The Banks Bulletin

Dear Banks Families:

Each May, schools across the nation celebrate their teaching staff through the National Teacher Appreciation Week. Here in Walled Lake Consolidated Schools our Parent Teacher Student Associations (PTSA) hosts Teacher Appreciation Week at each of our schools. However, we understand that our teachers do not do this work alone and we actually recognize ALL school staff with Staff Appreciation Week.

This is a week to celebrate and honor the hard work of all school staff who support the students of this community each day. Our teachers and school staff work tirelessly to support our students and we look forward to recognizing them for all of their efforts during the week of May 12th – 16th. Click on the PTSA provided links below to show your support! We very much appreciate the generous donations we have already received from our community. Feel free to reach out or send a thank you note, as well.

As always, it's a beautiful day to be a Banks Bulldog!

Cheers,

Jennifer VanWagnen

We are Banks!

#everychildeveryday #banksproud

May

5/9: Banks Band and Orchestra Field Trip to Cedar Point

5/11: Happy Mother's Day

5/12-5/16: Banks Staff Appreciation Week

5/12: PTSA Installations & Awards Ceremony @ Geisler MS 6:30 PM

5/13: iReady Testing, Math

5/14: WLE 5th Grade Visit

5/14: Walled Lake K-12 Student Art Exhibition @ Commerce Twnshp. Library, 4:30-7:30 PM

5/14: Co-ed Track vs. Mason @ WLW, Dismissal @ 2:20 PM

5/15: iReady Testing, ELA

5/15: HWE 5th Grade Visit

5/20: Half Day for Students, Staff Professional Development

5/20: Spring Open House for New Incoming 6th and 7th Grade Students from 6-7 PM

5/21: LVC Co-ed Track Meet, All Day

5/22: Final DC Parent Meeting @ 6:30 PM

5/23: Memorial Day Ceremony in AM

5/26: Memorial Day, No School for Staff or Students

5/27: Vocal Music Concert @ WLW, 7 PM

5/28: Banks 6/7/8 Orchestra Concert @ WLW, 6:30 PM

5/29: Oakland County Track Meet, All Day

June

6/2: Banks 6/7/8 Band Concert @ WLW, 6:30 PM

6/3-6/6: 8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip

6/9: Dress Rehearsal, 8th Grade Ceremony @ 8:20 AM-9:20 AM

6/10: 8th Grade Ceremony @ 8:20 AM

6/10: 8th Grade Dance @ 6:30-8 PM

6/11: End of 4th Marking Period

6/11: Final Day of School, Half Day for Students

Next week will be a busy one. Your assistance in ensuring your student comes to school prepared will be much appreciated as we complete the 3rd iReady Diagnostic on Tuesday, May 13th and Thursday, May 15th.

Please note the iReady Testing Schedule below. The schedule is similar to previous testing dates.

• iReady Math Testing on Tuesday, May 13th
• Students report to 1st hour and then attend 4th-6th hour in the afternoon
• iReady ELA Testing on Thursday, May 15th
• Students report to 4th hour and then attend 1st-3rd hour in the afternoon

Please remind your child to put forth their best effort and to make sure the evening prior to testing that they have their Chromebook or laptop fully charged. We do not have additional Chromebooks to lend to students that forget their device at home.

Lets show our Sarah Banks Staff how special they are... any support for Teacher Appreciation week is appreciated!" There will be a collection box in the vestibule for donation items. Monetary/Gift Cards should be handed to secretary in Attendance Office.

Thank you,

SBMS PTSA

Congratulations to the newly elected 2025-2026 Banks PTSA board:

Jolie Abreu, Jean Perczak, and Barbara Zajdel

Thank you so much for your generous offer of service to the Sarah G. Banks school community! We are looking forward to an amazing year working together.

Nominations are being accepted to fill all positions, including President, Treasurer, Secretary,

Fundraising Chairperson(s), Membership Chairperson(s) and Reflections Chairperson(s).

Congratulations to Science Teacher, Chelsea Schikora for earning recognition as a 2024-2025 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Nominee for Oakland County! Mrs. Schikora was honored at the countywide ceremony on May 8th, 2025.

It's a beautiful day to be a Banks Bulldog!

Walled Lake Consolidated School District middle school and high school students participating in the district-provided chromebook program will keep their device this summer. Families who purchased the annual Technology Protection Plan, the WLCSD student device insurance program, for the 2024-25 school year are covered thru June 30, 2025, 11:59 PM.

