Blair students help elementary school students learn chess in the Chess for Success Saturday program and Blair H.S.
By
Jose Lopez
Do you want to try something different? Try the
Chess for Success Club. Chess for Success is a club that has been taking place
for many years in different community centers and schools.
Mr. Moreno, a counselor of the ESOL department,
started this idea around eleven years ago when he was working in Washington, D.C.
"The purpose of this is to help immigrant students feel comfortable, think
right, and take good examples of playing chess into the real life," he said.
This club takes place at Blair High School every
Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon and also at Oak View Elementary School
on Tuesdays and Thursdays. "Anybody is welcome to join in the chess club,"
Mr. Moreno said.
There are students from different countries such
as Koreans, Salvadorians, Dominicans, and different countries in Africa.
William Osorio, a 9th grader at Blair, is one of
the students who goes every Wednesday to learn new skills and practice. He started
playing one year ago. "I like to play chess in Mr. Moreno's chess club because
it helps me to see my life with clarity in the way of making good decisions and
resolving my problems," William said.
On Saturdays many students from middle school go
to Blair to play chess and adults and Blair students go to help Mr. Moreno.
Elvis Aybar, a Blair student, goes on Saturdays
and teaches middle school students. "I like to teach students form middle
school because what I teach them about chess might be helpful to some of them.
I don't know in what manner, but I know it might help them," Elvis said.
Pablo de Garate and Miguel Gatti are adults who
go on Saturday to be volunteers who like to spend time teaching and playing chess
with M.S. students. Pablo works at the embassy of Spain. He started to play since
he was 5 years old. Even though he does not speak English well, he tries to speak
it. "I come on Saturday because I like to play chess and I want to diffuse
it throughout the Spanish speaking community because this is one way to communicate
with other people, in this case with middle school students," he said. "Sometimes
it is difficult to teach children because sometimes children can't pay attention.
However rules and basic movements are the first things they need know."
Miguel Gatti from Paraguay has been playing chess
for 34 years and likes to teach chess to middle school students. "Chess helps
to have discipline, knowledge and improves intelligence," he said.
Edgar Molina, a middle school student has been playing
for three years and realizes that playing chess is not just for fun; it is to
get something for the real life. "Winning and losing is one of the things
I have learned while I have been playing chess because it makes me respect my
opponent," he said.
" In life, effort helps us have good results
that make anybody feel great about him/herself," Mr. Moreno said.
"Playing chess is like real life because usually
people take actions first but think and reflect last, " Pablo G. said. But
chess helps people think first before acting.
