The Banks Bulletin
November 7th, 2025
Dear Parents:
We had another great week at Banks! Our 7th and 8th grade Band students shined during their first concert of the year. We are so blessed to have the best instructors around!
Also, thank you to all those families that attended Parent/Teacher Conferences. Conferences were very well attended, and I am proud of our partnership and grateful for the efforts our staff pours into their work each day. Our kids deserve it! Special thanks to our generous Banks PTSA for providing a fabulous dinner for the staff to enjoy. The food was delicious!
Today is the final day to submit an application via email to LAYA@wlcsd.org for the Holiday Adopt-a-Child program. Lakes Area Youth Assistance (LAYA), in partnership with Huron Valley Hospital and generous community volunteers, is once again offering its beloved Holiday Adopt-a-Child program. To apply, visit https://www.wlcsd.org/community/lakes-area-youth-assistance to download the fillable application. Scroll down for more information.
The 1st card marking report card is now accessible through Skyward Family Access after 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7th.
We are looking forward to enjoying the PTSA's upcoming after-school Sarah Banks Social after school today and the 2nd Annual Turkey Trot on November 21st. Exciting things ahead!
Please join us for the 6th grade band concert in the Sarah Banks Gym on Monday, November 10th at 6:30 PM and the 6th grade orchestra concert on Tuesday, November 11th at 6:30 PM in the Sarah Banks Gym.
Cheers,
Jennifer VanWagnen, Principal
We Are Banks!
Upcoming Events
November
11/5-11/26: Project Warm: Collecting new hats, gloves, scarves...
11/7-PTSA Sponsored Event: Sarah Banks Social @ 3-4:30 PM
11/10- Fire Drill
11/10: Deadline to Submit PTSA Reflections Submissions
11/10- 6th Grade Band Concert @ Banks, 6:30 PM
11/11- All Pro Dad's Meeting @ 7:05 AM in Media Center
11/11- 6th Grade Orchestra Concert @ Banks, 6:30 PM
11/12- Yearbook Club Meeting After School
11/12- Boys Basketball (BB) vs. Creek MS @ 4 PM- Home
11/12- PTSA Meeting @ 6:30 PM in Banks Media Center
11/18- Half Day for Students, Staff Professional Development
11/19- NJHS Meeting After School
11/19 - Boys Basketball (BB) vs. White Lake MS @ 4 PM- Away
11/20-11/23- WLW presents "Hades Town: Teen Edition" - Tickets available now at www.wlcstickets.com
11/21- PTSA's 2nd Annual Turkey Trot
11/21- Boys Basketball (BB) vs. Power MS @ 4 PM-Away
11/24- Boys Basketball (BB) vs. Smart MS @ 4 PM-Home
11/26- Half Day for Students and Staff
11/27-11/28- No School for Students or Staff - Thanksgiving Break
Holiday Help: Adopt-a-Child Program
Lakes Area Youth Assistance (LAYA), in partnership with Huron Valley Hospital and generous community volunteers, is once again offering its beloved Holiday Adopt-a-Child program. Each year, hospital departments and community members "adopt" children by purchasing gifts from their personalized wish lists—bringing a little extra holiday cheer to families who could use it. Parents also receive gift wrapping supplies so they can wrap the presents themselves and enjoy the joy of giving.
To apply, visit https://www.wlcsd.org/community/lakes-area-youth-assistance to download the fillable application. Submit one application per family and one wish list per child, along with the required financial documentation, via email to LAYA@wlcsd.org by Friday, November 7, 2025.
✨ Coming Soon: Shop With a Hero! ✨
From Nov. 10–21, kids will have the chance to shop for holiday gifts alongside local heroes—Commerce Firefighters/Paramedics and Oakland County Sheriff's Officers—at Meijer stores in Wixom and Commerce. Applications for this exciting event will be available starting Nov. 10.
