School Communications update

We know that keeping up with school information can sometimes feel overwhelming, particularly in a busy environment where communication needs to reach different people at the right time. Schools are dynamic places, and each week involves a mixture of planned updates alongside more urgent, time‑sensitive messages. We recognise that navigating this can be complex, and we appreciate the effort families make to stay informed and engaged.

This year’s introduction of Consent2Go (which replaced Operoo after it ceased operating in Australia) has added an additional layer of complexity. Because Consent2Go manages excursion permissions, medical information and emergency contacts, the initial setup period has generated more notifications than usual. As families and staff become more familiar with the platform, we expect notification levels to settle significantly from Term 2. 

If you need guidance on using Consent2Go, you can find support materials on Astra

Improving and simplifying our communication practices remains a strategic priority for the School. To ensure this work reflects the needs of our families, we will include a short communications survey in the next edition of eLink. Your feedback will be invaluable in helping us strengthen our communication approach.

In the meantime, we want to reaffirm the key channels families can rely on:

• Astra: Astra remains the central source of truth for day‑to‑day information. The dashboard includes school calendars, policies, class information, due work, reports, and essential updates. Some items may also be sent via email when they are urgent or time‑critical. For full instructions on how to use Astra, read this guide or watch a recording of the parent information session. For technical support, please contact IT Help Desk.

   

• eLink (Newsletter): Published every second Friday, eLink provides a curated summary of school news, reflections from school leaders, important reminders, and upcoming events. Past editions can be found here.

   

• Girton App: Parents and carers are encouraged to download the Girton Grammar School app from the relevant app store, for access to Astra from mobile devices. 

   

• Email: Email remains an important channel for direct communication between staff and families. Please ensure your contact details remain up to date in Consent2Go and that your email settings allow messages from the School to be received rather than filtered as spam.

   

• Consent2Go: Consent2Go is now the platform for excursion permissions, medical details and emergency contacts. All consent requests are sent from admin@mcbschools.com. For detailed support, please visit the Consent2Go information page on Astra. 

We also welcome Olivia Zan, who has joined Girton this year as our Head of Strategic Communications. Olivia brings extensive experience in internal and external communication across large, complex organisations, and is leading our work to streamline communication for families, students and staff, with a strong focus on clarity, consistency and reducing unnecessary email traffic.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we improve the way we communicate with the Girton community.