Local fifth-graders show their chess prowess

What's in the cafeteria food at T.H. Rogers? Just a few months ago, the school's eighth grade chess team won big at the National Chess Championship. And now the fifth-graders have followed suit, taking top honors at the same tournament in the K-5 division.

The tournament, held in Nashville and sponsored by the U.S. Chess Federation is the largest national chess tournament for children, with a pool of 2100 young chess masters. The T.H. Rogers tournament team was made up of five fifth graders.

T.H. Rogers has won nearly 10 national championships since the chess program was introduced at the school in 2001. Here's why: every child in kindergarten through third grade receives chess instruction during the school day. After-school instruction and a chess club are also offered. Congratulations to the team and to their instructor, parent Martha Jenkinson!