Some 2012 USCF events  (information about national events here)
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National High School (K-12) Championship 13-15 April
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
1300 Nicolett Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Some sections available at the 2011 event:
K-12 Championship   K-12 Under 1600   K-12 Under 1200   K-12 Under 800   K-12 Unrated   Blitz K-12   Bughouse   Parents & Friends - Rated   Parents & Friends - Unrated   Parents & Friends - Combined  

...
National Elementary (K-6) Championship 11-13 May
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center
2800 Opryland Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
in 2011, 9 Sections: K-6 Championship, K-6 Under 1000, K-6 Unrated, K-5 Championship, K-5 Under 900, K-3 Championship, K-3 U800, K-3 Unrated, K-1 Championship. April Rating Supplement will be used. Unrated players may play in the Championship or Unrated sections only

good explanation of USCF rating supplements here.

Excerpt:
USCF rates events the same day they are submitted when they are submitted electronically. Your "published" rating ( a misnomer since they no longer print the rating list) is updated based on events rated through the first Friday of the month. We held our State Championship this weekend and submitted the rating report on Monday May 4. This will not make the cutoff for the June supplement, takes effect June 1. Results from this tournament won't be used at tournaments, then, until July 1.

Try a "test drive" at this web site: Chess Magnet School

Chess Magnet School

"The cream of the crop...all our coaches are dreaming of the level they might have achieved,
had they known the program 20-odd years ago. This is really extraordinary material."
- Ton Montforts, Schaakacademie Limburg, Belgium

A good chess book for more advanced Elementary players: Winning Chess Tactics for Juniors

Details here.

Andover May Open results

Three Turtle Lake players participated.

Kaustubh S was 10th in the Silver division; Matt N was 1st in the Bronze division; and Anish S was 10th in the Bronze division.

Results

Excellent advice from the Salem Hills Chess Club

Everyone needs to take enough time on each move to consider the following:
1. What was my opponents last move - what is the threat? What would I do next, if I were on the other side of the board?
2. How many ways can I stop his good move? Which defense is best.
3. If I can't find a terrific move for my opponent, I'll look for a good move of my own.
4. Look for weaknesses in your opponents position -like two big pieces on a line, K & Q on same color square, a nice outpost for your knight, a chance to undermine (we'll learn that Friday)
5. If you're ahead trade pieces. If you're behind try to avoid trading pieces.
6. Don't weaken your position with a bad pawn move. Look for pawn moves that open highways for your pieces and close highways for your opponent's pieces.
7. Toward the end of the game, get your King out and use it as a fighter. Experience will eventually tell you when it's time to get the King out, but a good rule of thumb is if your opponent has less than 10 points in pieces left (not counting pawns), it's time to get the King out.
8. When you are in trouble take extra time - find a way out.
9. When you have your opponent in trouble take extra time - finish him off.
10. When ahead never get overconfident. When behind never give up - even when you're down to just a King, try to maneuver your King into a position where your opponent could easily stalemate you.

Turtle Lake took the 7th place team trophy at last weekend's K-3 Unrated Chess Nationals in Dallas

Of 78 competitors, Alexander Bonsager was 19th with 4.5 points; Matt Nelson was 22nd with 4 points.

Complete results here.

Minnesotans competing at Nationals are listed here, along with their results

Minnesotans did exceptionally well. The kids you play against on Saturdays are among the best in the country