The Banks Bulletin

As a friendly reminder, 1st semester grades have been posted for viewing. Please take a moment to celebrate your student's successes and point out points of pride. Remember, we are all a work in progress!

The In-District Transfer Request Application period for the 2026-27 school year closes today, January 30 at 4 PM. Please scroll down for further information.

Important Safety Update

Please consider the safety of our entire Bulldog Community when you are dropping off or picking up your students and adhere to the important safety measures listed below. Do NOT drive through the parking lot to cut through the line. The Front Parking Lot is Closed Daily, 7:45–8:10 AM. In addition, please ensure cars pull to the right while waiting on Charms Road so that busses and ongoing traffic can pass.

Other Important Ways 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.

Thank you for your assistance in ensuring the safety of our Banks Community.

We look forward to finally celebrating as a school during our rescheduled Pep Assembly this afternoon! It's a BEAUTIFUL day to be a Banks Bulldog!

Thank You,

Jennifer VanWagnen, Principal

January

1/26- Schools of Choice Application Window OPENS

February

2/2- Student Safety Drill

2/2- Yearbook Club Meeting After-School

2/4- Girls BB vs. White Lake @ 4 PM- Away

2/5- Board of Education Regular Meeting @ the ESC, 7 PM

2/7- Wresting Invitational @ East Jackson MS

2/9- Girls BB vs. Smart @ 4 PM- Away

2/9- Wrestling vs. Smart @ 4 PM- Home

2/10-2/11: Auditions for the Spring Musical (See Flyer Below)

2/10- All-Pro Dad Meeting

2/11: Count Day

2/11: Tentative: 7th Grade Breakfast

2/11- Girls BB vs. Centennial @ 4 PM - Home

2/11- Rescheduled, Wrestling vs. Warner @ 4 PM- Away

2/12: Name of Love Tour

2/12: SS Journeys

2/13: 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

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

We are thrilled to celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of our instrumental music students and staff at the Michigan Music Conference!

MSBOA All-State Program

We are excited to announce that ten Walled Lake Schools band and orchestra students were selected for the 2025-2026 MSBOA All-State Program, one of the highest honors available to student musicians in Michigan.

The MSBOA All-State selection process is highly competitive. More than 2,700 middle school and high school students from across Michigan auditioned, with only the top performers on each instrument earning placement in the All-State ensembles.

Selected students participated in two days of intensive rehearsals with distinguished conductors and performed at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

The following students were selected for the All-State bands and orchestras:

Middle School Band:

Brady Cruzen – Banks, clarinet

Nicholas Heuvers – Banks, tuba

Nicholas Small – Banks, clarinet

Jace Trotter – Smart, baritone saxophone

Middle School Orchestra:

Thomas Cirihal – Banks, viola

Joel Kane – Banks, violin

Kosei Okano – Banks, violin

High School Band:

Gustave Vellozzo – Northern, baritone saxophone

High School Full Orchestra:

Willem Damron, - Western, cello

Saya Farrell – Central, oboe

In addition, the following students received Honorable Mention recognition for their exceptional auditions:

Elizabeth Freeman – Central, bassoon

Nicholas Glik – Banks, alto saxophone and baritone saxophone

Benjamin Reed – Central, baritone

Miles Tucker-Gough – Western, string bass

Celia Vazquez – Northern, flute

Sonakshi Verma – Central, flute

The instrumental music teachers are extremely proud of these students and their accomplishments. Their success reflects an incredible level of dedication, artistry, and musical excellence. Having such strong representation at the All-State level is a tremendous point of pride for Walled Lake Schools, and we are thrilled to celebrate the hard work and talent of these remarkable young musicians.

Young Composers of Michigan Premier Concert

In addition to our All-State recognition, we are proud to recognize Noah Springer (Western alto saxophone) for an outstanding achievement in music composition, Noah, who plans to pursue music composition at the collegiate level, had an original work selected for performance at the Young Composers of Michigan (YCM) Premier Concert.

This marks the second consecutive year that one of Noah’s compositions has been selected for the YCM Premier Concert. Last year, he premiered a work for full orchestra. This year, his piece, String Quartet No. 1 in B Minor, was performed by Linda Trotter (retired educator), Teresa Cirihal (Banks), Chia Hurtado (WLW), and Willem Damron (WLW).

Additionally, a saxophone quartet from Walled Lake Northern, featuring Gustave Vezzollo, Claudia Sullivan, Johan Haupt, and Ivan Banas, performed The Cuckoo, a work composed by a senior at Waterford Kettering.

Staff Recognition

We are also proud to recognize Grant Prater, who presented with colleagues from the Huron Valley and Lake Orion school districts. Their session, “Recruit, Recharge, & Rock the Room | Beating Burnout and Finding Joy in Teaching,” focused on the importance of mentorship, practical strategies for building a program, and maintaining joy while making music. Their presentation contributed to the professional development of music educators statewide and highlighted the expertise of directors in this area.

Finally, we congratulate Patrick Dudzinski, who recently retired from WLW and was honored with the MSBOA Emeritus Award. This recognition celebrates a career of dedication, excellence, and leadership in music education, and we are grateful for his enduring impact on our students and programs.

