?php /** * Template Name: FCS 50 Brand Guide * Template Post Type: page */ get_header(); ?> Fresno Christian Schools: 50th Anniversary Mark Usage Guide
Brand management by Pillar Brands  ·  Fresno, CA
Brand Guide Supplement

50th Anniversary Mark

Usage Guidelines · Summer 2026 – Spring 2027

About Two Marks Versions & Downloads When to Use Examples Clear Space Don'ts
About This Mark

A Mark for a Milestone

For fifty years, Fresno Christian Schools has held to one calling: to equip young people for life and service for Jesus Christ. The 50th Anniversary mark celebrates that milestone: a half-century of Christ-centered education, 1977 through 2027.

The mark pairs a bold "50th Anniversary" treatment with the years 1977–2027 and carries the FCS shield and eagle within the zero. It's a special-edition celebration of our heritage, not a replacement for the permanent FCS identity.

Because it doesn't include the words "Fresno Christian Schools," the mark can't always stand on its own. This guide makes the choice simple: where it can shine freely, where it needs the primary logo alongside it, and where the primary logo should be used instead.

50
Years of Faithfulness
Christ-centered education since 1977
1977–2027
The Anniversary Year
Marking a half-century milestone
3
Approved Versions
Gold, black & single-color
Side by Side

The Two Marks

FCS now has two marks in circulation during the anniversary year. They serve different purposes: one is our permanent identity, the other a time-bound celebration. Knowing the difference is the foundation for everything that follows.

Primary FCS Mark
Permanent Identity
Primary FCS Mark

The full lockup: the shield with cross and eagle, plus the "Fresno Christian Schools" wordmark. This is the official, permanent, recognized identity of the school. It names us clearly and works for any audience, in any context, at any time.

50th Anniversary Mark
Active Summer 2026 – Spring 2027
50th Anniversary Mark

A special-edition typographic treatment with the FCS shield and eagle embedded in the zero. It carries no school name, so an unfamiliar audience may not recognize it as FCS without supporting context. A celebration, not a replacement.

Versions & Downloads

Anniversary Mark Versions

The anniversary mark comes in three versions: gold for premium moments, black for everyday use, and a single-color black for one-color reproduction. Download the correct version for your background. Use PNG for everyday digital and print; EPS (vector) for large-format, professional printing, and merchandise. Always download here, and never reuse files from emails or screenshots.

Gold Version
Gold Version · Primary
Premium applications: gala materials, commemorative print, high-end event signage, and merchandise where the finish warrants it.
PNG EPS
Black Version
Black Version · Standard
The everyday workhorse on light backgrounds: email signatures, letterhead, internal documents, and standard print.
PNG EPS
Single-Color Version
Single-Color Version · One-Color
A flattened, single-color black mark for true one-color reproduction: embroidery, engraving, single-color printing, stamps, and faxing.
PNG EPS
!
Gold Is Exclusive to This Mark

The metallic gold belongs to the 50th Anniversary mark only. It is not part of the FCS core color palette (Heritage Maroon, Covenant Silver, Steadfast Black). Do not apply gold to any other FCS brand materials, logos, or design work.

The Decision Framework

When to Use the Mark

One question settles almost every case: will the audience already know this is Fresno Christian? Because the anniversary mark carries no school name, the answer decides whether it can stand alone, needs the primary logo nearby, or should step aside entirely.

Use Freely
The audience already knows FCS, the moment is celebratory, the primary logo appears elsewhere in the piece, or the placement is digital and easily reversible.
For Example
  • Fundraising collateral & events: gala, golf, campaigns
  • Commemorative merchandise & anniversary event signage
  • Email signatures & letterhead during the anniversary year
  • Posts on FCS social channels, where the profile already names the school
  • The website global header, where the site already establishes FCS
Pair With Primary
The audience may include people unfamiliar with FCS. The mark has no school name, so it can't stand alone for a cold audience. Show the primary logo alongside it.
For Example
  • Public-facing events & mixed-audience gatherings
  • Signage at venues not exclusively FCS-hosted
  • Community outreach where new families are present
Use Primary Only
The application is permanent or long-lived, the context is formal, legal, or administrative, or the audience context is simply unknown.
For Example
  • Official documents, transcripts & anything outlasting 2027
  • Formal, legal, or administrative communications
  • Any context where you can't be sure who will see it
Quick Reference

Application Examples

Common applications, each with a clear call. When something isn't listed here, return to the one question: will the audience already know this is FCS?

Email Signatures
Internal community already knows FCS
Use Freely
Fundraising Collateral & Events
Gala, golf tournament, campaign materials & event signage: celebratory, FCS community audience
Use Freely
Commemorative Merchandise
Celebratory keepsakes for the community
Use Freely
Website Global Header
Reversible digital placement; site establishes FCS identity
Use Freely
Letterhead
The school name already appears in the contact block, so FCS identity is established
Use Freely
Social Media Posts
On FCS channels the audience already knows the school from the profile and handle
Use Freely
General Print Advertising
Public audience may not recognize the mark alone
Pair
Official Enrollment Documents
Permanent, formal, will outlast 2027
Primary Only
Legal Documentation
Formal and binding; requires the permanent FCS identity
Primary Only
Protecting the Mark

Clear Space & Sizing

Give the mark room to breathe and never let it shrink past legibility. These minimums keep the shield, the numerals, and the dates crisp at every size.

X X Clear space diagram
X = Cap Height of the Mark

Clear Space

Keep a buffer of one cap height (X) on all four sides, using the height of the "50" numerals as your unit. No text, logos, or graphics should enter this space.

Minimum Size

1.25"
Wide in Print
150px
Wide on Screen
Guardrails

What Not to Do

A few clear lines keep the milestone looking intentional and protect the permanent FCS identity behind it.

✕

Don't Let It Stand Alone for New Audiences

Never use the anniversary mark by itself on anything a new or unfamiliar audience will see without supporting FCS identification. It carries no school name.

✕

Don't Stretch or Alter It

Never distort, stretch, recolor, rotate, or otherwise modify the mark. Use the approved files exactly as provided.

✕

Don't Borrow Its Gold

The metallic gold is exclusive to the anniversary mark. Never apply it to any other FCS logo, brand material, or design work.

✕

Don't Use It After the Anniversary Year

The mark is active Summer 2026 through the end of the 2026–2027 school year. Retire it once that year concludes.

✕

Don't Replace the Primary Logo on Permanent Materials

Official documents, transcripts, and anything long-lived must carry the primary FCS mark, never the anniversary mark in its place.

✕

Don't Treat Digital Placements as Permanent

The anniversary mark in the website header should be swapped back to the primary logo when the 2026–2027 school year concludes.