Banks Middle School

Dear Students and Families,

Welcome back to Banks Middle School! I hope you had a wonderful summer and are as excited as we are to start a new school year.

As we begin this journey together, I want to extend a warm welcome to all of our returning students and families, as well as those joining us for the first time. We are honored to have you as part of our school community, and we are committed to creating an environment where every student can thrive.

At Banks Middle School, we believe in fostering a strong sense of community. We encourage you to get involved, whether it’s through clubs, sports, or school events. These opportunities not only enrich your school experience but also help you build lasting connections with your peers.

As always, our doors are open. If you ever need assistance or simply want to talk, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help ensure that this school year is successful and rewarding for you. Ms. Gallien and I's doors (and email inboxes!) are open and we strive to be as responsive as possible to meet the needs of our students.

We have some exciting changes this school year! Here is a brief summary of some things that will look different:

1. Block schedule - we have moved to an 8 period block schedule, where periods 1-4 meet on A days and periods 5-8 meet on B days.
2. One lunch for all students - to avoid having to split 3rd period in half or have too late of a lunch, we are going to have all students eat lunch at the same time. We have purchased additional tables for our upstairs commons area so we will have plenty of seats for all students. As a side benefit, this also ensures students have their friends in the same lunch.
3. Two electives - we are excited that we will be able to offer two electives for each student with the block schedule. Some electives are "full period," meaning they are 88 minutes long, and some are "half period" meaning they are 44 minutes long. During the other half of that period, students will go to their middle school success class, which teaches study skills, organization, and time for homework. For students who are receiving special education services, they will have a learning strategies class with their case manager during that time instead of middle school success.
4. Leadership - building off the work of Ms. King's Community Relations class last year, this year we are launching a full leadership program and class with elected officers. This group of students will be planning service projects, assemblies, spirit weeks, and student involvement opportunities and we are so excited to see what they accomplish!

Let’s work together to make this year one of growth, learning, and positive experiences. We’re excited to see what we can accomplish as a team, and we’re looking forward to seeing you back at school!

Please make sure to note the important dates listed below, including 6th grade day, new student tours, the first day for all students, and parent information night! We also have volunteer opportunities to do middle school footbal concessions coming up soon to help our PTO raise funds for BMS, see below.

Here's to an AMAZING start to our 24-25 school year at BMS!

Best wishes,

Caitlin Everett

caitline@banks.k12.or.us

Principal, Banks Middle School

August 26- First day for 6th Grade

August 26- 8:30-11:30 Drop in tours for new 7th and 8th graders

August 27- First Day for all students

August 30-September 2- No School Labor Day

September 10 - Parent Information Night (6:00-7:00 pm)

September 24 - Picture Retake Day

New 7th and 8th grade students are invited to drop in for a tour of the school on August 26th between 8:30-11:30. This tour will take around 30 minutes. Please note this is NOT a full day of school for newly enrolled 7th and 8th graders.

We know lockers can be fun to decorate; but please remember permanent decorations such as stickers or drawing on lockers are not allowed! Also, all decorations must be inside the locker (no exterior decor.) Please plan for your child to use magnetic decor and removable items to decorate and organize their locker! We also highly recommend a metal shelf for inside their lockers, as they really help students keep them organized.

We are looking for volunteers to help with concessions at the home middle school football game Sept 18th. All the proceeds during these games support Banks Middle School PTO. It doesn't have to be football families helping in the concessions. We welcome any middle school families and friends, but the hours do count toward the football volunteer hours! You can sign up using the this link.

Please join us for a parent information night at BMS on September 10th from 6:00-7:00. At this informational meeting our administrators will share information about the school year and how parents can best support their middle schoolers ongoing success!

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we are excited to share some wonderful news regarding our school meal program. We are pleased to announce that Banks School District now qualifies for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, which allows all students to receive free breakfast and lunch at school every day.

What is the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)?

The CEP is a federal program that enables schools in high-poverty areas to offer nutritious meals to all students at no cost to their families or the district. This program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ensures that every student has access to healthy meals without the need for individual applications or eligibility determinations.

How Does This Benefit Your Family?

1. Free Meals for All Students: Every student in the Banks School District is entitled to receive free breakfast and lunch each school day. There is no need to submit applications or qualify based on income.
2. No Cost to Families: There are absolutely no costs involved for families. Your child can enjoy nutritious meals at school without any financial burden on your household.
3. No Cost to the District: The CEP program is fully funded by the USDA, meaning that our district does not incur any additional expenses for providing these meals.
4. Encouragement to Participate: We strongly encourage all students to take advantage of this program. Ensuring that students have access to nutritious meals is crucial for their academic success and overall well-being.

Why is Participation Important?

Participating in the meal program helps our district maintain the funding and support needed to continue providing these services. By ensuring your child enjoys these meals, you help us demonstrate the need and effectiveness of the CEP, securing its benefits for the future.

We believe that the CEP program is a tremendous opportunity for our community, and we are committed to ensuring that every student has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive. We encourage you to discuss this with your children and make the most of this beneficial program.

It must be noted that this program begins in the Fall of 2024 and does not clear any unpaid balances from prior school years. Families with unpaid balances should contact the district as soon as possible to make arrangements. Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact our Business Office at 503-324-8591 or dusting@banks.k12.or.us. Thank you for your continued support and for being a vital part of the Banks School District community.

If you shop at Fred Meyer you are now able to support our PTO by enrolling in the Community Rewards program with Fred Meyer. Once enrolled, they will contribute $ to the PTO for all eligible purchases.

Signing up is easy. Visit https://www.fredmeyer.com. Once logged into your Fred Meyer account, you can search for Banks Middle School PTO either by name or "VI069" and then click "Enroll". New users will need to create an account, which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.