The “ABCs” of Mrs. McKellar's 2nd Grade:
A Handbook for Parents
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Absences: Please call the office if your child will be absent that day at 303-387-6725. In an effort to keep our children as healthy as possible, we ask that you keep your child home until he/she has been symptom-free for 24 hours (fever, vomiting, diarrhea). THANK YOU for your cooperation! Please don’t worry about any work your child missed while absent. For extensive amounts of days off, I will send home any missed work.
Arrival: School starts at 8:35 a.m. Students may start arriving anytime between 8:25 and 8:35. They are to come in the front doors (no lining up outside anymore) and come down to our classroom. Please try to have your child to school on time so we can start learning right away!
Allergies: If your child has food allergies, please provide me with a bag of safe snacks for your child to eat throughout the year (10 or so should be good). There are times kiddos bring in birthday treats, etc. and I’d like to have something yummy and safe to give your child. Thanks!
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Backpacks: Your child should bring a backpack daily to carry all essential things. Please make sure your child comes to school every day with a water bottle, cold lunch, if needed, a healthy snack, and his/her BEE Binder.
BEE Binders: Your child will have a BEE Binder that will come home daily. Please check it nightly and return it to school daily. All important school papers will be put in the folder on Thursdays. The purpose of this folder is to make home/school communication as simple as possible and to help your child stay organized. Send all notes, money, and homework to school in the pocket of the folder.
Birthdays: Birthdays are VERY important in 2nd Grade! Your child may bring in a store-bought birthday treat on the day of his/her birthday. Because we are a peanut free classroom, all treats need to be “peanut free”. Treats also need to be easy to pick up, eat, and clean up. Some ideas are doughnuts, fruit kabobs, or individually wrapped snacks. Please, no huge birthday cakes! You can send the treats in with your child and we will celebrate during our recess time. If your child is having a birthday party and would like to invite the whole class, they may bring the invitations to school. Otherwise, please invite children during non-school hours to avoid hurt feelings!
Book Orders: Book orders will be sent home throughout the year. These books are inexpensive and a great way to build your child’s home library. If you plan to order something, please have your order and money turned in by the due date indicated. It takes about a week for the books to be delivered.
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Chromebooks: We are incredibly lucky here at Heritage because we have one-to-one devices for every child in the school. In 2nd grade, every child will have his/her own Chromebook to use at school.
Communication: is important! Feel free to contact
me whenever you have a question, comment, or concern. You can reach me in person, by email at klmckellar@dcsdk12.org, or by note. Written communication should be sent via the BEE Binder.
Conferences: You will have the opportunity to participate in two parent/teacher conferences during the school year. Of course, if any concerns arise, we can schedule a meeting at your convenience.
4Cs: At Heritage, we teach with the 4Cs in mind - Communication, Critical Thinking, Cooperation, and Communication. These 4Cs will be intertwined into the everyday curriculum.
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Dismissal: School doesn't get out until 3:30. 2nd graders will be dismissed through the front doors. If your child will be taking the bus home, please be sure to let me know by the end of the 1st day.
Delayed Dismissal: If there is lightning in the area or inclement weather, the school may need to delay our dismissal time. If this is the case and you are picking up your child from school, you will need to come in and sign out your child from your child’s classroom teacher.
Discipline: We believe in using positive behavior support and praise as our main discipline tool. We strive to encourage good behavior!
Drills: Throughout the school year, we participate in a variety of safety drills, including fire drills, disaster drills, lockout drills, and lockdown drills. During a lockdown drill, I will lock the classroom door, turn off the lights, and we will quietly move to the back corner of the room. These drills are designed to help students practice remaining calm and silent while sitting or standing quietly.
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E-mail: E-mail is the quickest and easiest way to contact me. I am able to check email throughout the school day and will respond as soon as I can to questions or concerns! My email is kim.mckellar@dcsdk12.org.
Email Sharing: I’d like to be able to share your email with other parents for party sign-ups. If you WOULD NOT like your email shared, please let me know as soon as possible.
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Field trips: Hopefully, we will be able to go on a field trip again this year. I will keep you posted as we know more. Permission slips will be sent home when dates and times are determined.
