Head O' Meadow Elementary School students won the top elementary award at a Connecticut Association of Schools Chess Tournament on Saturday, April 2, and the Board of Education celebrated the students who earned the award at its meeting on Wednesday, May 4.

Head O' Meadow Principal Barbara Gasparine introduced her students to the Board of Education for the celebration of excellence portion of the evening. Third graders Connor Child and Billy Cartelli and fourth graders Andrew Arena and Owen Tait competed in the chess tournament after competing in the school's after school program.

Glenn Budzinski is the founder and president of Connecticut Kids Play Chess, the largest nonprofit after school program in Western Connecticut, according to Ms Gasparine. Mr Budzinski and Head O' Meadow chess teacher Lee Salzman were also present for the school board's meeting.

"He placed teachers in all four of our elementary schools this year," said Ms Gasparine of Mr Budzinski. "We were very lucky to have Mr Lee Salzman as a teacher for our students."

Mr Budzinski presented the top elementary award trophy from the Connecticut Association of Schools Chess Tournament to the school board.

According to an e-mail from Mr Budzinski to Ms Gasparine, the highest three scorers from each school counted toward earning the trophy. Owen tied for first place in the third and fourth grade section by a score of 4-0, with Andrew, Billy, and Connor representing Head O' Meadow, too. The trophy will be given to Head O' Meadow to display.