Brand Guidelines

A brand is more than a logo. It is the visual and verbal representation of what an organization stands for and believes in. A well-defined brand creates a shared identity that builds culture and pride across the district. It unifies the visual design and messaging of communications and presents a common identity to outside audiences. We are all ambassadors of the School District 51 brand.

This brand guide is meant to inform the use and protection of the School District 51 brand to ensure our visual and verbal identity remains strong and consistent. District-level or districtwide events, campaigns, initiatives, or public-facing materials representing School District 51 must be coordinated with and approved by the Communications Department to ensure consistency in messaging, branding, accessibility, and community engagement.

Should you have questions about the School District 51 brand, communications planning, or event promotion, please reach out to the Communications Department at communicate@d51schools.org.

Mission

D51 engages our community, families, and staff to deliver individualized, collaborative, and challenging educational experiences to prepare each and every student for their brightest future.

Vision

Engage, equipm and empower each and every student, each and every day.

Core Behaviors

D51 focuses on the whole learner to foster growth and high achievement.
D51 believes in the strengths of our people, our schools, and our communities.
D51 values individuality, inclusivity, and belonging.
D51 commits to continuous improvement.

DOWNLOAD D51 BRAND/STYLE GUIDE

Branding Guidelines

Logos

Approved Logos

Please use only the approved District 51 logos in all marketing and communication materials to help us maintain a clear, identifiable, and consistent brand. Using official logos ensures our district is represented accurately and professionally across all platforms.

Primary Logo - D51 with Star

Color: Full-Color logo should be used on white or light backgrounds.
Clear Space: Maintain a minimum clear space around the logo - about .25".
Size: The Logo should not be resized to less than 1" in width for print or 72 pixels in width for digital.

Download Primary Logo

Secondary Logo - School District Horizontal Logo with Engage, Equip, and Empower

Color: Full-color logo should be used on white or light backgrounds or professional documents such as a letter.
Clear Space: same as the primary logo.
Size: Ensure readability.

Download Secondary Logo

ADDITIONAL LOGOS

D51 w/ Star - All BLACK School District Horizonal - All Back

D51 w/ star- All White School District Horizontal - All White

Colors

Names

Approved Names

When marketing or communicating about Mesa County Valley School District 51, please use one of the approved names to ensure consistency and brand recognition. The following names are authorized for use:

1. Full Name: Mesa County Valley School District 51
2. Long Name: School District 51
3. Short Name: District 51
4. Abbreviation: D51

Using these approved names helps maintain a clear and unified identity across all communication channels. Thank you for helping us represent District 51 accurately and professionally!

Fonts

Approved Fonts

When creating marketing materials or designing in Canva for D51, please use the approved fonts to maintain brand consistency and recognition. Using these designated fonts ensures a unified and professional identity across all communication channels.

District Wide - Click to download

Arsenal
Sen

Designing in Canva

Header: League Spartan
Standard Body Font #1: Glacial Indifference

Communication & Approval Expectations

Districtwide campaigns and initiatives must go through Communications before launch
Media requests must be coordinated through the Communications Office
Use of district logos by outside partners/vendors requires approval
Schools/departments should avoid creating alternate district logos or unofficial sub-brands without prior approval through the communications office.

Social Media Expectations

Official School & Program Accounts
Official District 51 social media accounts should represent the school, program, department, or team in a professional, student-centered, and community-focused manner. Content shared should align with district values, branding, and communication expectations.
Account Creation & Management
We encourage our schools, teams, and programs to have active social media accounts. Schools and departments are responsible for ensuring accounts are actively monitored and managed by approved staff members.
Comments & Response Expectations
School District 51 encourages respectful and constructive engagement across district-managed platforms. Comments or messages containing profanity, personal attacks, misinformation, threats, discriminatory language, or inappropriate content may be hidden or removed in accordance with district practices and applicable laws.
Accessibility Expectations
Public-facing digital content should be created with accessibility in mind whenever possible. This includes using readable fonts, appropriate color contrast, captions for videos, limiting excessive text on graphics, and adding alternative text or descriptions to images when applicable.
Photo & Video Releases
Staff are responsible for ensuring students featured in photos, videos, or promotional materials have the appropriate media permissions on file prior to public sharing. Student privacy and confidentiality should always be protected in accordance with district policies and FERPA guidelines.

Tone & Voice

Accessibility & Translation

Translation & Family Accessibility
Materials intended for families or the broader community may require translation to ensure meaningful access to information for all stakeholders. Schools and departments should use district-approved translation and interpretation services when distributing important communications, including safety information, districtwide initiatives, enrollment materials, family engagement resources, and major announcements. Staff should avoid relying solely on automated translation tools for public-facing communications without review.
Digital Accessibility Standards (WCAG 2.0)
School District 51 is committed to creating digital content that is accessible to all users, including individuals with disabilities. Whenever possible, public-facing digital materials should follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 standards to improve readability, usability, and access across websites, social media, newsletters, presentations, and digital documents. This includes:
- Using clear and readable fonts
- Structuring content with headings and logical organization
- Providing captions for videos
- Including alternative text (alt text) for images when appropriate
- Avoiding excessive animation or flashing elements
- Ensuring documents can be read by screen readers
- Avoiding placing large amounts of text within graphics or images
Color Contrast & Readability Expectations
Visual materials should prioritize readability and accessibility for all audiences. Text and graphic elements should maintain sufficient color contrast to ensure content is easily readable on screens, printed materials, and mobile devices. Avoid using low-contrast color combinations, overly decorative fonts, or busy backgrounds that reduce readability. Important information should never rely solely on color to communicate meaning.
ParentSquare Communication Expectations
ParentSquare is the district-approved platform for school-to-home communication and should be utilized for two-way communication between schools and families whenever possible. Consistent use of ParentSquare helps ensure families receive timely, accessible, and centralized communication across District 51 schools and programs. Staff should utilize district-supported communication tools rather than personal accounts, text messaging applications, or unapproved third-party platforms when communicating with families. Communication through ParentSquare also supports consistency, record retention, translation accessibility, and equitable access to information for all families.

Please contact the Communications Department for:

Districtwide events or initiatives
Media inquiries
Crisis or safety communications
Community-wide surveys or campaigns
Logo/branding questions
Large-scale printing or promotional materials
Social media account creation
Video production support
Public-facing messaging on sensitive topics
Questions about our D51 Branding Guidelines