Welcome Second Graders and Families!

My name is Kim McKellar, and I am thrilled to be your child’s second-grade teacher this year! I’m excited to partner with you as your second grader embarks on an incredible learning journey filled with high expectations, meaningful learning opportunities, personal growth, and—most importantly—a lot of FUN!

While I’m always a little sad to say goodbye to summer, I’m eagerly looking forward to meeting you and beginning what I hope will be your child’s best school year yet!

Before we dive into the details of the new school year, I’d like to share a little about myself. I began teaching in Douglas County in 1995 and have proudly been part of the Heritage Elementary community since its opening in 2001. Over the years, I’ve taught kindergarten as well as third, fourth, and fifth grades. I hold a degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Learning and Teaching from Regis University.

On a personal note, my husband Wick and I have been married for 22 years. We feel incredibly blessed to raise our family here in Highlands Ranch. Our son, Hayden (18), will be a freshman at CSU—gulp! He enjoys playing basketball and spending time outdoors. This upcoming year, he will be a freshman at CSU and is excited to begin his new adventure in Fort Collins. Our daughter, Addison (16), will be a sophomore at Mountain Vista. She loves horses and volleyball, and has recently enjoyed learning to play tennis. We also have an amazing Golden Retriever named Marley, who brings so much joy to our family.

In my free time, I love reading, spending time with my family, paddleboarding, hiking, and cheering on my kids in their sports—volleyball, horseback riding, and basketball. As a family, we enjoy hiking, skiing, and exploring the beautiful state we call home—Colorado!

I am genuinely excited to be teaching second grade. It’s such a critical year in a child’s academic development. Your child has just completed a fun and foundational year in first grade and is now ready to build on those experiences. Second grade is about more than just learning facts—it’s about applying them in meaningful ways. Students will be challenged to think critically, solve problems, and explain their reasoning.

Reading becomes especially pivotal in second grade. This is the year when students move beyond basic decoding and begin to read more fluently, using context clues to understand unfamiliar words. In math, we’ll explore number concepts more deeply, focusing on how facts relate systematically.

I can’t wait to see your child rekindle old friendships, build new ones, grow as a reader and writer, explore the logic of numbers, and most importantly—develop a life-long love of learning.

I’m so honored and excited to be on this journey with your child!

Warmly,
Kim McKellar