The Banks Bulletin

Dear Banks Families:

We had a fabulous first week following mid-winter break, with the Name of Love Tour being a highlight for all students to enjoy. Our athletic teams collected big wins and our 7th and 8th grade band students put on an impressive show at Walled Lake Western. Ms. Smith and I are looking forward to the PTSA sponsored Sarah Banks Social this evening, and encourage students to attend this fun and free event! Scroll down to register. We have much to look forward to next week, as well.

All current 8th grade students and their parents/guardians are invited to attend 8th Grade Information Night (for incoming 9th graders) on Monday, March 3 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. High school clothing and swag will be for sale at 8th grade family night, and only cash or check payments will be accepted. More information is linked below.

The district is proud to host 3 days of Unified Basketball for all four middle schools. Unified sports partner with the Special Olympics and we are so excited to bring this program to Walled Lake! We are looking for athletes and partner-athletes to join this program. More information and the link to register can be found below.

Marking Period 3 Progress Reports can now be found in Skyward Family Access. This is a great opportunity for you to sit down with your student, praise them for their academic successes and set goals for improving in areas where they may be struggling. There are still 4 weeks left in the 3rd marking period! We want all of our students to find optimal success at SBMS!

Cheers,

Jennifer VanWagnen, Principal

We Are Banks!

February

2/28: PTSA Sponsored Sarah Banks Social Event

March

3/3: Girls Basketball vs. Millennium, Away @ 4 PM

3/3: Wrestling vs. Smart, Home @ 4 PM

3/3: 8th Grade Family Night at all Three High Schools

3/4: 6th Grade Band Concert @ 6:30 PM, WLW

3/5: Happiest of Birthdays to Assistant Principal, Ms. Smith

3/5: Girls Basketball vs. Pierce, Home @ 4 PM

3/5: Wrestling vs. Pierce, Away @ 4 PM

3/5: 6th Grade Orchestra Concert @ 6:30 PM, WLW

3/6: RESCHEDULED: Girls Basketball vs. Mason, Home @ 4 PM

3/6: Board of Education Meeting

3/7: LVC Wrestling Tournament @ Kettering HS

3/7-3/8: MSBOA Band and Orchestra Festival at WLN

3/10: Incoming 6th Grade Family Night @ 6:30 PM

3/11: Banks PTSA Meeting @ 6:30 PM

3/12: RESCHEDULED: Wrestling vs. Mason, Home @ 4 PM

3/13: Half Day for Student | Professional Development for Staff

3/17-3/21: Inclusion Spirit Week

3/18: Vocal Concert @ WLN, 7 PM

3/19: Statewide Tornado Drill @ 1 PM

3/21: End of 3rd Marking Period

3/24-3/28: Spring Break - No School for Students or Staff

April

4/15: 8th Grade PSAT Testing, Late Start for 6th/7th Grade Students (See Below)

The first day of fasting for the holy month of Ramadan will begin on March 1st and is dependent on the sighting of the new moon. Ramadan is determined by the Islamic lunar calendar, which begins with the sighting of the crescent moon. During the holy month of Ramadan, observing Muslims fast from just before the sunrise prayer, Fajr, to the sunset prayer, Maghrib. Our Bulldogs observing Muslim students may go to the media center during their lunch period if they would prefer. For those who celebrate, we wish you a meaningful month of Ramadan.

Gladiators Lacrosse is perfect for young athletes looking for an introduction to lacrosse. Teams available for students in 1st through 8th Grade. No experience required. Practice held in the evening at Clifford Smart Middle School. Registration Closes on March 5th! Click Here for more information.

The Washington, DC 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.

The girl's basketball teams racked up wins this week against both Geisler and Muir. We look forward to the teams finishing up the season strong as we have another three games week next week.

The wrestling team welcomes Smart Middle School this Monday 3/3, when eighth grade wrestlers will compete first in to get to high school parent night. Wrestling and basketball both continue to give exemplary efforts, and show outstanding sportsmanship. Our student-athletes make us proud!

Spring Track planning is underway with our coaching staff and sign-ups will be soon.

More information to come on morning announcements, at lunches, and in the Banks Bulletin. Students need an up to date physical and pay to participate fee paid. No experience necessary to join!

8TH GRADE PSAT TESTING ON TUESDAY, APRIL 15TH

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 15th.

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 15th

In collaboration with all Walled Lake Middle Schools and Special Services Department, Sarah Banks is proud to host a Spirit Week celebrating inclusion. What is inclusion? Inclusion in the classroom means that all children, no matter their racial, religious, or ethnic background, gender, learning style, or ability have equal access to educational opportunities in a learning environment where all students are equally safe, valued, and respected.

The Spirit Week will take place on Monday, March 17 - Friday, March 21.

Clear your schedule for Friday, February 28th, because we're having a Sarah Banks Social! Come hang out with your friends, play basketball and games, listen to music and eat snacks...all at the school, after hours! This event is free to all students and will be held in the cafeteria and auxiliary gym on Friday, February 28th from 6:30 - 8 PM Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase. Register through the Sarah Banks Social google form, which will be sent out to all students and posted throughout the school!

All current 8th grade students and their parents/guardians are invited to attend 8th Grade Information Night (for incoming 9th graders) on Monday, March 3 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.

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 7. 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

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.

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