The Phoenix

"A mythical bird that never dies, the phoenix flies far ahead to the front, always scanning the landscape and distant space. It represents our capacity for vision, for collecting sensory information about our environment and the events unfolding within it. The phoenix, with its great beauty, creates intense excitement and deathless inspiration." 

- Feng Shui Master Lam Kam Chuen

School Colors

Orange, Grey

Logo

Background

The Mattos Phoenix was chosen for its iconography which resonates with many world cultures.  There are Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Egyptian, and Native American counterparts of the Phoenix. (Fêng-Huang, Ho-oo, Firebird, Benu, and Thunderbird respectively).  All of these birds are identified with the sun. The symbolism of the Phoenix rising from the ashes is a metaphor of perseverance through struggle, hope, and renewal.  It is gender neutral and vegetarian according to many mythological representations. Corresponding to the physical features of the school’s design, the phoenix fire is orange and body grey as are the Mattos campus buildings.  The founding principal and staff selected the mascot and mascot logo as a team with input from members of the MUSD community.  The MUSD Board of Trustees approved the mascot logo at a public board meeting on June 26, 2018.

Artwork

Graphic artist Marites Algones, an alumnus of Milpitas Schools (Randall Elementary, Rancho Middle, MHS), helped set up the Mattos brand guidelines: color palette, typography, logo usage, imagery, signage, and stationery as a gift to the Mattos community.  Marites is a multi-disciplinary art director for CNN Courageous Studio and is based in Brooklyn, New York.