Bulldog Blast from Mrs. VanWagnen

Next week will be a busy and exciting one at Banks! 

All students are invited to join us for the PTSA-sponsored event on Tuesday, October 6th, from 3:15–4:30 PM! Entry is free for all students.

Food will be available for purchase from food trucks onsite until 5:30 PM, and we encourage our families to stay and enjoy a meal together.

Please note: All students must be picked up and supervised by a parent/guardian beginning at 4:30 PM. Students may not remain on school grounds unsupervised after the event concludes.

We look forward to a fun afternoon with our Bulldogs and their families!

In addition, Wednesday, October 7th is Count Day. Please ensure all students attend school and avoid scheduling appointments during school on this day. Thank you!.

Picture Retake Day is on Thursday, October 8th. Scroll down for more information. 

Our 8th grade Band and Choir students will be performing during pre-game at the WLW Pink Out Ceremony on Friday, October 9th. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Jennifer VanWagnen, Principal

JenniferVanWagnen@wlcsd.org

(248) 956-2200

We Are Banks! 

Upcoming Events

October

10/2- Oakland County XC meet @Huron River Pkwy

10/5 Girls Volleyball vs. Muir @ 4 PM-HOME

10/6- PTSA "Banks on the Block" Event, 3-4:30 

10/6- NJHS Induction Ceremony, 6:30 PM

10/7- Count Day

10/7- XC vs. Centennial @ 4 PM- HOME

10/7- Girls Volleyball vs. Scranton @ 4 PM- HOME

10/8- Picture Retake Day

10/9- 8th Grade Band Performance @ WLW Pink Out Game

10/12- Girls Volleyball @ Hillside 4 PM- AWAY

10/13- XC Tournament @ Kensington- AWAY

10/14- Girls Volleyball @ Millennium 4 PM- AWAY 

Athletics Update from Mr. McNamara

Fall Sports Updates

As we wrap up Week 4 of Fall Sports, there is much to celebrate and to continue working towards. 

Our volleyball girls had back-to-back matches this week taking on Scranton on Tuesday and Creek on Wednesday. Our 8th grade girls suffered losses against both teams, but our 6/7th grade girls were able to command the court on Tuesday taking down Scranton, but couldn't keep the winning streak going against Creek on Wednesday. Coach Clancy and Coach Hudson continue to work the girls hard in practice to get both teams back on track and bring home nothing but wins the rest of the season.

Cross country only had one matchup this week v. Muir where all runners ran hard and made Sarah Banks proud! Coach Becker and Coach Mack are very pleased with the progress from everyone and look forward to more success as we wrap up September and inch closer to the county meet.

Winter 1 Sports - Looking Ahead

Starting mid-October, Boy's Basketball will be holding tryouts for 6-8th grade students. This is a cut sport, but don't let this discourage you from coming to tryouts! Then, beginning in November, we have our Walled Lake Middle School Swim & Dive program starting up. This is a no-cut sport, any student grades 6-8. Our team is combined among all 3 middle schools, and they typically practice out of Walled Lake Central. 

As we did for Fall sports, students must have a physical on file dated after April 15, 2026, and pay the pay-to-participate fee of $120. If you have already paid $240 as a family for Fall sports participation, then this fee is waived for any other sports this season.

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:

• 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 1st
• Deliveries will continue every Thursday 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.

8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip Update

Washington DC Trip – Registration NOW OPEN!

Thank you to the families who were able to attend the Washington, D.C. Trip Informational Meeting last night. For those families who were unable to attend or want to re-review the information shared last night, please read the DC Trip newsletter to access the registration link through Corporate Travel, view the meeting presentation, and more. If you have any questions about the DC trip, please reach out to Mr. Yu at TorryYu@wlcsd.org.

Newsletter: https://app.smore.com/n/bu932

DC Trip Fundraising Opportunity

Families who participated in the DC fall fundraising opportunity, the ordering window closes tonight. Please make sure any physical order forms and money that were collected gets turned into Mr. Yu in Room 222 ASAP.

We are also fortunate to be presented with another fundraising opportunity for our students starting next week. Please see the flyer below for more information. There are 2 additional fundraisers that will be available later this year.

Join the PTSA

All parents and students are invited and encouraged to join the PTSA!

President: Dana Gorman

Vice President: Heather Sutherlin

Treasurer: Sarah Mizen-Reese

Secretary: Barbara Zajdel

We need help: Click the link below to sign-up to provide  items  or volunteer during this event. Thank you! 

Banks on the Block

All students are invited to join us for the first PTSA-sponsored event of the year! 

Get ready to take over the block! ☀️🎧🔥

Join us for Banks on the Block on Tuesday, October 6 right after school from 3:15 PM to 4:30 PM out on the Sarah Banks Middle School Bus lot and Athletic Fields!

