Whiz Kid: Catherine Thomas

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Catherine Thomas

Whiz Kid’s Age: 12

Whiz Kid’s Grade: Eighth grade                       

Whiz Kid’s School:

Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment: Catherine Thomas skipped kindergarten and went right to first grade, and she’s been an A and B student ever since.

Whiz Kid’s Keys to Awesomeness:

Catherine Thomas spent three weeks in kindergarten before her teachers realized she didn’t belong there. Her mother had a sneaking suspicion even before that.

“She began reading fluently at 3 years old,” Jennifer Mauroff, Catherine’s mother, said. “I didn’t say anything to her teachers, but they came to me and said she was finishing her work and helping everyone else finish theirs. So they gave her a test that they give to first graders to see if they are ready for second grade, and she blew it away.”

So she was in kindergarten for three weeks before moving on to the first grade, and according to Mauroff, she’s excelled ever since.

“She’s an A-B student and she’s in advanced classes,” Mauroff said.

At first, Mauroff called the decision to allow her to skip kindgergarten “nerve-wracking.”

“I didn’t know if I had made the right choice,” Mauroff said. “She was younger than the other kids. She had a rough first week, but then, her friends began to fight over her. I was worried about it socially, but I knew academically, she would be fine.”

Thomas doesn’t remember what the transition was like.

“I remember going into first grade, and meeting my friends that I still have today, but I don’t remember what it was like,” Thomas said.

Thomas is now in eighth grade at Galloway Township Middle School. Her relationship with her friends is a big reason Mauroff never considered switching Thomas to an advanced school, Mauroff said.  Thomas is a part of a number of activities in her school, including Yearbook. She’s also a Girl Scout and enjoys Ballroom Dancing, which she participates in every weekend at

“It’s so much fun,” Thomas said. “I’ve met so many people. I go with grandparents every weekend. We went once and everyone was wearing their Halloween costumes.”

Thomas also enjoys watching CSI and for her, there’s only one career choice.

“She wants to be on the Behavioral Analyst Unit for the FBI,” Mauroff said.

“It’s what they do on CSI, but they don’t do the forensics,” Thomas said. “They do the behavioral profiles. I would like to learn about all that stuff, like reading body language and all that stuff. “