Principal Update
Week Of October 19, 2026
A Note From Your Principal
Reflecting on an incredible Spirit Week and Homecoming celebration at Washtenaw International! A heartfelt thank you to our staff, parents, volunteers, and Student Government for the time, energy, and dedication that made this week so memorable for our students and school community!
A special recognition to the 60+ student leaders who helped bring these celebrations to life, led by Audrey Wilbanks, Catie Peihe, Ahanna Bartake, Saanvi Kalvala, Kylie Herrera, and Megan Szaraz. Your creativity, teamwork, and school spirit were outstanding!
We are especially grateful to our staff, parents, and community volunteers: Allison George, Clayton McKinstry, Nick Jones, Hollie Arnett, Carrie Dadey, Jami and Matt Tunstall, Charles Arnold, Denise Tschida, Nonna Williams, and Gina Shin. If I missed anyone please charge it to the head and not the heart.
A special shout-out to Mr. Giddings and Mrs. Thompson for their leadership and guidance of our student leaders, and to our administrative team Ari Bartolacci, Chris Carlton, and Richard Albrecht for their support, coordination, and commitment to making these celebrations successful.
As we approach the end of Quarter One on Friday, October 23, thank you for a strong start to the school year! Please encourage your student to finish strong by checking assignments, communicating with teachers, and staying engaged in learning.
Attendance Matters! Regular, on-time attendance is essential to student success this includes "Homeroom" Homeroom Matters. Please continue reporting absences promptly and helping students arrive ready to learn each day.
As Halloween approaches, we want to ensure that our students have an opportunity to enjoy the occasion while maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment. Students are welcome to wear Halloween costumes to school on Friday, October 30, 2026. Participation is completely voluntary, and all students who choose to participate must follow our school expectations and costume guidelines.
Halloween Costume Guidelines
No Full Face Coverings: Masks or costumes that completely cover a student's face are not permitted. Students must remain identifiable throughout the school day.
No Weapons or Hazardous Items: Real or replica weapons, dangerous objects, or accessories that could be mistaken for weapons are prohibited.
Appropriate Dress: All costumes must follow our regular school dress expectations and be appropriate for a school environment.
No Mess or Spills: Fake blood, messy substances, or costume materials that could damage school property or disrupt instruction are not permitted.
Respectful Themes: Costumes must not promote violence, illegal substances, offensive messages, or derogatory content.
Cultural Respect and Inclusion: Costumes that mock, stereotype, or disrespect cultures, races, religions, identities, or backgrounds are not permitted. Our commitment to belonging and inclusion applies to everyone.
Respect for Others: Students should respect their peers and their costume choices. Touching, damaging, or making disrespectful comments about another student's costume is unacceptable.
Administration reserves the right to require students to modify, remove, or change costumes that do not meet these guidelines.
At Washtenaw International, we focus on helping students become confident, independent learners. Our Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills teach students how to learn and succeed in school and life.
Self-Management Skills: Managing Our Feelings
Learning to understand and manage emotions is an important part of growing up. These skills, called affective skills, help students:
Understand and manage their emotions.
Stay motivated when things get difficult.
Bounce back from mistakes and challenges.
Managing emotions helps students feel more confident, stay focused, and do their best in school.
Three Important Skills to Practice
Resilience: Keep trying, even when things are hard.
Self-Motivation: Take responsibility and push yourself to reach your goals.
Mindfulness: Stay calm, focused, and aware of how you feel.
One Tip for Parents
Ask your child: "What made you proud today?" or "What was challenging today?"
Talking about feelings helps students understand their emotions and learn healthy ways to manage them.
Congratulations, Washtenaw International National Merit Commended Students!
Congratulations, Washtenaw International National Merit Commended Students!
Please join me in celebrating 13 outstanding Washtenaw International students who have been named Commended Students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program! These students earned this national recognition based on their outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT, achieving a Selection Index score of 208 or higher.
Congratulations to:
Naomi Berman • Aarit Das • Ezinne Egenti • Mughda Gupta • Isha Harish • Seungbeom Kim • Pranav Komma • Elliot Lee • Jaden Love • Yonna Nwoko • Samir Rao • Daanya Saif • Andrea Zou
We are proud of your academic achievement and the dedication that led to this recognition.
High School
Ari Bartolacci
Dean of Students
Email: abartolacci@wihi.org
Google Site: https://sites.google.com/wihi.org/deanbarto
Middle School
Christopher Carlton
Dean of Students
Email: ccarlton@wihi.org
Google Site: https://sites.google.com/wihi.org/deancarltonscorner/home
PTO Newsletter: To receive the most up to date information, please opt into the PTO Newsletter.
PTO Annual Fundraising Drive Annual Donation Drive
Class of 2029 Fundraiser Achatz Handmade Pies. Pies are on sale now through October 22. Pies will be available for pickup on Friday, November 13, 2026.
PTO Linktree To view up to date PTO information, please view the PTOLinktree.
PTO Positions Please email pto@wipto.org with questions or to learn more.