A Note from the Principal
Dear Thorson Families,
We made it through our 67th day of school! Our staff and students embraced the day with fun announcements, some classroom fun with 6-7, and a treat at lunch provided by our PTO. It was a fun day, but I think we ALL need a break now from the 6-7 craze. Tomorrow is dress in white/snowman day. Next Friday is ugly/holiday sweater day.
NextPath
Families in grades 4K through 3rd are already familiar with Next Path, the student information system that houses the Early Literacy Screening information required by the state of Wisconsin. We are expanding and are using Next Path to report progress monitoring for students receiving certain academic interventions. If you have a child participating in a group with one of our building interventionists, please look for an email with instructions on how to log in to NextPath. By creating this NextPath account, you will be able to check how your student is progressing to make sure their intervention plan is helping them grow.
Toy Drive
Thank you to all of the families that donated to our KAPCO Kids2Kids Toy Drive! Some CHS students came by to pick up our toys, and their car was completely full! Thank you again for all of your generosity during this season of giving.
Thorson Night with CHS Basketball
Thorson Night is on January 9th at the CHS girls and boys basketball game against Homestead.The varsity girls will start at 5:30 and the boys will play right after that around 7:00. This is a great opportunity to cheer on our high school basketball teams while also celebrating past Thorson students who are now playing on the team. Thorson night includes:
- Free admission for all students/staff
- Students can be part of the pre-game introduction
- All students get one free popcorn
- Teacher Recognition
There will be VIP seating under the south basketball hoop again for families and students.
Ticket Policy: Card and Mobile Payment Only with GoFan
Cedarburg High School will utilize GoFan for mobile ticketing at athletic events. Fans can purchase tickets online through the Cedarburg GoFan page or by presenting a card or mobile payment option at the ticket gate. All major credit cards are accepted, along with Apple Pay. Buying tickets online in advance allows fans to access and share tickets easily by email or text without standing in line.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online before arriving at the facility. For your convenience, signage will be set up at the venue to help fans navigate an online purchase quickly and easily. No cash will be accepted! Spectators 60 & over and 6 & under get in free.
To purchase event tickets, please visit https://gofan.co/app/school/WI19411
Thank you and have a great weekend,
Brandon Ruff, Principal
Scott May, Assistant Principal
Important Information:
Dr. Appointments/Leaving Early
If your child is leaving early for a Dr appointment or leaving early for the day, a parent/guardian must send a note OR email to the office and teacher. The note/email must include the student's name, the time of pick-up, the date of pick-up, the name of the person picking up the student, and if they are returning to school. Only people listed as contacts in Skyward will be allowed to pick-up students. ALL students arriving late or leaving early must be signed in/ out at the main office.
Sick Days or Absent
Absent/ Late Arrival- If your child will be late or absent, please call the Thorson attendance line at 262-376-6766 before 9:00 a.m. Please state your students first and last name, teacher, and the reason for the absence. If you are going to be late and are taking hot lunch, please let us know your child's lunch choice by calling the school office at 262-376-6705. If you would like to email this information, please email kmccabebirmingham@cedarburg.k12.wi.us or trveenendaal@cedarburg.k12.wi.us .
Attendance Policy
CSD Attendance Frequently Asked Questions
Thorson Girls in STEAM Presenters Needed!
Our Girls in STEAM club will be returning soon! We are looking for any family and/or community members who would be interested in leading one of our club meeting dates. We are looking for local community members who work in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The meetings will include hands-on activities as well as being introduced to your unique careers. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please complete this form by Friday, December 19th. If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact Katie Kowalkowski- kkowalkowski@cedarburg.k12.wi.us. Thank you for your consideration!
🛠️ Makerspace Request: Pringle Cans Needed!
Our 5K students are gearing up for a fun Maker-Centered activity and we need your help! We're collecting regular-size Pringle cans to use in the project. If you have any empty containers at home, please send them to the office. Every can helps spark creativity! Thank you for supporting our little makers! 💡🎨
Cold Weather Apparel
Cold weather is here! Students need to wear a jacket or thick sweatshirt outside for recess if the temperature is below 50 degrees. Please make sure that your child(ren) brings warm outerwear to school each day. Please also label all outerwear, gloves, and hats, so we can return them to your child if misplaced. In order for students to play in the snow off of the blacktop, they are required to wear winter coats, boots, snow pants, hats, and waterproof gloves/mittens. If you are in need of outerwear items for the upcoming months, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mr. Ruff at bruff@cedarburg.k12.wi.us or via phone (262) 376-6701.
Bags in Backpacks Program
For any families in need, we offer a Bags in Backpacks program. Family Sharing food pantry in Grafton will supply weekend meals and snacks to students through this program. Each Thursday or Friday, Family Sharing will deliver meals that consist of two breakfast meals, two lunch meals, two fruits, carrots, and other snacks, to Thorson. To maintain discretion, the meals are packed in grocery bags and delivered to the Thorson Office. From there, the Thorson Office Staff will deliver the bags to students in a subtle manner, so attention is not drawn to the students receiving food. This is an anonymous and confidential program. There is no paperwork involved; no signing of documents, Family Sharing only wants to know the number of bags you would need each week and any dietary restrictions. If you are interested in this program, please contact Mr. Ruff at bruff@cedarburg.k12.wi.us .
