The Banks Bulletin
May 15th, 2026
Important News and Updates
Dear Banks Families:
The upcoming SpongeBob Musical is bound to be a big hit and we are so excited to see all that the students have worked to accomplish! Get your tickets now before they sell out!
We look forward to hosting our annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Thursday, May 21st. Family members of our Banks students who have served our country are invited to have a morning reception of coffee and donuts in the Learning Commons beginning at 8:15 AM. The Ceremony will then begin at 8:30 AM in the gymnasium. As of today, we have only 2 Banks families registered for this special event! To ensure we order enough for our morning reception, please complete the Google Form below by Tuesday, May 19th to register.
In addition, Class of 2026 Seniors from Walled Lake Central, Northern and Western are invited to visit former teachers from 2:10-2:40 PM on Friday, May 22nd. A group photo will be taken in the front of school @ 2:35 PM. Students must wear their Cap & Gown, and parents of graduates are asked to wait outside of the building during the visit.
As always, it's a beautiful day to be a Banks Bulldog!
Cheers,
Jennifer VanWagnen
We are Banks!
#everychildeveryday #banksproud
Memorial Day Ceremony on Thursday, May 21
We look forward to hosting our annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Thursday, May 21. Family members of our Banks students who have served our country are invited to have a morning reception of coffee and donuts in the Learning Commons beginning at 8:15 AM. The Ceremony will then begin at 8:30 AM. Please complete the Google Form below to register.
Staff and students are encouraged to wear patriotic colors on this day. Thank you!
Upcoming Events
May
5/15: iReady Make-Up Testing
5/15: SpongeBob Musical @ 7 PM
5/16: SpongeBob Musical @ 7 PM
5/17: SpongeBob Musical @ 2 PM
5/19: 6th Grade Field Trip to Wixom Public Works @ 9-11 AM
5/19: Half Day for Students, Staff Professional Development
5/21: Memorial Day Assembly @ 8:30 AM
5/21: Cedar Point Band Rehearsal (cafeteria) and Orchestra Rehearsal (room 122) - 3:00-4:30pm
5/22: Banks 7th and 8th Grade Band, Orchestra and Choir Trills & Thrills Field Trip
5/22: Class of 2026 Former Bulldogs/Wolves Visit to Banks @2:10 PM-2:40 PM
Athletics Update from Mr. McNamara:
The Bulldogs finished up their last regular meet for the season this past Wednesday with the Girls team taking home a win over Power Middle School, and the Boys team coming up just short. Our track athletes now set their sights on the LVC tournament - good luck to all the qualifiers!
Go Bulldogs!
Important Dates for 8th Grade Students
Tuesday, June 9 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | 8th Grade Recognition Ceremony
Tuesday, June 9 |6:30 - 8:00 p.m. | 8th Grade Dance
Wednesday, June 10 |Last day of school | half day with 11:40 dismissal
Two Teachers Receive The Shining Stars Award
The Shining Stars Award recognizes individuals who support the special needs community within Walled Lake Schools. Sarah G. Banks Middle School is proud to share that Mr. Mark Johnson and Ms. Hanna Spickard were nominated and recognized.
The nominator on behalf of Ms. Spickard noted that she "has supported my students academically, emotionally, and socially to be the best student that she can be."
Mr. Johnson's nominator said that "throughout my grandson's time at Sarah Banks Middle School, Mark's investment in his classroom has gone above and beyond what would normally be expected...He is incredibly supportive of his students and truly cares about helping them succeed both academically and personally."
Congratulations! Our Banks family is so proud of you!
Help Needed: Keep Toys, Stuffed Animals and NeeDohs at Home
Toys, stuffed animals and NeeDohs should not be brought to school. Due to a recent increase in these items, students have been reminded that NeeDohs and other toys are disruptive to the learning environment and are not permitted at school. We have also become aware of a current and potentially dangerous TikTok trend involving exploding NeeDohs, which has made its way into classrooms, creating significant messes and disrupting instruction.
Moving forward, any such items brought to school will be confiscated and held until a parent or guardian is able to retrieve them. Thank you for partnering with us to help keep our school safe and maintain a learning environment that is positive and productive for all students.
Pick Up/Drop Off Information
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
Title: Oakland County Enhancement Millage Information
On March 24, 2026, the Oakland Schools Board of Education approved a measure to allow a new ballot initiative to move forward. This proposal, an Oakland County Enhancement Millage, will appear on the August 4, 2026, ballot. The proposal calls for a 1.50 mill levy for a period of six years (2026-2031). If passed, the millage would provide an additional $781 per student to every public school district and eligible public school academy in the county.
Funds would be collected by Oakland Schools and distributed per student to local districts. Oakland Schools would not keep any of the funds. Each district’s Board of Education would determine how funds are used. For more information, please visit the Oakland County Enhancement Millage website.
Staff Shout Outs 💙
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.
Cell Phone and Related Technology Policy
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.
District Chromebook Repair Process
Please follow the steps below when your student's District Chromebook needs to be repaired.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- When the chromebook has been repaired, it will be delivered back to the school for the student to pick up.
- 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.
- 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.
Banks Core Values
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.
Signing up for SMS Messages in Skylert
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.
Connect With Us
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