YPSILANTI, MI - International flags, hand-painted murals, empty display cases and photographs of former and current students line the walls of the renovated school now home to Washtenaw International High School and Middle Academy.

The International Baccalaureate school, which was officially authorized and pending the consolidation of WIMA and WIHI in March, opened Thursday, August 16, at its new location on 105 Mansfield St.

Students were greeted at the main entrance by staff who wore black-and-gray T-shirts with the school's new logo stamped in light blue on the front.

"We wanted to make sure our new students could easily find myself and their teachers so we can show them around our beautiful new building and help them find their classes," Principal Nhu Do said.

The new building wasn't entirely unfamiliar to some students, Do said. The school hosted opportunities throughout the summer for students, families and staff to help hang murals, garden, move furniture and clean the space.

"When we came together and thought about all the decisions we wanted to make in the building from the plants and the colors, we really did not want it to be institutional," Do said. "We wanted it to be warm, inviting and a home away from home for students."

Entering the school, students can see a wall in the main office displaying a framed poster of the word "hello" in a multitude of languages. On the left of it, separated by the school's circular logo, hangs another framed poster declaring that "all races, sizes, genders, abilities, religions, etc." are welcome.

Mindfulness posters fill the spaces between rows of lockers and classroom doors, and one hall opens up into a lounge with couches and a ping pong table.

Classroom walls are painted various shades of light blue, a color Do said was selected based on research that blue evokes serenity and peace. Each classroom is arranged with round white tables where students are encouraged to write their ideas and responses.

"The culture of our school was always about building positive and meaningful relationships with students, staff, and families,"Aly Thompson, an instructional coach and biology teacher, said. "It's a place where our colleagues are also our friends, where alumni eagerly come back to visit every year, where we are encouraged to have fun, take risks, and be our authentic selves.

"Now our physical space reflects the caring and inclusive environment we work so hard to cultivate."

WIMA was previously part of Ypsilanti Community Schools. In October 2017, Ypsilanti Schools and the Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium entered into a preliminary agreement to consolidate the two schools and make the middle academy part of the consortium.

The IB organization officially authorized the Middle Years Programme at WIMA and WIHI in March, securing the consolidation of the schools. WIMA and WIHI are now both governed by the Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium.

Students attending WIHI and WIMA are residents of participating Washtenaw County districts, including Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Lincoln, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Whitmore Lake and Ypsilanti. A student can attend through the school of choice program as long as their residential district borders Washtenaw County.