Food Service Free & Reduced Lunch
The Cedarburg School District recognizes that recent events, such as the federal government shutdown, may have affected your family's financial situation. We want to assure you that our district is here to support you during this difficult time.
If your income has recently decreased due to a furlough or for any other reason, your family may now qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. We encourage all families experiencing a change in financial circumstances to apply, even if you believe you do not meet the qualification criteria. You can apply at any time as your financial situation evolves. Rest assured, your application remains confidential, and the process is designed to safeguard your privacy. For additional details and to access the application for free and reduced-price meals, please visit the district website to learn more.
Pawsitively PTO.
Grateful for our Amazing School Community
This month’s Teachers’ Lounge restock was generously sponsored by Harrison Financial. We extend our sincere appreciation for their contribution and ongoing commitment to supporting our educators. Their partnership helps us maintain a welcoming and well-resourced space for our staff, and we are grateful for their dedication to our school community. Thank you, Harrison Financial, for investing in the well-being of our teachers!
Dining for Dollars
Save the date! Our next Dining for Dollars is at The Stilt House on Tuesday, January 13th. The Stilt House will be giving 20% of sales back to the PTO, this includes any gift cards purchased!
Bundt Cake Pickup Tomorrow!
Bundt cakes will be ready for pickup on Friday, December 12th from 1-4 PM in the Community Room. Enter through door 14. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at thorsonelempto@gmail.com.
The Thorson Giving Tree is a way to support our amazing teachers this holiday season. Families can choose an item from their teacher’s Amazon wish list, have it shipped home, and then send it to school with their child. Every gift helps create a brighter, more engaging classroom for students.
Check out the Amazon Wish lists Here!
🎿 Join the Jaguar Ski & Snowboard Club! ⛷️ Our club is open to everyone in the family — parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents — even friends of the family! Just send them the link and have them sign up too.
The Jaguar Ski & Snowboard Club is an awesome way for kids to learn to ski or snowboard through Terrain Based Learning (ages 7–18) and for the entire family to enjoy fun Friday nights on the slopes — it’s not just for lessons!
The Club offers deep discounts on lift tickets at $138 and rentals (if needed) for $118 for all 4 evenings. It also includes Free Terrain Based Learning lessons, discounts on “Beyond the Basics” lessons, a loyalty discount card for bonus ski days outside of club Fridays, and so much fun with other Thorson families!
📅 2025–2026 Ski Dates – Friday Nights at Little Switzerland
🏔️ Fri, Jan 16, 2026
🏔️ Fri, Jan 23, 2026
🏔️ Fri, Feb 6, 2026
🏔️ Fri, Feb 13, 2026 – No school day, so you can start early! (Lessons still begin at 4 PM)
*Make-Up Date: Fri, Feb 20, 2026 (Only if Little Switzerland is closed on one of our club dates)
👉 Sign Up HERE and Chris Potter, our Ski Club coordinator, will email you a payment link and the Little Switzerland waiver. Please email any questions to Chris at cdpotter105@yahoo.com. You can also find out more information about the Club HERE.
LEGO Club
LEGO Club will take place on the first and third Thursday of each month in the Thorson cafeteria. Please drop off your student(s) at the front door no earlier than 8am. LEGO Club is FREE for students, but we kindly ask you to register your student(s) so we can ensure we have enough building supplies. Register HERE!
The LEGO Club dates are December 18, January 15, February 5, February 19, March 5, March 19, April 16, May 7, May 21.
Celebration Rock Art for 2025-2026 School Year
Have a birthday, big game, something important, just for fun? Book the celebration rock to celebrate your student. For $10, you can paint a special message/artwork to be displayed for a 24-hour period. Please reserve your spot HERE.
Ask the Principal & November PTO Meeting
Have a question for Principal Ruff? Submit any school-related question anonymously, and he’ll answer as many as possible during our monthly PTO meetings. Ask your questions HERE.
Here are the Meeting Minutes from our December Meeting. TIME CHANGE-Our next meeting is Monday, January 12th at 6 PM in the Thorson Community Room (enter through Door 14). Can’t attend? Share your ideas at thorsonelempto@gmail.com.
School District
Information on Cedarburg Youth LaCrosse HERE
CPACKids Musical Theater Registration Opens Tuesday, December 9 at 10:00 AM
Join CPACKids for a magical winter journey filled with music, friendship, and unforgettable moments on stage in the winter production of FROZEN, JR. Students will learn acting, dance, vocal performance, teamwork, characterization, improvisation and collaboration. The hard work and fun concludes with two full stage musical performances.
Visit our website for registration information, audition details, rehearsal schedule, and all the magical moments ahead.
Registration Opens Tuesday, December 9th at 10AM
Register Online: cpackids.com
Ages: 8 - 14 yrs – all experience levels welcome! Spots fill quickly. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the cpackids team at cpackids@cedarburg.k12.wi.us.
Do you want to build a snowman? We can’t wait to create this icy musical theater adventure together!
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