Konstella
Getting Started
This cheat sheet contains tips to help you navigate Konstella.
SYNC Your Calendar
One of the coolest features of Konstella is an integrated calendar containing all of the classroom and school-wide events that are relevant to you. No more hand-entering dates into your personal calendar, you can now simply sync from Konstella and get updates as they occur. Similarly, you can choose to sync your "participation" calendar, including any events or volunteer positions that you sign up to work for. No more forgetting where and when you are supposed to show up for volunteer jobs.
Sync once and you'll stay up to date all year long.
Mobile App: From your main feed, tap Calendar and then tap Sync just to the right of the month name. Note that if you are a Google calendar user on an iPhone, you cannot choose to sync to a Google calendar. Please use the web version in this situation.
Web Browser: Click North Star Academy from the main menu, click Calendar, and then click "Sync To My Calendar" just to the right of the month name.
UNDERSTANDING GROUPS
Konstella offers 4 different kinds of groups: classrooms, committees, social groups, and private groups.
Classrooms are associated with students. Because students in every grade except for 3rd grade rotate teachers, we have 6 "Classrooms" sorted by grade level. Unfortunately, we cannot modify this to be called "Grades."
Committees are only for 3rd grade. We have 3 "Committees" sorted by teacher. Unfortunately, we cannot modify this to be called "Classrooms."
Social Groups are a great way for parents to mingle and share information on a topic of interest. Like other groups, parents can message each other, create events, sign-ups, and share photos and files. Parents need to actively join one or more of these groups. (You are not automatically assigned to any of these groups.)
Private Groups are created when users send messages to one or more parents who are not in the same group. In this case, a private group is created. Like other groups, parents can message each other, create events, sign-ups, and share photos and files.
Join Your CLASSROOM (GrADE)
This is the most important step to make sure you receive grade-level notifications from your class communicator.
From a mobile device, tap the gear in the upper left corner and then your name. From a web browser, simply click your name in the upper left. Then select Your Children. Near the bottom you’ll see Classroom, and you’ll want to Add Classroom. Select your teacher from the list.
Join Your COMMITTEE (3rd GrADE Classroom)
Since third-graders do not rotate teachers, please join your "Committee" for class-specific communications. From a mobile device, tap the Directory icon at the bottom and select Browse Committees to see the Committees for the 3rd grade classrooms. Select your teacher and click Sign Up. From a web browser, simply click Committees in the navigation bar on the left to see the Committees for the 3rd grade classrooms. Select your teacher and click Sign Up.
Get Informed About a School Activity
Mobile App: Tap on "School" in the bottom menu to view your home page.
Web Browser: Click North Star Academy in the navigation bar on the left to view your homepage.
The homepage (aka “school” in the app) shows 3 main elements:
“Feed” shows all announcements, upcoming events, sign-up. Tap items in the feed such as a signup listing for more information.
“Calendar” shows all upcoming events. Remember to sync your calendar!
“More” allows you to see only announcements or sign-ups, and get access to files and photos.
You can see a filtered view of this homepage for your Classroom (Grade) or Committee (3rd Grade Classroom). You can select a Classroom to filter your feed for that grade or leave it set at the top level to see news from all Classrooms (Grades) your children are in. If your have a 3rd grader, you will also see your Committee on the left and can filter for class-specific communications or leave it at the top level to see all your news in one convenient place!
Mobile App: Tap the rainbow filter icon to change your view from All School to a specific Classroom or Committee.
Web Browser: Simply click your Classroom or Committee name from the menu on the left side of the page.
Find other parents IN THE DIRECTORY
If you know the name you’re looking for, use the search box on top of the screen, type the name and you’ll easily find name of the person (parent, staff, teacher) you’re looking for and the information this person agreed to share (e.g. address, phone number, email).
If you’re looking for someone in a specific Classroom or a staff member and you’re not sure of the name, click on Directory on the left side panel and Browse by Classroom (Grade) or Committee (3rd Grade Classroom).
SEND MESSAGES
Mobile App: The “Messages” tab at the bottom shows all of the groups you are in. Click any group and start typing at the bottom.
Web Browser: The left-hand menu shows all the groups you are in. Click on the Classroom (Grade) or Committee (3rd Grade Classroom) on the right side of the screen, you will see the list of persons part of this group. For a classroom, you can see:
The teachers
The room parents (Leads)
The parents
By default, the teachers are part of the discussion, however, if you want to send a message to parents only, use the option “message subgroup” on the bottom of the list.
Name it explicitly for all parents to understand who is part of the discussion, and select the parents, excluding the teachers. Type in the text area to post a message.
On the left menu, the new conversation group appears under Private Messages, as well as on top of the text area. Now that the group has been created you can continue messaging this group from the Private Messages area.
SEND PRIVATE MESSAGES TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR A GROUP
Mobile App: On the “Messages” tab, click the “+” at the top right corner. Choose “Send a Private Message.”
Web Browser: Click the “+” sign right next to the “Private Messages” label on the left-hand menu.
SUMMARY OF MOBILE APP NAVIGATION
School Tab: Shows announcements, events, and sign-ups. The rainbow icon on the right allows you to filter based on specific groups.
Messages Tab: Shows the groups you are in and the messages in the groups.
Directory Tab: Allows you to look up parents, browse Committees (iPhone), and Social Groups.
Settings Gear (at the top left corner): Account settings.
SUMMARY OF WEB BROWSER NAVIGATION
Main Menu on Left: Contains your account, your North Star Academy (your consolidated feed), your classrooms, your committees, the school directory, the Committees menu where you can view all committees and signup to join them, social groups, and private messages.
Menu Across The Top: When viewing North Star Academy (your consolidated feed), or when viewing a classroom or committee, across the top you see Feed, Calendar, and More (click to view Announcements, Sign-Ups, Files & Links, and Photos).
PRIVACY AND NOTIFICATION SETTINGS
You have control over your personal information, privacy settings and how you want to be notified about updates in Konstella.
Mobile App: Tap the gear icon in the upper left corner to view and set up your account.
Web Browser: Click on your name in the upper left corner to view and set up your account.
Video Tutorials
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