Blooming
Grove Academy (BGA) offers chess as an extracurricular activity.
The chess team's objective is teach children the rules of chess, improve their play, while making the game enjoyable and teaching good sportsmanship. In addition to being fun, chess is beneficial in raising self-confidence and teaching determination, planning, patience, and pattern recognition.
The BGA chess team is unlike any program you will find at local schools. Students at BGA are taught as young as 4 years old the wonderful game of chess. Chess classes are small, allowing for one-on-one attention.
The chess team is open to any student at BGA -- early learner through 8th grade. Approximately 1/3 of the students at BGA are members of the chess team.
The chess season runs from late September until mid-March. Meetings are held on Saturdays. This allows parents to participate along with their children.
Some team members participate in local, state and national tournaments. Team highlights from last season included:
- 8th
place - 2007 Illinois State Championships in the K - 1st grade
division. The team, comprised of only early learners (Pre-K and
Kindergarten age children), competed against teams of Kindergartners
and 1st graders. Despite the fact that they were playing
children up to 2 years older, the team was able to finish among
the top teams in the state.
- 2nd place - All-Girls Open National Championships - 8 years old and under section.
The chess team is coached by Victor Mata. Victor is a United States Chess Federation member with an approximate rating of 1750.
Contact Victor at bgachess@yahoo.com if you have any questions.