Student of the Month
Congratulations to our October Student of the Month nominees! These students have been nominated by a staff member for being an outstanding student in our Bulldog nation, demonstrating safe, respectful and responsible behaviors each and every day. We are very proud of their accomplishment!
Sophia Soto-Hernandez - 6
Francine Mezy - 6
Tanishka Gollaratti - 6
Addison Witherspoon - 8
Natalie Zbytowski - 6
Athletics Update from Mr. McNamara
Swim and Dive
6th - 8th Grade Middle School Swim & Dive Team Program Update
As our district transitions from four middle schools to three, we’ve carefully reviewed how to best structure our middle school swim & dive program. In past years, we offered two separate teams, but this change has made it difficult to maintain an even and effective split. Moving forward, we will have one combined middle school swim & dive team representing all three schools. This approach aligns with other districts that also combine multiple middle schools into a single team, helping us create a stronger, more unified program. To ensure that all swimmers and divers, receive quality instruction and support, we will also be adding additional coaches to meet the diverse needs of our athletes.
We will have a pre-season meeting on Thursday November 13 at 6:00pm at WL Central HS Cafeteria.
DUE NOV. 14 - Apparel ordering for middle school swim & dive: https://wlmsswim.spiritsale.com/
DUE NOV. 25 - Swimsuit ordering: https://differentstrokesswimshop.com/collections/walled-lake-ms
Boys Basketball
All players must have pay to participate paid before the first competition which is November 12th. Additionally, players must be passing 4 of 6 classes each week to be eligible to participate for the games the following week. Grade checks will be run and sent to coaches weekly. For any questions specific to the team, please contact Coach Meyer and Coach Rickens.
8th Grade Washington, D.C. Update
D.C. Trip Update
This is the LAST CALL for interested 8th grade families to register their student for the Washington, D.C. trip. As of right now, we only have 4 seats remaining on the trip. After that point, we will open a waitlist and only if enough students register for a sixth bus, or students drop from the trip will your student be able to attend. In order to be claim one of the remaining seats on the trip, you MUST register through the Academic Expeditions trip portal and make your initial $100 deposit, plus your $60 CFAR insurance package (marked as “option 2”). The remaining payments can be made towards your trip balance by March 6, 2026. Click the link below for more information and please contact Mr. Yu with questions you may have (TorryYu@wlcsd.org).
Sarah Banks Middle School D.C. Trip 2026 Information: https://out.smore.com/e/17sug/WX3jpl?__$u__
D.C. Trip Fundraiser
Starting today thru December 7, we’re selling Little Caesars Pizza Kits and Meal Deal Codes to help our students raise money for their 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C.! This fundraiser is completely optional but is an additional way to have your friends and family support your student's D.C. trip. 6th & 7th grade students are also welcome to participate to begin raising funds for their trip as well.
Pizza Kit Fundraising Information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14RcVzYh5tcIDfTN5cIEpUg5hH-HgPWPc/view?usp=sharing
Create Your Account Here: https://fundraising.littlecaesars.com/login/join-fundraiser/6ac1dc37-1236-4121-8817-735c2e68ae89
Register for Additional Support: Tutoring Begins on November 10th, 2025
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 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.
Please Consider Volunteering for the PTSA-Sponsored Sarah Banks Social on November 7th
Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!
Donations can be dropped off in the front vestibule at any time leading up to the event. Please write or put a sticky note on your donation that says "SBS".
*If donating a beverage, please make sure it's the regular version and not the sugar free option.
PTSA-Sponsored Turkey Trot on November 21st, 2025
SAVE THE DATE:
The 2nd Annual Sarah Banks Middle School Turkey Trot
November 21, 2025
Registration opens soon!
$10 per runner, $5 per spectator.
Runners receive a free SBMS Turkey Trot T-shirt
Prizes for the top 3 runners in each grade
Registration closes on November 18th; no same-day tickets will be sold
All participants registered by November 18th get to skip a class (more details to follow on that!).