We’re taking the party outdoors with music, lawn games, food trucks and the ultimate post-bell hangout vibes under the sun. Grab your friends, soak up the fresh air, and show everyone how Banks runs the block.

When: Tuesday, October 6 | 3:15 – 4:30pm Food Trucks 3:45-5:30pm

Where: Bus loop & Outdoor Fields (Cafeteria backup if it rains)

Who: All Sarah Banks students, & staff- parents can join us between 4:15-4:30 PM

Cost: No Entry Fee, Food Available for Purchase

Reminder: Please make sure your rides are set for pick-up at between 4:15-4:30 PM. Food Trucks will be onsite until 5:30 PM.

Bring the energy, bring your friends, and we’ll see you outside, Bulldogs! 🐾 

PTSA Reflections Program

The annual PTSA Reflections program has now begun! Our theme this year is “What My Culture Means to Me”, 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. Submissions are due to our main office or the electronic entry form by Wednesday, November 11! If you have any questions, please contact our PTSA Reflections Chairs:   

• Ms. Kaysie Stassi: kaysiestassi@wlcsd.org 
• Mr. Torry Yu: torryyu@wlcsd.org

Reflections Information & Rules: www.wlcsd.org/reflections

Electronic Entry Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffBaeYMoTxiAHzTEe5naRutGcm0xPckeBNaF8jTdlkYSX3TQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Craft Your Reflections Entry: https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections/craft-an-entry

Previously Shared Information

Student Safety Drills

In the next few weeks and throughout the year, we will be conducting Safety Drills with our staff and students. These drills include Tornado, Fire and ALICE drills. ALICE is a federally endorsed safety protocol. WLCSD has adopted ALICE curriculum and safety protocols for all of its schools. At Banks, we do our best to prepare our students for emergency scenarios, but strive to ensure our students social and emotional well-being as well.

Cell Phone 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.
•  iPads and other electronic devices are not permitted at school. 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.

Morning Bell Schedule for Students

• First Bell, 8:00 a.m. - This is when students are permitted to enter the hallways from the front lobby and buses.
• Warning Bell, 8:05 a.m. - This bell lets students know that they have five minutes left to make it to class.
• Tardy Bell, 8:10a.m. - This is the official start of 1st hour. Students arriving after this bell are considered tardy for their first class.

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.

Pick Up/Drop Off Information

Please be advised that our traffic patterns have changed for the 2026–2027 school year. Please follow the updated routes identified on the maps below. Parents and guardians should now use the east side of the building for student drop-off and pick-up.

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
• Please pull all the way forward to door 4 to expedite the process and keep the line moving
• DO NOT ENTER the Designated Staff Parking or Bus Areas

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support as we implement these changes!

A MESSAGE FROM THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

*Bus route information will be available beginning August 14.

NEW THIS YEAR – My Ride K-12 App

Beginning this school year, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools will use the My Ride K-12 app for all transportation notifications and updates. Parents/guardians will need to have the My Ride K-12 app in order to receive important information regarding their student's transportation.

Please note: The Transportation Hotline will no longer be used for transportation updates.

Directions for downloading and setting up the My Ride K-12 app can be found on the District's Transportation website. Visit the Transportation page and scroll down to the “My Ride K-12 App/Website Setup” section for complete instructions.

• https://www.wlcsd.org/departments/transportation

Families who use District transportation are strongly encouraged to download and set up the app before the first day of school so they don't miss important bus updates.

Welcome to ParentSquare! This guide will help you activate your account, find helpful resources, and download the free ParentSquare app so you can start receiving updates from your school.

Activate your ParentSquare account

Your school will send you an invitation using your email address or phone number on file.

1. Open the invitation from ParentSquare in your email or text messages.
2. Click Activate your account or tap the link to go to the account registration page.
3. Enter your email or phone number, then click Get Started. (Optional: You can also sign in with Google or Microsoft.)
4. Check your contact information. If it looks correct, click Confirm. You’ll receive a code by text or email.
5. Enter the verification code when asked.
6. You’ll see your children’s names. Click Confirm next to each child who should be connected to your account. If a child is listed by mistake, click Not my child.
7. If everything looks correct, click Yes, this is me.

If you haven’t already, download the free ParentSquare app for iOS or Android, or log in at www.parentsquare.com.

*If you are not interested in downloading the app, rest assured you will still receive updates from the District and your school community via email.

Access helpful resources

When you’re logged in, you can access resources to help you with using ParentSquare.

On a computer, click the question mark (?) in the top menu.

In the app, tap the Help icon in the app.

You’ll see these options:

• Contact School - Send a question to your school or find contact details.
• Help Articles - Search for answers or step-by-step guides.

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