Fun: Second grade is a time for FUN! I promise to have fun with the kids every day!
G
Goof and Grow: Learning to cope with risks and uncertainty is a natural and important part of development. As your child’s teacher, one of my goals is to help them understand and practice healthy risk-taking. In second grade, we refer to this as “Goof and Grow.” As a class, we’ll explore what it means to take risks in a safe and supportive environment, and how those risks can help us grow—as learners, as friends, and as responsible citizens.
Growth Mindset: The beliefs students hold about intelligence, effort, and struggle significantly influence the choices they make about learning. That’s why we will focus on teaching the power of a growth mindset. Students with a growth mindset believe that intelligence can be developed through effort and perseverance. They view school as a place to build their abilities and see challenges as valuable opportunities for growth.
H
Hand Washing: The children are required to wash their hands before and after lunch and recess.
Homework: The beliefs students hold about intelligence, effort, and struggle play a powerful role in the learning choices they make. That’s why we will focus on nurturing a growth mindset in our classroom. A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort, persistence, and learning from mistakes. Students with this mindset see school as a place to strengthen their skills and view challenges as meaningful opportunities to grow.
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Independence: This is an important goal for students, as it helps build self-esteem and self-confidence. Second graders are capable of doing many things independently, and I encourage them to take responsibility for themselves in the classroom whenever possible. We are focusing on being kind, helpful, and responsible. Please continue to support and encourage these behaviors at home as well!
Illness: Your child’s health—and the health of everyone in our classroom—is essential for optimal learning. If your child is sick, please keep them home until they are fully well. Additionally, be sure to notify the front office at 303-387-6725 to report your child’s absence due to illness.
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Journals: The 2nd graders will have a variety of journals to work on throughout the year. Writing journals will be composed of children’s writing on specific or free choice topics.
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Keys: Keys to a successful school year include good communication. Keep updated by reading the class newsletter and by checking your child’s BEE Binder every day for other notes and information.
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Label your child’s items: This includes jackets, backpacks, lunch boxes, and water bottles (and in the winter...boots, mittens, and hats). This cuts down greatly on lost items! Also, check the lost and found throughout the year for any missing items!
Library: We will visit the library once a week, and your child will have the opportunity to check out two books. If your child does not return their books, they will need to return them before checking out new ones.
Love: I promise to care deeply for your child, and my hope is that they will LOVE second grade, LOVE Heritage, and LOVE coming to school every single day!
M
Math: Math concepts are covered daily. Encourage your child to explain what they are learning in math throughout the week. You can always expand your child’s math knowledge by using everyday objects to count and add. Show your child how you use math every day as well!
Money: Please send all money in a sealed, labeled envelope to the school in the BEE Binder.
Mystery Reader: We warmly encourage parents, grandparents, and friends to join in this fun activity! In the coming weeks, you’ll have the chance to sign up with me to share a story with the class. The exciting “mystery” is that your child won’t know you’re coming—something the kids absolutely love!
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Newsletter: A weekly newsletter will be emailed to you. Be sure to read it for important updates, what we have been learning about, and other special news.
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Office: Always sign your child in and out of the office when children arrive late or when they are picked up early.
Outdoors: Recess is held outdoors every day, weather permitting. If it is rainy or too cold, students will have indoor recess. Please apply sunscreen to your child before school on hot, sunny days. Additionally, be sure to send your child dressed in weather-appropriate clothing, including extra warm layers during the winter months.
P
Progress Reports: These will be sent home twice per year - in December and in May.
Parties: Second graders love celebrating holidays and special events! We will have parties throughout the year, and I will keep you informed about them in advance through my newsletters. Volunteers and donations are always greatly appreciated, so please keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities to help. Our three main parties each year are the Halloween Party and Parade, the Winter Party, and the Valentine’s Day Party. All parents are warmly invited to join these celebrations—so be sure to mark your calendars!
Parent Portal: You should have received instructions when you registered on how to set up your Parent Portal account online. If you cannot figure it out, please contact the front office. You will have access to field trip payments, progress reports, and lunch balances all on Parent Portal so please get it set up as soon as possible. Thank you!
