Nationally Ranked Chess Program Brings Many Benefits To Elbridge Gale Students Story by Julie Unger • Photos by Abner Pedraza
Under the tutelage of coach Antonis Loudaros, the members of the Elbridge Gale Elementary School Chess Team have become nationally ranked champions in a game of thought and strategy. In chess, players must use strategy and knowledge to predict an opponent’s moves and pre-plan moves of their own, Loudaros said, adding that students are taught to focus for hours on end. To be involved, students and their families dedicate weekends to traveling and competing in chess tournaments. Why? “It’s because they see results,” Loudaros said. “Grades can’t measure confidence, memories and social skills. It’s in the direction the students have.” Students write down every move they make so the games can be studied and broken down. They learn from analyzing past games where there was a weakness, where they could have done better and where they made a wrong turn. Chess at Elbridge Gale
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August 2014 |wellington the magazine| 10th Anniversary
is learning, thinly disguised as fun and games. After school, the students flood into the classroom and start setting up their boards. Once everyone is settled, the lessons begin. Loudaros picks students
to play a game of chess step-by-step on a vertical board in front of the group. As the players begin, he asks the students what they would choose as their next move, allowing them to reason out the best approach to the game. As a twist, he might rotate the board or switch the students playing the demonstration game. After a quick snack, they break into teams to play each other. Loudaros founded the chess program at Elbridge Gale eight years ago, and the program keeps growing. Practice is now divided by ability. The Alpha, Omega and Queens groups allow for level-appropriate study where students advance. While student participation varies, more than 130 students enrolled in the program last school year. That was up from 90 students the previous year. The program, Loudaros stressed, is not