Saint Isabella School of San Rafael Chess Club Starting January 13th

Saint Isabella School of San Rafael Chess Club coming January 13th

Why Offer Chess?

Novato Chess Club (NCC) is a 501 c (3) public benefit; not for profit corporation, serving San Francisco and Marin. We offer academic enrichment programs in chess and public speaking. A NO ELECTRONICS DEVICE ZONE.

Students build relationships by engaging /speaking to each other - on an interpersonal; human level. Our program is designed to have fun while developing reason, critical thinking, the will, and building upon positive Catholic /Christian life skill(s).

Benefits of Playing Chess:

#Focusing: 

Children are taught the benefits of observing carefully and concentrating. If they don’t watch what is happens, they can’t respond to it, no matter how smart they are. 

 

#Visualizing: 

Children are prompted to imagine a sequence of actions before it happens. We actually strengthen the ability to visualize by training them to shift the pieces in their mind, first one, then several moves ahead. 

#Thinking Ahead: 

Children are taught to think first, then act. We teach them to ask themselves “If I do this what might happen and how can I respond?” Over time, chess helps develop patience and thoughtfulness. 

#Weighing Options: 

Children are taught that they don’t have to do the first thing that “pops into their mind.” They learn to identify alternatives and consider the pros and cons of various actions.

 

#Analyzing Concretely: 

Children learn to evaluate the results of specific actions and sequences. Does this sequence help me or hurt me? Decisions are better when guided by logic, rather than impulse. Abstractly Thinking: Children are taught to step back periodically from details and consider the bigger picture. They also learn to take patterns used in one context and apply them to different, but related situations. 

#Planning: 

Children are taught to develop longer range goals and take steps toward bringing them about. They are also taught of the need to reevaluate their plans as new developments change the situation. 

#Juggling Multiple Considerations Simultaneously: 

Children are encouraged not to become overly absorbed in any one consideration, but to try to weigh various factors all at once

Chess instructor: Christopher Major, President Novato Chess Club HYA and Coordinator Archdiocese of San Francisco, African American Ministry and a Jefferson Award Winner for Public Service {2017)

*Our first chess sessions begin on: Thursday, January 13, 2022. 

We meet (1x / per week for (6) sessions), after school for 60 minutes.  Fee: $90.00. (Includes the $5 facility fee)

Session dates: January 13, 20, 27 and February 3, 10,