Please join us in congratulating these students and staff members for their outstanding achievements. We are proud to have such strong representation from Walled Lake at the Michigan Music Conference.

Dear Sarah G. Banks Middle School Families,

In the coming days, Sarah G. Banks Middle School will be conducting a safety drill, also known as an ALICE drill, in compliance with state law. This drill will focus on enhancing our safety and security procedures, and all Walled Lake Consolidated Schools staff are trained in ALICE protocols.

What is ALICE?

ALICE is an acronym that stands for:

• Alert: Stay aware of potential threats.

• Lockdown: Secure locations if evacuation isn’t safe.

• Inform: Communicate the intruder’s location and other vital information.

• Counter: Distract or disrupt a threat, if necessary.

• Evacuate: Move to a safer location when possible.

We are notifying parents in advance so families can discuss the importance of school safety at home and so that this drill does not come as a surprise. After the drill, we will send a follow-up communication. Please note that while we are sharing this information in advance, we do not typically notify families of other safety, fire, or weather drills, though the dates of these drills will be posted online as required by law.

What to Expect During the Drill:

Students will be informed via announcements that a safety drill is underway. Teachers and staff will guide them through the ALICE procedures. During the drill, staff will adhere to a detailed script, and there will be no simulations involving intruders, loud noises, or other scenarios that might create distress. Our aim is to educate students about safety procedures in a calm and supportive environment. Students may be asked to voluntarily assist in simple activities such as lightly barricading classroom entrances.

Emergency drills are crucial to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment. Please discuss the importance of these drills with your student(s), encourage them to take drills seriously, and remind them of the consequences of making false threats or engaging in actions that may compromise school safety.

If you or your student(s) have any safety concerns, please contact school administration, local law enforcement, or use the State of Michigan’s OK2SAY program at michigan.gov/ok2say.

If you have questions about this drill or any other safety matter, please feel free to reach out to Assistant Principal, Tony McNamara or Principal, Jennifer VanWagnen.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school community safe.

Sincerely,

Jennifer VanWagnen, Principal

Wrestling

The Bulldogs took on Creek Thursday night in a bout that went nearly 40 matches! Coach Vaughan was very pleased with the Banks wrestlers and especially proud of their resiliency v. Creek. The next match is home v. cross-town rival Clifford Smart on Feb. 9th.

Girls Basketball

Both teams competed against Walnut Creek at Walled Lake Central in the 2nd Annual Vikings Showcase. Our 6/7th grade team took a demanding lead early on and did not let up. Bulldogs ended up defeating the Hawks 35-3. Delilah P. was voted MVP of the game for the Bulldogs. Our 8th grade team looking to defend their title in the Viking showcase put up a great fight and were tied at 18 going into the second half. Walnut Creek took an early lead in the 4th period and did not let up, ultimately leading to a Bulldog's defeat 29-20. Libby P. Earned MVP of the game for the Bulldogs. The next game is away v. White Lake on Feb. 4th.

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

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.

D.C. Trip Update

At this moment, all of the seats on the D.C. trip have been filled and we are moving onto a waitlist. All families interested in attending the D.C. trip should sign up for the waitlist and if/when students drop from the trip, we will fill those open seats from the waitlist first on a first come, first serve basis. To sign up for the waitlist, you MUST register through the Academic Expeditions trip portal; however, no payment will be required until you are moved to the main list. Please contact Mr. Yu with any questions you may have (TorryYu@wlcsd.org).

Sarah Banks has a Ski & Snowboard Club where student members and their families can receive HUGE discounts on lift tickets, rentals, and lessons. The club will meet at Alpine Valley on Thursday evenings in January and February (between Winter Break and Mid-Winter Break) and the staff sponsor is Mrs. Chelsea Schikora. Packets and order forms are copied and available in the black flyer holders in both the Main office and outside of the attendance office for kids to pick up.

Ski & Snowboard Club will meet on Thursday nights Jan 8th - Feb 12th (6 weeks, weather-permitting) at Alpine Valley. Families can purchase their club cards at any time to receive discounts on lift tickets prior to the start of our club season.

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 Walled Lake Marching Band and Color Guard will be holding an informational meeting and ice cream social for prospective new members and parents on February 3rd at 7:00 PM in the Walled Lake Central Band Room. Any Creek, Banks, WLC, or WLW students are eligible to participate in color guard for 2026. All skills will be taught, and this multi-state championship organization welcomes anyone interested!

For more information, please email:

• Mr. Grant Prater, Director of Bands - WLC grantprater@wlcsd.org
• Mr. Michael Wolf, Director of Bands - WLW michaelwolf@wlcsd.org

The In-District Transfer Request Application period for the 2026-27 school year is from January 5 until January 30 at 4 p.m.

As long as you continue to reside in the district, approved transfers at the elementary level expire once your child completes 5th grade, middle school transfers expire once your child completes 8th grade, and high school transfers are good through graduation. You must apply for a transfer at each level if you want your child to attend a school not assigned to your address.

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