/* main header container */
    .school-header {
      width: 100%;
      background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.78);
      backdrop-filter: blur(20px);
      -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(20px);
      box-shadow: 0 20px 45px rgba(0, 20, 60, 0.12), 0 8px 18px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05);
      border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.65);
      position: sticky;
      top: 0;
      z-index: 100;
      transition: all 0.3s ease;
    }

    /* inner width constraint */
    .header-container {
      max-width: 1400px;
      margin: 0 auto;
      padding: 0.9rem 1rem;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: space-between;
      flex-wrap: wrap;
      gap: 1.8rem;
    }

    /* ----- logo section with image ----- */
    .logo-area {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 1rem;
      flex-shrink: 0;
    }

    .logo-image {
      height: 80px;
      width: 80px;
      max-width: 80px;
      object-fit: contain;
      filter: drop-shadow(0 8px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08));
      transition: transform 0.25s ease, filter 0.3s;
      border-radius: 40px;
    }

    .logo-image:hover {
      transform: scale(1.03);
      filter: drop-shadow(0 12px 18px rgba(0, 40, 70, 0.18));
    }

    .brand-text {
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      line-height: 1.2;
    }

    .school-name {
      font-size: 1.9rem;
      font-weight: 700;
      background: linear-gradient(135deg, #0b2b5e, #1a4a8b);
      -webkit-background-clip: text;
      -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
      background-clip: text;
      letter-spacing: -0.3px;
      text-shadow: 2px 2px 8px rgba(0,80,150,0.1);
    }

    .school-motto {
      font-size: 0.8rem;
      font-weight: 500;
      color: #4a627a;
      text-transform: uppercase;
      letter-spacing: 2px;
      word-spacing: 2px;
      margin-top: 2px;
    }

    /* ---- navigation links ---- */
    .nav-links {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 2.2rem;
      flex-wrap: wrap;
      list-style: none;
    }

    .nav-links li a {
      text-decoration: none;
      font-weight: 550;
      font-size: 1rem;
      color: #1f3147;
      position: relative;
      padding: 0.45rem 0.1rem;
      transition: color 0.2s;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 0.35rem;
      letter-spacing: 0.3px;
      white-space: nowrap;
    }

    .nav-links li a i {
      font-size: 0.9rem;
      color: #2c5282;
      transition: transform 0.2s;
    }

    .nav-links li a::after {
      content: '';
      position: absolute;
      bottom: -2px;
      left: 0;
      width: 0%;
      height: 2.5px;
      background: linear-gradient(90deg, #1e3b6f, #4f7eb3);
      border-radius: 10px;
      transition: width 0.25s ease;
    }

    .nav-links li a:hover {
      color: #0a2a4a;
    }

    .nav-links li a:hover i {
      transform: translateY(-2px);
    }

    .nav-links li a:hover::after {
      width: 100%;
    }

    /* active style for demo */
    .nav-links li a.active-link {
      color: #0b2f5c;
      font-weight: 650;
    }
    .nav-links li a.active-link::after {
      width: 100%;
      background: #0f3b6a;
    }

    /* ---- right side: search + cta + icon buttons ---- */
    .header-actions {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 1.6rem;
      flex-wrap: wrap;
    }



    .icon-btn {
      background: transparent;
      border: none;
      font-size: 1.3rem;
      color: #1e3a5f;
      cursor: pointer;
      position: relative;
      padding: 0.4rem;
      border-radius: 50%;
      transition: background 0.2s, color 0.2s;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      width: 42px;
      height: 42px;
    }

    .icon-btn:hover {
      background: rgba(44, 82, 130, 0.08);
      color: #0a2a4a;
    }

    .cta-button {
      background: linear-gradient(115deg, #0b2f5c 0%, #1f4e8c 100%);
      border: none;
      padding: 0.7rem 1.9rem;
      border-radius: 50px;
      font-weight: 600;
      font-size: 0.95rem;
      color: white;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 0.5rem;
      cursor: pointer;
      box-shadow: 0 12px 20px -12px rgba(11, 47, 92, 0.45);
      transition: all 0.25s;
      letter-spacing: 0.4px;
      white-space: nowrap;
    }

    .cta-button i {
      font-size: 0.9rem;
      transition: transform 0.2s;
    }

    .cta-button:hover {
      background: linear-gradient(115deg, #123e6b, #235f9c);
      box-shadow: 0 18px 25px -12px #0b2f5c;
      transform: translateY(-1px);
    }

    .cta-button:hover i {
      transform: translateX(3px);
    }

    /* mobile menu toggle (hidden on desktop) */
    .mobile-toggle {
      display: none;
      background: none;
      border: none;
      font-size: 1.9rem;
      color: #1e3a5f;
      cursor: pointer;
      padding: 0.3rem;
      transition: color 0.2s;
    }

    /* ----- responsive behavior ----- */
    @media screen and (max-width: 1050px) {
      .header-container {
        padding: 0.9rem 1.8rem;
      }
    }

    @media screen and (max-width: 920px) {
      .nav-links {
        gap: 1.5rem;
      }
      .header-actions {
        gap: 1rem;
      }
    }

    @media screen and (max-width: 850px) {
      .mobile-toggle {
        display: block;
      }

      .nav-links {
        display: none;
        flex-direction: column;
        width: 100%;
        background: rgba(255,255,255,0.92);
        backdrop-filter: blur(25px);
        border-radius: 24px;
        padding: 1.8rem 1.8rem;
        margin-top: 1rem;
        box-shadow: 0 22px 40px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);
        gap: 1.2rem;
        order: 3;
      }

      .nav-links.show {
        display: flex;
      }

      .header-container {
        justify-content: space-between;
      }

      .header-actions {
        gap: 0.8rem;
        margin-left: 30%;
      }
    }

    @media screen and (max-width: 600px) {
      .header-container {
        padding: 0.8rem 1.2rem !important;
        gap: 1rem;
      }

      .logo-image {
        height: 50px;
        max-width: 50px;
        border-radius: 25px;
      }

      .school-name {
        font-size: 1rem;
      }
      .school-motto{
            font-size: 0.5rem;
        }

      .header-actions {
        gap: 0.4rem;
        margin-left: 10%;
      }

      .cta-button {
        padding: 0.55rem 1.4rem;
        font-size: 0.85rem;
      }

      .icon-btn {
        width: 36px;
        height: 36px;
        font-size: 1.1rem;
      }
    }

    /* simple demo content to show header works */
    .demo-section {
      margin-top: 3rem;
      text-align: center;
      color: #2c3e50;
      font-size: 1.2rem;
      padding: 1rem;
    }