district website. If you have questions after reviewing the process, please contact your building principal or me. Thank you for your partnership in education.

Sincerely,

Ellen McDonald

Math/Science Coordinator

ELLENMCDONALD@WLCSD.ORG

248.956.2029

8TH GRADE PSAT TESTING ON THURSDAY, APRIL 16TH

Please note that all Walled Lake 8th graders will be here for a full day and 6th and 7th graders will have a late start on April 16th.

Morning Schedule

• 8:00 a.m.-8:05 a.m.-8th Graders arrive
• 8:20 a.m.-11:25 a.m.-Administer the 8th Grade PSAT
• 11:25 a.m.-11:58 a.m.-8th Grade Lunch
• 6th and 7th graders arrive at approximately 11:45 a.m.

Afternoon 1/2 Day Schedule

• 1st Hour 12:05 p.m.-12:30 p.m.
• 2nd Hour 12:35 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
• 3rd Hour 1:05 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
• 4th Hour 1:35 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
• 5th Hour 2:05 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
• 6th Hour 2:35 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Transportation will be provided to all students to and from school on April 16th

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.
• . In the event that you need to pick-up early, you must do so before 2:40 p.m.

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

Girls Basketball

After a tough loss by one point on Monday to Clifford Smart, the 7th grade girls' basketball team took to the court for the first home game of the year last night against the Centennial Chargers. Banks had another great start in the first period, getting out to an early 6-2 lead with points from Sammy and Jojo. The second and third periods were highlighted by great defense by Claire, Rawda, Zana, Aubrey and Sadie combined with points from Iley and Raylyn with Banks going into the half with a 9-8 lead. In the second half, the Bulldogs came out swinging scoring a quick basket and pressing the Chargers, which led to a quick 10-0 run in the fourth period. From there, Banks depended on their defense and press break to finish the game out winning 19-14.

Wrestling

The Bulldogs were back in action this week after a 3rd place finish in East Jackson's 20 team tournament on Saturday. Clifford Smart was defeated on Monday and Warner MS of Farmington Hills was dominated on Wednesday. Leading the way for the Bulldogs were: AJ Jackson, Sal Cadili, Jacob Badjie, David Mitchell, Kevin Dunnett, Cooper McDermott, Paulo Popko, Francesco Longo, and Demi Spencer.

Looking Ahead

Track season is almost upon us! If your athlete is planning on participating in Track and Field (T&F), please plan ahead and ensure a physical is on file and dated after April 15, 2026. Additionally, if you've already met your pay to participate family maximum, then you do not need to pay for your student to participate in T&F. If you haven't met the maximum, then you will need to cover the $120 pay to participate fee prior to the first meet. Reach out to Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Tony McNamara for any questions. (anthonymcnamara@wlcsd.org)

Interested in basketball? Sign up for our Middle School Unified Basketball Camp!

Three Saturday sessions (1:00 - 2:30 p.m.) where student athletes will have the opportunity to participate in basketball skills, a snack break, and game play. Participants should wear comfortable clothing (t-shirt, shorts, and athletic shoes), and bring a sweatshirt (for personal comfort), a water bottle, and a snack.

All Unified middle school athletes and partners are welcome. No experience necessary.

Bleacher seating will be available for parents/guardians who would like to stay during the camp.

Middle School Unified Coaches: Erin Sowa-Greaves and Meagan Clancy.

Registration is through Walled Lake Community Education. Please register your middle school student for each desired session at the link below:

February 7, 2026 - MS Unified Basketball Camp Session Registration Link

February 28, 2026 - MS Unified Basketball Camp Session Registration Link

March 7, 2026 - MS Unified Basketball Camp Session Registration Link

All Middle School Unified Basketball Camp sessions will take place in the gymnasium at Walnut Creek Middle School.

Dear WLCSD Class of 2029 Families:

All current 8th grade students and their parents/guardians are invited to attend 8th Grade Information Night (for incoming 9th graders) on Monday, March 2 at their future Walled Lake high school: Walled Lake Central, Walled Lake Northern, or Walled Lake Western. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. in the auditoriums at all three schools.

This event includes presentations from administration, counseling, and academic departments. Athletic teams, clubs, and activities will also be on-hand for students and families to learn more about extracurricular involvement in high school.

District attendance maps can be found at https://www.wlcsd.org/about-us/district-maps.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing next year’s 9th graders and their families on Monday, March 2!

-WLC, WLN, and WLW Administrations

D.C. Trip Update

Families should SAVE THE DATE for our Pre-Trip Parent Meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 8 at 5:30pm in the Sarah Banks Cafeteria. We will be reviewing the trip itinerary, packing information, trip expectations, and more!

Additionally, a couple additional seats have opened up on the D.C. trip. Any interested 8th grade student interested in claiming one of these additional seats should reach out to Mr. Yu at TorryYu@wlcsd.org and spots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.

In exciting news, Sarah Banks is officially on Instagram! 🎉

Thank you to our Student Council for spreading the positive! We would love your support. Please give us a follow and feel free to like, comment, or repost to help spread the word. The more engagement, the more school spirit we can share.

Banks is pleased to offer FREE tutoring and homework help to students for their Math and Language Arts classes. This tutoring will be provided by Banks teachers!

Students and families are expected to ensure:

• Students report in person, at scheduled times. Students may be removed from the program for "no-shows".
• Students bring all materials they need for tutoring.

Tutoring sessions will be 45 minute sessions. Please fill out the form below for your student to be considered for free, Teacher-Led Tutoring and Homework help this year.

Tutoring will start the week of November 10, 2025

Please fill out a separate form for each child.

After submitting this form, your information will be passed on to the appropriate grade level/subject area tutor(s). Mrs. Harmsworth will then contact you at the email address provided on this form with the tutoring details for your child. You may get a separate email for each tutoring session you sign up for.

The Special Services Parent Advisory Committee is sponsoring an Inclusion event in an effort to increase awareness of Unified Sports & Unified Champion Schools, further promote inclusion throughout the District, and celebrate Walled Lake Staff.

The highlight of the Inclusion event is a Unified basketball game featuring school administration and school board members supporting our Unified athletes. The event also includes appreciation stations for staff and educational sessions to inform and inspire the school community about the values and impact of Unified Sports.

In an effort to find additional ways to celebrate our staff, the WLCSD Community Relations department requests that families fill out the information below for staff who are rock stars in their classrooms and school communities.

A sample of what these shout outs will look like on social media and in our district newsletters is on the right.

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.

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.

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