Families may choose to purchase or renew the Technology Protection Plan for the 2025-26 school year. The cost to participate is $20. If paid by June 30, 2025, 11:59 PM, coverage will start July 1, 2025, 12:00 AM. Families that wait for until the Back-to-School Packet is available will not have coverage between July 1, 2025, and the purchase date.

The final date to purchase the Technology Protection Plan for the 2025-2026 school year is August 24, 2025, 11:59 PM. Families choosing not to purchase the Technology Protection Plan will be responsible for any damage repairs.

Payments should be made through the eFunds. Families can access the eFunds portal via the district website or through Family Access. To purchase, please complete the following steps.

1. Log on to eFunds

2. Select Chromebook Insurance in the Optional Fees menu

3. Completed the purchase for each student that is participating in the program

Please note, families that choose to continue participating in the district chromebook program do not need to repay the $50 deposit fee.

Summer Support

Summer support is available for devices in need of repair. If a chromebook needs repair during the summer break, please complete a repair form.

Return of District-Provided Chromebooks

If a student graduates, plans to leave the district, or does not want to use a district-provided chromebook next school year, the district will host turn-in dates. Please complete the 2025 Chromebook Return form so that we can plan to retrieve the device. We will communicate turn in dates directly to families that complete the form. Graduating seniors will receive a separate communication to support device return.

Please note, students that plan to transfer to Grad Alliance or VLAC should return their district provided device. Grad Alliance and VLAC provide devices for students participating in these programs. Please complete the 2025 Chromebook Return form so that we can plan to retrieve the device.

Deposits will be refunded after the devices have been evaluated for damage. Please note, to receive the full deposit, the case and power cord must be returned with the device.

Devices cannot be returned to schools after June 11, 2025. If a device is not returned prior to the conclusion of school, please return devices to WLCSD Technology Department, Educational Services Center, 850 Ladd Rd, Bldg. D, Walled Lake, Michigan 48390.

If you have any questions, please contact Tawana Berman at TawanaBerman@wlcsd.org.

We look forward to hosting our annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Friday, May 23. 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 8:50 AM in the gymnasium. Please complete the Google Form below to register.

Attention prospective National Junior Honors Society (NJHS) students and parents: Banks is proud to announce that applications for NJHS will open in the fall of the 2025-2026 school year. This is a slight deviation from past practices as middle school redistricting takes place. The idea is that all students being placed into a new school will have time to settle in before we begin the NJHS application process. Look for information and application forms in September of 2025.

The final Washington, DC trip Parent Meeting will be held on May 22nd at 6:30 PM. The trip is now at full capacity and closed to new registrations. To view the meeting presentation from the October 10th parent meeting, please click here. If you have any questions about the DC trip, please reach out to Mr. Morrow at DavidMorrow@wlcsd.org.

We’re currently in our enrollment period, and we want to make sure students who are interested have the chance to join.

Our meet this year is scheduled for May 17th, and we’re excited to get the team organized for the season.

Walled Lake Western Boys Soccer - Fall 2025

• Summer practices begin on Monday, June 16th, 7:30pm at WLW soccer field
• Tryouts are August 11-13 and the team's first scrimmage is August 16th
• If your son is interested in playing for the Warriors please email Jenna Houghton at wlwesternsoccer@gmail.com and visit the WLW Boys Soccer Website for the 2025 summer schedule, walled lake western soccer.weebly.com

On Tuesday, May 13th, there will be a player and parent meeting for any girl interested in trying out for girls’ basketball next year. The meeting will be at Walled Lake Western on the Learning Stairs beginning at 6:00 PM. This is an opportunity to meet the new coach, Coach Emert, and to learn more about the program’s vision and goals. The meeting will also discuss summer offseason work and the expectations of the program. Any questions, please email Coach Emert at emertj@att.net.

Attention 8th Grade Girls Interested in Volleyball at Walled Lake Western:

Stay in the loop with all things Western Volleyball! Join our Band app group to get updates on summer training, important dates, and program information.

Join here

https://band.us/n/aca703W4V4meP

The WLC Soccer Information Meeting is May 12th from 7pm - 8pm at the WLC High School Media Center. Learn about tryouts, training opportunities and more.

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 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

Becky Smith

Interim Assistant Principal: rebeccasmith@wlcsd.org

Jennifer Dean

Assistant Principal's Secretary: jenniferdean@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