PTO: A Message from Our PTO:
On behalf of the Heritage Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), we warmly welcome you to the Heritage team! Our PTO is made up of parents and teachers working together to support and enrich learning experiences while building a strong, connected community. We focus on fundraising—and most importantly, having FUN!
We hope you’ll join us for many of our PTO-sponsored events this year, including the Back to School Bash, Mother-Son Night Out, Father-Daughter Dance, Silent Auction, Donuts with Dad, Muffins with Mom, Family Paint Night, and more!
We encourage all families to get involved. Become a PTO member to enjoy discounts on events, volunteer your time, or simply join us at a PTO meeting. It truly takes a village, and we’re so happy to have you as part of ours!
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Questions: Please don’t hesitate with questions or concerns! Email is the best and quickest way to get a hold of me.
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Reading: In second grade, we will focus on expanding reading fluency and strengthening comprehension skills. Please encourage your child to read every day—whether you read together or your child reads aloud to you. Before, during, and after reading, be sure to practice retelling the story to reinforce understanding. We welcome and encourage all kinds of reading! S
Specials: Each day, your child will participate in "Specials," which include Art, Music, and PE. They will attend each special for five consecutive days before moving on to the next one. Please make sure your child wears tennis shoes to school during the PE rotation for safety and comfort.
Science and Social Studies: We integrate our science and social studies instruction within our World Class Outcomes. We will be exploring a variety of topics throughout the year!
Snacks: Snack time will take place each day during recess, so please send your child with a healthy snack daily. Simply place the snack in your child’s backpack. Healthy options include fruit, vegetables, pretzels, cheese sticks, and similar items—please avoid cookies, candy, or brownies. Labeling your child’s snack with their name is also helpful to prevent any confusion if others have the same snack.
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Technology: Your child will be learning how to use a Chromebook.
Toys: Please remind your child that toys from home should not be brought to school.
Transportation: Ensuring your child safely gets to their proper form of transportation each day is very important to us! To help keep everyone informed, please email me before the first day of school to let me know how your child will be getting home each day. If there is ever a change in your child’s transportation plans, please contact the office so they can pass the message along to me. Unless we hear otherwise from a parent or guardian, your child will be sent home using their usual method of transportation each day.
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Unique: Each child comes to us with gifts and needs that are unique to him/her. We rejoice in each child’s uniqueness and will do our best to teach him/her according to his/her individual needs. We strive to differentiate our teaching so that each child can be the best 2nd grader he/she can be!
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Visitors: When visiting the school, please sign in at the office and you’ll receive a “visitor” sticker. You'll need to bring your Driver's License in with you when you come to the school during the school day. When leaving, please remember to sign out!
Volunteers: You can make a difference! I love having parent volunteers in my classroom and can find many creative ways to use your talents. It is important to give the students the first few weeks to get settled but, by the beginning/middle of September, I would love to have you volunteer. A volunteer sheet was sent home. I will let you know of other opportunities to volunteer as they arise throughout the school year.
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Water Bottles: Please send your child with a reusable water bottle each day. This water bottle should contain water only.
Web Page: The school website is a great place to keep updated with current school events. HE website
Writing: Children will have various opportunities to write. There will be time for direct writing instruction through Thinking Maps, small group writing, creative writing, and free choice writing.
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“X-tra” Time: All children learn at different speeds. Some may start the year feeling less confident as readers or writers, while others might feel nervous or anxious about beginning a new school year. Because of this, I will meet each child where they are and tailor my teaching to their individual needs. There’s no benefit in boring students or teaching beyond their current level. Some simply need a little “extra” support to thrive. time…
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You: You are the first and most important teacher your child has. You know your child better than anyone. If you think of things throughout the year that will assist me in teaching your child, please let me know.
Younger Siblings: We understand that volunteering can be challenging when you have younger siblings to care for. However, for the safety and focus of all involved, we kindly ask that younger siblings not accompany you when you come to volunteer. Managing a group of five or six second graders is already a big task, and adding another child can make it difficult to maintain a safe and productive environment. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation with this guideline.
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Z-z-z-z’s: Young children need plenty of rest each night to prepare for a full day of learning. It’s important to set and stick to a nightly bedtime schedule so that your child is ready to go when morning comes.