All proceeds will be donated to the SBMS PTSA to support teacher and student programs
Scholastic Book Fair is Coming to Banks!
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming the Sarah Banks the week of December 8th - 12th and we need volunteers! The students will be able to shop the fair during the week and we need parent volunteers to help run our book fair.
Please use this sign up to help with the Book Fair. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409054CA9AD28A4F58-60052608-sarah
All volunteers need to have a criminal history form on file for the 2025-26 school year. The following is the link to fill out the criminal history form. You need to fill this out if you plan on volunteering for the fair. https://app.informedk12.com/link_campaigns/criminal-history-volunteer-form-2025-26?token=BJiiNWAAuZsfra42VyWKsjGp
Thank you as always for your continued support of our school!
Project Warm
The Encore Department is excited to begin this year’s 2025 Philanthropy Project for this upcoming holiday season: “Project Warm.”
Encore Teachers are encouraging all students to participate and will be collecting new hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, earmuffs, socks, and winter items.
All items will be donated to Hospitality House of Walled Lake to help families in our community. Students can begin bringing in new items beginning on Monday, November 5, 2025. We will be collecting up to Thanksgiving Break.
Collections of goods will be done in the first encore class for each grade level.
The Winning grade level will have a scheduled movie day.
Encore Teachers will keep track of the amount of items brought in per hour and will update to keep track of what grade level is leading.
This is a great cause. It has been a tradition here at Sarah Banks Middle School for over 25 years. It has helped many families in the community year after year and has allowed our school to make a positive impact during the holiday season.
Ski & Snowboard Club
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. Full informational packets will be available beginning December1st in both the Attendance and Administrative Offices. In the meantime, if you are looking to buy or sell any equipment, HERE is a list of all local ski and snowboard swaps in Southeast Michigan conducted by nonprofit groups.
Supporting Families with Food Resources
It has come to our attention that families in our community may be in need of additional assistance when it comes to food and nutrition. With the anticipated gap in SNAP funding beginning Saturday, November 1, some families may experience delays in receiving benefits. School meals (breakfast and lunch) will continue to be available free of charge to our students.
For families needing support at home, the following food resources are available:
Hospitality House Food Pantry: https://www.hhfp.org/
Gleaners Community Food Bank: https://www.gcfb.org/food-assistance-programs/
Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency: https://www.olhsa.org/en-us/
Michigan 211 Food Assistance Programs: https://mi211.org/food-assistance
Forgotten Harvest: https://www.forgottenharvest.org/find-food/
Findhelp.org: https://www.findhelp.org/
Food and Other Resources Hotline: 1-888-544-8773
PTSA Reflections
The annual PTSA Reflections program has now begun! Our 2025/2026 Theme is “I Belong”, and students can enter in the following categories: 2-D/3-D visual arts, literature, dance choreography, film production, music composition, and photography.
Students can create works in any of those categories around the theme. All Sarah Banks students are welcome and encouraged to participate. More information can be found at www.wlcsd.org/reflections or pick up a flyer outside the attendance office. Submissions are due to our main office or the electronic entry form by Monday, November 10! If you have any questions, please contact our PTSA Reflections Chairs:
- Ms. Kaysie Stassi: kaysiestassi@wlcsd.org
- Mr. Torry Yu: torryyu@wlcsd.org
A Message Regarding Yearbooks
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.
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.
Weekend Food Program
I am grateful to live in a community where support is provided to families in need. Hospitality House is a food pantry feeding those in need in Oakland and Wayne Counties and the surrounding Michigan communities. Whether you participated last year and would like weekend food service to continue or are interested in joining for the first time, please complete the Google Form linked below and provide us with the following information by September 26:
- Number of students participating
- Any food allergies for each student
Also, please note the following:
- First delivery of weekend food bags to the school is Thursday, October 9th
- Deliveries will continue every Friday for the remainder of the school year
We have much to be thankful for, and the partnership we share with our families and the community organizations is one to celebrate.
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
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