The Journey of My School Connect: Technologically Empowering Schools

My School Connect’s story begins with a simple, yet important observation: the outdated methods schools used for everyday tasks like ordering lunches, managing events and processing payments. As technology has progressed and filtered into industries around the world, school administrative processes are still buried in paper trails, often leading to inefficiencies and errors.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

The idea was to create a solution to help schools run smoothly and more efficiently. Our founders got to work setting up a digital canteen and managed orders in real-time, showcasing the simplicity and effectiveness of what My School Connect could offer. This hands-on approach demonstrated the many benefits of the platform, from streamlining processes to connecting the school community.

Our Journey

It all started with a handful of coins. Rob, our founder and CEO, volunteered in the school canteen when he found himself buried under a mountain of coins, tallying up the day’s sales. As he counted, he couldn’t help but think there had to be a better, faster way. That’s when it came to him: why not digitise the entire process? It was from this mix of necessity and a sprinkle of canteen chaos that the idea for My School Connect was born.

As My School Connect evolved from an idea into a working platform, we achieved several key milestones along the way. Naturally, the official launch of My School Connect was a turning point, but the real success came when the first school signed on. 

While we were initially focused on streamlining canteen orders and event management, we soon received feedback from schools that they needed more. As a result, we expanded our offerings to include uniform shops, volunteer management, and cashless payment systems.

Within a few years, My School Connect grew from serving a handful of local schools to being adopted across the country.  

What We Do

At My School Connect, we are dedicated to transforming school management through innovative technology. This includes: 

1. Online Canteen Orders: Our platform allows parents to place and manage their children’s canteen orders online. Canteen managers can streamline the ordering process, as seen in this case study with Canteen Kat, while parents can go cashless.
2. Event Management: From fundraisers to trivia nights, our event management tool helps schools plan, execute and track school events with greater ease and efficiency.
3. Uniform Sales: We provide an online portal for schools to sell uniforms, making it easier for parents to purchase.
4. Volunteer Coordination: Our system streamlines the process of managing volunteers for various school activities, allowing schools to easily schedule, communicate with, and track volunteers.

Our Mission

At My School Connect, we are committed to empowerment, innovation and community. These core values guide every aspect of our work, from the development of our technology to our interactions with each school, parent and student.

1. Empowerment: We believe in empowering schools by providing them with the tools they need so they have more control over how they operate.
2. Innovation: Staying at the forefront of technology is fundamental to our approach. We are continually looking for new ways to improve and expand our services, anticipating future challenges in school management.
3. Community: By improving school operations, we aim to build a healthier, more connected community environment.

In fact, the community is at the foundation of what we offer. We realise the importance a strong community plays in the daily running of schools and just how valuable volunteers are to our children’s education. That’s why our Events module is completely free to use for Free events and our Volunteer module can be used for free with any other module, recognising the importance of volunteers in our school.

Impact Stories: Real Impact in Schools

At My School Connect, we pride ourselves on the tangible impacts our My School FundMe platform has had on school communities across Australia. The success stories below show the positive changes and improvements experienced by schools that have partnered with us.

Case Study: William Dean Public School, Sydney

• Duration of the fundraiser: 4 Weeks
• Total raised: $18,917.56 from 511 orders

William Dean Public School showed one of the highest participation rates, showcasing the My School  FundMe app’s ability to handle large-scale school fundraising efforts for their Colour Fun Run. The funds raised were pivotal in establishing new extracurricular activities and enhancing existing programs.

Case Study: Heathcote East Public School, NSW (southern suburbs of Sydney, near Engadine)

• Size of school: only 103 students!
• Total raised: $1,500

Heathcote East Public School held an Easter Egg Raffle and a Mother’s Day Raffle, both in 2024 and raised a total combined of $1,500.

Here’s what they had to say: “We love the raffle section of My School Connect. It’s easy to use and saves us hours in cutting up and filling in paper tickets. Also, by having the raffle online, our reach has increased from immediate school families to the wider community and our family’s families.”

These case studies not only demonstrate the functional benefits of the My School FundMe platform but also share the community impact. My School Connect helps schools not just raise funds but also foster a sense of community among students, parents, and staff.

Roadmap: Future Plans and Goals for My School Connect

As we look ahead, we aim to explore new ways to support schools, parents and students. Here’s a glimpse into future plans:

• We are developing exciting partnerships to offer seamless and efficient data handling. Watch this space!
• We plan to extend our reach, bringing My School Connect to more schools within Australia.
• We are exploring the integration of AI to provide predictive analytics for school administrators. 
• Understanding that each school has unique needs, we aim to improve our customisation tools, allowing schools to tailor more features of the platform.

My School Connect aims to stay at the forefront of technology, making school management more efficient, inclusive and responsive to the evolving needs of communities around Australia.

To get started, call us on 1300 030 915 or Contact Us to book your obligation-free demo today!