The Banks Bulletin

Dear Banks Families:

We had a fabulous first week following mid-winter break! Our athletic teams collected big wins and our 7th and 8th grade band students put on an impressive show at Walled Lake Western. Our Banks students represented the Bulldog Nation well at the Art Show. Check out the amazing slide show presentation below.

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. 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 its 3rd day 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.

As a reminder, 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!

March

3/2: Girls BB vs. Muir @ 4 PM-Away

3/2: Wrestling vs. Muir @ 4 PM- Home

3/2: 8th Grade Family Night @ WLC, WLN and WLW (See Below)

3/3: Yearbook Club Meeting-After School

3/3: 6th Grade Band Concert @ 6:30 PM- WLC

3/4-3/5: SpongeBob Rehearsal @ 3-5:30 PM

3/4: Girls BB vs. Millennium @ 4 PM- Away

3/4: 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Orchestra Concert @ 6:30 PM- WLC

3/7: 7th and 8th Grade Band @MSBOA

3/9: Yearbook Club Meeting-After School

3/9: Girls BB @ TBA

3/9: Incoming 6th Grade Family Night @ 6:30 PM

3/10: Half Day for Students, Staff Professional Development

3/11: NJHS Meeting @3:10- 4 PM

3/11-3/12: SpongeBob Rehearsal @ 3-5:30 PM*

3/11: *Mandatory Parent Meeting @ 6 PM

3/12: HS Counselors Return to Banks to Finalize Course Selections with 8th Grade Students

3/14: Girls BB @ TBA

Sarah G. Banks Middle School 7th graders enjoyed the breakfast of a lifetime before Mid-Winter Break! The Bulldogs earned the special breakfast cater by Food Service for winning the most cans donated in their school's can drive.

Bulldog 7th graders enjoyed a morning filled with great music, a nutritious breakfast and plenty of class pride!

The first day of fasting for the holy month of Ramadan began over midwinter break 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.

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 6. 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

8TH GRADE PSAT TESTING ON THURSDAY, APRIL 16TH

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 16th.

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 16th. The bus schedule will be posted on the transportation website one day prior.

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

Our team continues to have a season to remember! Going into Thursday's match, the team remained undefeated, and all wrestlers have shown incredible growth. While they ended up losing a well-fought match to White Lake, many of our wrestlers still took a win, and we're so proud of all of them. There is one more match against Muir next Monday, and then onto the post-season.

Girls bball

Our girls teams have had a packed schedule towards the end of the season and captured some major wins the last few games. They have two more away games next Monday and Wednesday before the post-season where they know they'll continue to make Banks proud!

Spring season: Track and Field

Track and Field is our only sport offering for Spring, so we hope you'll consider being part of the Banks team! First week starts the week of March 23. There's plenty of room for all athletes, and this is a no-cut sport. Athletes will need to make a pay-to-participate fee of $120 unless you've met the family maximum of $240 for the year or qualify for a reduced fee. Please check in with athletic director Tony McNamara for any questions regarding this upcoming season. As with all other athletics, students must have a physical on field dates after April 15, 2025. Additionally, athletes must complete the following form prior to the season: https://forms.gle/1tz3uTiidY6FH9298

The Walled Lake Equestrian teams will be holding a parent and rider information meeting on March 5 at 6 p.m. in the Walled Lake Central library.

Equestrian is a sport accommodating riders in Hunt, Western, Saddle Seat and Speed events. Riders in Grades 5-12 are eligible. You do not have to have your own horse to join the program.

For more information, please email Coach Toni at tonimcduffee@wlcsd.org or Coach Tracy at walkertr79@yahoo.com.

Interested in basketball? Sign up for our Middle School Unified Basketball Camp!

Three Saturday sessions (1:00 - 2:30 p.m.) where student athletes will have the opportunity to participate in basketball skills, a snack break, and game play. Participants should wear comfortable clothing (t-shirt, shorts, and athletic shoes), and bring a sweatshirt (for personal comfort), a water bottle, and a snack.

All Unified middle school athletes and partners are welcome. No experience necessary.

Bleacher seating will be available for parents/guardians who would like to stay during the camp.

Middle School Unified Coaches: Erin Sowa-Greaves and Meagan Clancy.

Registration is through Walled Lake Community Education. Please register your middle school student for each desired session at the link below:

February 7, 2026 - MS Unified Basketball Camp Session Registration Link

February 28, 2026 - MS Unified Basketball Camp Session Registration Link

March 7, 2026 - MS Unified Basketball Camp Session Registration Link

All Middle School Unified Basketball Camp sessions will take place in the gymnasium at Walnut Creek Middle School.

Former Sarah G. Banks student and Walled Lake Northern graduate Connor Hellebuyck (’11) celebrated at center ice on Sunday as Team USA beat Canada, 2-1, in an overtime thriller at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano, Italy.

Hellebuyck stood on his head with 41 saves to help lead Team USA to its first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since the iconic Miracle on Ice during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Along with his medal, Hellebuyck was also recognized as the Best Goaltender of the games.

During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, it was announced that Connor Hellebuyck will be presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The short list of athletes who have received the award includes Simone Biles, Joe DiMaggio, Michael Jordan, Megan Rapinoe, and Babe Ruth. Hellebuyck will be the first hockey player ever to receive the prestigious honor.

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

D.C. Trip Update

Families should SAVE THE DATE for our Pre-Trip Parent Meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 8 at 5:30pm in the Sarah Banks Cafeteria. We will be reviewing the trip itinerary, packing information, trip expectations, and more!

Additionally, a couple additional seats have opened up on the D.C. trip. Any interested 8th grade student interested in claiming one of these additional seats should reach out to Mr. Yu at TorryYu@wlcsd.org and spots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.

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.

Find us: @sarahbanksmiddleschool

The Special Services Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is honored to invite the community to a truly special Inclusion Event on March 26, 2026. This evening is dedicated to fostering community, appreciation, and awareness through the power of Unified Sports.

The event will take place on March 26, 2026, from 6 pm to 8 pm at Walled Lake Central High School. At this event, we will also be recognizing All staff in appreciation of all they do to inspire students, Every Child, Every Day. Your presence and support make a meaningful difference in our efforts to empower families and foster an inclusive school community.

We are seeking donations to make this event truly special for staff. Please consider donating at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C48ADAE23A6FB6-60897483-unified#/

Let’s come together to celebrate, learn, and build a stronger, more unified community. Mark your calendars for March 26th, from 6-8 pm, and help us make this event a memorable milestone in our journey toward acceptance and partnership.

Community invite - Inclusion Event

There is less than a month left to purchase tickets for the Foundation For Excellence 50/50 Raffle.

Sales are going very well this year and the winner is already guaranteed at least $5,200 in scholarship funds (or $4,100 for the cash option). And there are still 4 weeks of sales left!

Tickets are $20 each or 3 for $50.

You can find out how to get tickets by checking out our raffle website.

There are ticket sellers in every school and you can walk into the Walled Lake Schools Federal Credit Union to purchase them during business hours.

Why should you support the Foundation For Excellence? Check out this video to see how the FFE supports teachers and students in Walled Lake Schools.

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