Dear Banks Families:
Thank you to all those who helped to make the PTSA's 1st Annual Turkey Trot on November 20th a tremendous success despite the weather. We had over 120 students participate, and this super fun event raised $1244.84 to support our PTSA! Wow! Special shout out to Spurt for sponsoring the Turkey Trot! We very much appreciate your support!
I am pleased to announce the 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year! On Thursday, January 9th, we have the opportunity to recognize Mrs. Chelsea Schikora as the 2024-2025 Sarah G. Banks Middle School Teacher of the Year during the January Board of Education Meeting beginning at 7 PM. Please join us in celebration! See below for more information.
Families are invited to help Banks to stuff the squad car on December 2nd. Please donate new, unwrapped toys, clothes or books to help us make this holiday season the best yet! See the flyer below for more details.
UPDATE: 8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip: Our trip roster has now reached full capacity. Anyone still interested in registering their child can do so, but will be added to the waitlist, rather than the active roster. Those registering for the waitlist will not be prompted to make any payments and will be contacted by email in the order they registered, pending any cancellations that arise prior to March 1, 2025. Please be prepared if you are notified that space is available to join the trip that all payments must be completed by the final payment due date of May 2, 2025.
Wishing all our Banks families a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving.
Cheers,
Jennifer VanWagnen, Principal
We Are Banks!
The next edition of the Banks Bulletin will be published on December 6th.
Upcoming Events
November
11/25: Boys Basketball (BB) vs. Mason MS - Home
11/27: Half Day for Staff and Students, Dismissal @ 11:40 AM
11/28-11/29-No School for Staff and Students, Thanksgiving Break
December
12/2: Stuff the Squad Car Donations due by 8 AM
12/2: Boys Basketball vs. Geisler-Away
12/4: Boys Basketball vs. Muir-Home
12/5: Board of Education Regular Meeting @ 7 PM
12/6: Progress Reports Available to View
12/9: Boys Basketball vs. Millennium-Away
12/10: iReady Diagnostic Testing
12/11: IB Information Night @ WLW (See Flyer)
12/11: Boys Basketball vs. Pierce-Home
12/11: Swim Meet @ Milford HS
12/12: iReady Diagnostic Testing
12/18: Swim Meet @ WLW
12/23-1/3: Winter Break, No School for Staff and Students
Shop with a Hero Deadline Extended to TODAY: November 22nd
Due to the extremely low number of applicants for our "Shop With a Hero" programs, we are EXTENDING the deadline to apply from tomorrow, Nov. 8th to Friday, November 22nd. Please consider taking advantage of this opportunity!
The attached application has been updated to reflect the new deadline date, and it is also available on the District website at: https://www.wlcsd.org/community/lakes-area-youth-assistance.
7th annual Stuff the Squad Car Campaign
The Wixom Police Department just kicked off their 7th annual Stuff the Squad Car campaign. They have again partnered with Crime Stoppers of Michigan (CSM). CSM helps police agencies solve crimes through its tip line, 1-800-SPEAK-UP. However, CSM also maintains ongoing, long-term relationships with families that have suffered from violent crime.
As such, CSM will run its Children’s Christmas Party on December 7th. This is when they get donated toys into the hands of kids who come from families that have been victimized by violent crime.
.We would love for our Banks Bulldogs to help us stuff the squad car! The Wixom PD will drive that trailer right up to our front door on December 2nd so that our students can help us fill it!
Thank you for your generosity and continued support of this program!
Congratulations to our 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year
On Thursday, January 9th, we have the opportunity to recognize Mrs. Chelsea Schikora as the 2024-2025 Sarah G. Banks Middle School Teacher of the Year during the January Board of Education Meeting beginning at 7 PM. Please join us in celebration! I love that our district takes time to honor individuals each year for their tireless efforts in the classroom. Upon reflection, here are some of the many things Mrs. Schikora does each day to make her classroom and students thrive:
- Great teachers never forget that it is people that determine the quality of the classroom and our school.
- Great teachers establish clear expectations at the start of the year and follow them consistently as the year progresses.
- Great teachers have high expectations for students but even higher expectations for themselves.
- Great teachers know who is the variable in the classroom. They are. Good teaches consistently strive to improve, and they focus on something they can control-their own performance.
- Great teachers create a positive environment in their classrooms and schools. They treat every person with respect. In particular, they understand the power of praise.
- Great teachers consistently filter out the negatives that don't matter and share a positive attitude.
- Great teachers care about their students. They understand that behaviors and beliefs are tied to emotion, and they understand the power of emotion to jump-start change.
This list includes just a few of the many things she does well. I am proud to celebrate Mrs. Schikora, and I am thrilled to work beside so many great teachers and staff here at Banks.
We are Banks!
#everychildeveryday #banksproud
*Adapted from 14 Things That Matter Most in What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker
Athletics Update from Ms. Smith
Our boys basketball teams are off to a great start!
