Following review and discussion of current and pending school finance issues at Monday’s monthly USD 504 Oswego school board meeting, action was taken regarding staffing and assignments.

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Columbus hosted a chess tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21. Bryce Anderson, sixth grader, led the team with a perfect six wins. Nathaniel Waggoner, eighth grade had 3.5 wins, Jenny Getman, eighth  grade, three wins, and Brian Bufkin, sixth  grade, two wins. Also representing Oswego at the tournament were Alex Reynolds, Jordan K. Russell, and Dylan Fuller.
This is the first time in that an Oswego Chess team has won first place at a local tournament. It also marks the first time that an Oswego chess player has recorded a perfect tournament with six wins.
The Oswego Chess Club has had many good teams in the past including two state championships. However, it has not been able to win the top honor at preliminary tournaments where this 2A school competes against much larger schools.
Many things have led to this outstanding performance.
One is Bryce Anderson. This sixth grade competitor has made himself a student of chess. He has spent many hours studying the intricacies of this ancient game. This has raised his level of play. But a chess player needs worthy competitors. Bryce has been an advocate to get many classmates involved and to improve their level of play also.
Another difference this year is an adult, Tony Nichols, Youth Minister at Oswego Christian Church. ‘Tony’s skill at chess far exceeds mine” says Walter Keener, chess coach. Tony has been very involved in the chess club this year, teaching and encouraging the chess club. He has an amazing ability to relate to the students and patiently teach them. Chess clubs seldom perform much beyond the capabilities of the coach and the addition of Tony pushed the club beyond previous year’s performances.
Credit also goes to an outstanding third grade teacher, Mrs. Williams. For several years Mrs.. Williams has recognized the educational benefits derived from chess and has given classroom time for the chess club to introduce chess to the students.
Chess has a side benefit of improving classroom performance as well as communal benefits. The more adults that get involved, the more the entire community is improved.

Discovery Day was held at the Oswego Neosho Heights Elementary School Monday. It was a nice day, so the students really enjoyed getting outside where more events were held.
Area businesses, individuals and helpers set up various activities and informational booths for the students. There was fly fishing, basketball skills, cheerleading, twirling/dance and cowboy up held in the gymnasium. Outside was the EMTs. There was a mad scientist, book making, preschool wild around us, zumba, honey bees, germ buster, broom making, tae kwan do, petting zoo, KBI, Fisher Price little people, hot hair, candy making old time games, rockets, quilling, chess, origami, cookie decorating, first aid, stamping up, storytelling, recycle art and yummy snacks.
This event is held every two years on President’s Day. The students discovered many things in the world around them. Mother Goose and Nanny McKae were both present to help with the groups.