Barnard Elementary Konstella User Guide

We are excited to launch Konstella as our integrated communicate tool for calendar, volunteer signups, and messaging! Please review our Usage Policy and the following guide to get started! The web browser version and mobile apps have slightly different views so here are the step-by-step instructions for how to utilize each.

Topics

Join a Classroom

At the beginning of each school year, once you find out which classroom your child is in, you will need to add your child to the correct classroom in Konstella. 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.

Using a Web Browser

Using a Mobile Device

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.

Web Browser: Click Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School 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 3 different kinds of groups: classrooms, committees, and social groups.

Classrooms are associated with students. We have classrooms named and sorted by grade level and teacher name.

Committees are Barnard PTA-led volunteer groups. We have many committees available including Running Club, Writer’s Day, International Day, Lunar New Year, and many more. You can view details and sign up for different positions/committees. Committee members can message the group and share files and photos in the committee. Committee Leads can sign up and withdraw others, edit the committee, and will get notified when others join and leave the committee.

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 part of these groups). Social groups are available to anyone who wishes to join and must adhere to Barnard PTA’s Konstella Usage Policy for appropriate behavior.

Get Informed About a School Activity

Mobile App: Tap on “School” in the bottom menu to view your home page.

Web Browser: Click Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School in the menu on the left to view your homepage.

The homepage (aka “school” in the app) shows 3 main elements:

• “Feed” shows all announcements, upcoming events, and committee sign-up opportunities. 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. Under Files & Links you will find useful resources like the 2023-24 Year at a Glance Calendar, the SDUSD Academic Calendar, etc.

You can see a filtered view of this homepage for your classroom(s) or committee(s). You can select a classroom to filter your feed for that class or leave it set at the top level to see news from all classrooms you’re in. You will also see committees you have joined on the left and can filter news or the calendar for that committee 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, committee, or social group.

Web Browser: Simply click your classroom or committee name from the menu on the left side of the page.

Sign Up to Volunteer for Events or Activities

When an event or activity is happening and volunteers are needed for your committees, groups or school, you’ll see a sign-up under “Sign-ups” (under “More”). Depending on your notification settings you may also receive an email. Simply click on the sign-up to sign up to volunteer for the event or activity.

Find 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 class and you’re not sure of the name, click on Directory on the left side panel.

Then select the classroom you’re interested in and you will be able to see all the information this person has agreed to share (e.g. address, phone number, email)

Join a Committee

Please carefully read the committee descriptions and position details before signing up. Some committees require chair/lead approval to join.

Mobile App: *Supported on iOS, not on Android* Click the “Directory” tab at the bottom.  Click “Browse Committees” to browse and sign up for the committees.

Web Browser: Click the green “Committees” link on the left-hand menu to browse the committees. Click on a specific committee to learn more and/or sign up or remove yourself. 

Once you join the committee, all committee specific details will now appear in your main feed including any events, signups and messages.

View or Download Files

At the school level you can view files relevant to our school community. Individual classrooms and committees may also choose to share files or links.

Mobile App: Tap school to view your main page and click on “More” to view available files and links including the Year At A Glance calendar.

Web Browser: Once logged in, click on “More” then Files & Links to view available files and links including the Year At A Glance calendar.

Send a Message

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. The message will be seen by all members of that group.

Web Browser: The left-hand menu shows all the groups you are in: The classrooms, committees and social groups you have joined.

Click on the group: on the right side of the screen, you will see the list of persons part of this group. For a classroom, committee or social group, you can see:

• The Lead(s) – in classrooms, this is the room parent.
• The parents

Send a Message to an Individual or Group

Mobile App: On the “Messages” tab, click on the group you want to message, the type in the message box. Your message then goes out to all members of that group. You’ve essentially started a group chat!
To message select member(s): Click on “Send/Join” at the top right corner.  Choose “Send Private Messages” and select the member(s) you want to message.

Web Browser: Type your message in the message box then “Post” – all members of this group will then see that message and may reply back. You’ve essentially started a group chat!
To message only one member: In the member list on the right-hand side, click on the member you want to message, and you can send just that person a message. Or, you can click the “+” sign right next to the “Private Messages” label on the left-hand menu.
To message select members (a subgroup): Click on the “Message subgroup” at the bottom right-hand corner of browser and select the members you’d like to message.

Summary of Mobile App Navigation

School Tab: Shows your consolidated feed. Click on Calendar to see your consolidated calendar. Click on “More” to see announcements, events, and sign-ups in your school, classrooms and committees.  The rainbow icon on the right allows you to filter based on specific classrooms or committees.

Messages Tab: Shows message chats you are in, the groups you are in and the messages in the groups.

Directory Tab: Allows you to look up parents, browse classrooms, committees (iPhone), and social groups.

Settings Gear (at the top left corner): This is where you can add your child(ren), change your privacy settings (what contact information you want to be visible to other parents, change your notification settings (how and what you get notifications for), and change password.

Summary of Web App Navigation

Main Menu on Left: Contains your account, Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School (consolidated feed), your classrooms, your committees; Directory, Committees, and Social Groups to browse and join; and Private Message option.

Menu Across The Top: When viewing Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School (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 when things are updated in Konstella.

Mobile App: Tap the gear icon in the upper left corner to view and change your account settings.

Web Browser: Click on your name in the upper left corner to view and change your account settings.