7th Grade
The Banks 6th and 7th grade basketball team finished off their five game road trip with an amazing game against the Centennial Chargers. The first half was all Banks as the Bulldogs went out to a commanding lead leading by 13 at one point before Centennial brought it back down to ten points at half. Banks was led by points from Ryan Johns, Quinn, Emmett and Kevin with great defense by Bradley, Ashton, Max and Will. In the second half limited points by Banks and an aggressive defense by the Chargers allowed Centennial to crawl back into the game ending the second half tied. In the first three overtimes both teams held five point leads and in the first three overtimes both teams gave back their leads allowing us to go to a fourth overtime. In the fourth overtime Banks got some key baskets and free throws from Cruz, Colson, Brenden and Roman with some final rebounds by Kevin and Ryan Johns to finish the game with Banks winning 52-47. This was the longest game in the history of the school as well as the league. The Banks boys finished their road trip with 4 wins and 1 loss and will host their first home game on Monday against Mason at 4PM.
Keep up the great work, Bulldogs!
Transportation Update: Bus Passes
Students may not ride any bus other than their assigned bus without a bus pass. Bus passes are only accepted on routes that have room for additional students. Bus passes are only issued for extenuating circumstances. They will not be issued for after school study or play dates. Most school buses are full and therefore cannot ordinarily accommodate additional students.
Scholastic Book Fair is Coming to Banks!
-December 9th through December 13th in the Media Center from 8 am - 3 pm
-Volunteers are needed. Here is the link to the signup genius to help. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409054CA9AD28A4F58-53074877-sarah
-(All volunteers need a 2024-25 background check form on file) Here is a link to the form or the school has copies for you to fill out and turn it as well.
-Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet-your child's digital payment account that can be set up before the fair. Check out how on the fair website: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/sarahbanksmiddleschool
UPDATE: 8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip
UPDATE: 8th Grade Washington, D.C. Trip: Our trip roster has now reached full capacity. Anyone still interested in registering their child can do so, but will be added to the waitlist, rather than the active roster. Those registering for the waitlist will not be prompted to make any payments and will be contacted by email in the order they registered, pending any cancellations that arise prior to March 1, 2025. Please be prepared if you are notified that space is available to join the trip that all payments must be completed by the final payment due date of May 2, 2025.
Thank you to all the families who were able to attend the Washington, D.C. Trip Informational Meeting on October 10th. For those families who were unable to attend, please visit our Sarah Banks D.C. information and registration link through American Expeditions, click on "GO TO MY TRIP" and enter the tour code: sarahbanksdc2025.
To view the meeting presentation from October 10th, please click here.
If you have any questions about the DC trip, please reach out to Mr. Morrow at DavidMorrow@wlcsd.org.
New Information: PTSA Update
We reached our membership goal! Congratulations to Candice Pytlik-you are the winner of the raffle basket below!
Want to help your child’s school?? JOIN THE PTSA!! Your membership includes volunteering at school events OR not! Monthly meetings OR not! Memberships are still being accepted!
Want to have the inside scoop on what is happening in your child’s school?? JOIN THE PTSA and JOIN US for our monthly meetings! We love to have parents/guardians at our meetings! Join here…
Walled Lake Schools 26th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at Walled Lake Northern High School on Monday, January 20th beginning at 5:00 p.m.
This year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration theme is Unity.
“Unity in diversity is unity between all individuals and groups, regardless of differences. It is unity without uniformity, and diversity without divisiveness. It is an understanding that the differences between people enrich our lives and makes our country the special, and unique place it is”.
Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award
Walled Lake Schools has created an award to honor individuals who are true friends of diversity. We hope you will join us in an effort that will result in the selection of a Fiend of Diversity. This honor will be bestowed on the recipient(s) at the 26th annual district-wide Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, January 20th, 2025.
Our committee hopes that each school building will nominate at least one staff member, student, parent, or community member for the Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award. Nominations will be submitted to the Walled Lake School Central Office Administration for final selection. Nomination forms must be completed no later than Friday, December 13th, 2024. Please click on the form below and nominate someone you believe is deserving of the Friend of Diversity Award.
Express Yourself Contest
Walled Lake Students are invited to submit an entry that express’s the theme of “Unity” in your own unique way. There are lots of possibilities for creating a project. It can be a piece of writing, music, art, or other visual that shows what unity means to you. Click on the contest form below and submit your entry to your school’s main office by Friday, December 13th.
Food Service Information-Free Breakfast and Lunch for All!
During the 2024-25 school year, all Michigan public school students in grades Pre-K through 12 will have access to free breakfast and free lunch every day through the "Healthy School Meals for All" program. This includes a meat/meat alternative, grain, fruit/vegetable and milk. A la carte items will be available for purchase.
Families are still encouraged to complete the free/reduced meal form in Skyward to help secure additional funding for the District including Title I funding. By completing the form, eligible families may also receive access to other free and reduced programs within the District including SAT testing, pay to participate, and more.
Signing up for SMS Messages in Skylert
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.
Connect With Us
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