diff --git a/.github/copilot-instructions.md b/.github/copilot-instructions.md
index 285c4dc..e0d27ac 100644
--- a/.github/copilot-instructions.md
+++ b/.github/copilot-instructions.md
@@ -72,8 +72,9 @@ Note: Syncfusion usage in the dashboard is already documented above; if a UI for
   - Dashboard (dev): `dashboard/Dockerfile.dev` exposes :5173 and waits for API via `dashboard/wait-for-backend.sh`.
   - Mosquitto: allows anonymous in dev; WebSocket on :9001.
 - Common env vars: `DB_CONN`, `DB_USER`, `DB_PASSWORD`, `DB_HOST=db`, `DB_NAME`, `ENV`, `MQTT_USER`, `MQTT_PASSWORD`.
-- Alembic: prod compose runs `alembic ... upgrade head` and `server/init_defaults.py` before gunicorn.
-  - Use `server/init_academic_periods.py` to populate default Austrian school years after migration.
+  - Alembic: prod compose runs `alembic ... upgrade head` and `server/init_defaults.py` before gunicorn.
+  - Local dev: prefer `python server/initialize_database.py` for one-shot setup (migrations + defaults + academic periods).
+  - `server/init_academic_periods.py` remains available to (re)seed school years.
 
 ## Production
 - `docker-compose.prod.yml` uses prebuilt images (`ghcr.io/robbstarkaustria/*`).
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ Note: Syncfusion usage in the dashboard is already documented above; if a UI for
   4) Return JSON-safe values (serialize enums and datetimes).
 - When extending media types, update `MediaType` and any logic in `eventmedia` and dashboard that depends on it.
 - Academic periods: Events/media can be optionally associated with periods for educational organization. Only one period should be active at a time (`is_active=True`).
+ - Initialization scripts: legacy DB init scripts were removed; use Alembic and `initialize_database.py` going forward.
 
 ## Quick examples
 - Add client description persists to DB and publishes group via MQTT: see `PUT /api/clients/<uuid>/description` in `routes/clients.py`.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ec3160f..0e823d9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ A comprehensive multi-service digital signage solution for educational instituti
 
 1. **Clone the repository**
    ```bash
-   git clone <repository-url>
+   git clone https://github.com/RobbStarkAustria/infoscreen_2025.git
    cd infoscreen_2025
    ```
 
@@ -98,7 +98,13 @@ A comprehensive multi-service digital signage solution for educational instituti
    # or: docker compose up -d --build
    ```
 
-4. **Access the services**
+4. **Initialize the database (first run only)**
+   ```bash
+   # One-shot: runs all Alembic migrations, creates default admin/group, and seeds academic periods
+   python server/initialize_database.py
+   ```
+
+5. **Access the services**
    - Dashboard: http://localhost:5173
    - API: http://localhost:8000
    - Database: localhost:3306
@@ -177,6 +183,7 @@ infoscreen_2025/
 │   ├── routes/               # API endpoints
 │   ├── alembic/              # Database migrations
 │   ├── media/                # File storage
+│   ├── initialize_database.py # All-in-one DB initialization (dev)
 │   └── worker.py             # Background jobs
 ├── listener/                 # MQTT listener service
 ├── scheduler/                # Event scheduling service
@@ -213,6 +220,9 @@ make fix-perms     # Fix file permissions
 ### Database Management
 
 ```bash
+# One-shot initialization (schema + defaults + academic periods)
+python server/initialize_database.py
+
 # Access database directly
 docker exec -it infoscreen-db mysql -u${DB_USER} -p${DB_PASSWORD} ${DB_NAME}
 
diff --git a/connect_to_github.sh b/connect_to_github.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index e1f3020..0000000
--- a/connect_to_github.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,73 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-# Script to connect this workspace to your existing GitHub repository
-
-echo "🔗 Connecting workspace to GitHub repository..."
-echo "================================================="
-
-# Check if repository name is provided
-if [ -z "$1" ]; then
-    echo "❌ Error: Repository name required"
-    echo ""
-    echo "Usage: $0 <repository-name>"
-    echo ""
-    echo "Examples:"
-    echo "  $0 infoscreen_2025"
-    echo "  $0 infoscreen-2025"
-    echo "  $0 infoscreen_server_2025"
-    echo ""
-    echo "Your GitHub username appears to be: robbstarkaustria"
-    exit 1
-fi
-
-REPO_NAME="$1"
-GITHUB_USER="robbstarkaustria"
-REPO_URL="https://github.com/${GITHUB_USER}/${REPO_NAME}.git"
-
-echo "Repository: ${REPO_URL}"
-echo ""
-
-# Add the remote origin
-echo "🔄 Adding remote origin..."
-git remote add origin "$REPO_URL"
-
-if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
-    echo "✅ Remote origin added successfully"
-else
-    echo "⚠️  Remote might already exist, removing and re-adding..."
-    git remote remove origin 2>/dev/null
-    git remote add origin "$REPO_URL"
-fi
-
-# Show current remotes
-echo ""
-echo "📋 Current remotes:"
-git remote -v
-
-echo ""
-echo "🔄 Fetching from remote repository..."
-git fetch origin
-
-echo ""
-echo "🔄 Setting upstream and pushing..."
-git branch --set-upstream-to=origin/main main
-
-# Try to push (might require authentication)
-echo ""
-echo "🚀 Pushing to GitHub..."
-echo "Note: You may need to authenticate with GitHub"
-git push -u origin main
-
-if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
-    echo ""
-    echo "🎉 Successfully connected and pushed to GitHub!"
-    echo "Repository URL: https://github.com/${GITHUB_USER}/${REPO_NAME}"
-else
-    echo ""
-    echo "⚠️  Push failed. This might be because:"
-    echo "1. You need to authenticate with GitHub"
-    echo "2. The repository doesn't exist"
-    echo "3. You don't have push permissions"
-    echo ""
-    echo "Try running: git push -u origin main"
-    echo "Or use GitHub CLI: gh auth login"
-fi
\ No newline at end of file