Activities

By Dylan Fisher

I have participated in the Chess Club since September of the 2019-2020 School Year. My experiences in the Chess Club have been a learning experience for me because before I participated in Chess Club in the beginning of the school year, I did not know how to play Chess. Depending on how many members come to each Chess Club meeting, our club advisor, Mr. Vottero teaches me the names of each piece, and how many moves each piece is able to move on the board. During a meeting, we play a game of chess with another member, and our club advisor.

In the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, Mr. Vottero suggested to me that I participate in the Chess Club. I did not know if I should participate because I did not have any experience with how to play; however, I decided to participate because I thought that it would be a learning experience for me.. When I play chess, there are no strategic moves that are my favorite, and two of the people that I have competed against that are specifically talented are a fellow member, and our club advisor, Mr. Vottero.

The Chess Club members practice Profile of a Ramsey Graduate. First, in the “Habits of Mind” category, members are practicing “Reflection” because when a member has made a wrong move with their chess piece on a chess board, the member that they were competing against could make a suggestion to them about a move that they could make next time to help them protect their chess piece. Second, in the “Interpersonal Skills” category members are practicing “Adaptability” because a member needs to make a decision about where they could move their chess piece on the chess board during a game of chess. Third, in the “Personal Attributes” category members are practicing “Responsibility” because they attend the Chess Club meetings. Fourth, in the “Personal Attributes” category members are practicing “Academic Mindset” because they think about where they could move their chess piece on a chess board. Fifth, in the “Personal Attributes” category members are practicing “Self Direction” because members that do not know how to play chess, will ask members that have knowledge in how to play the game, to teach them how to play chess. Sixth, in “The 4C’s” category members are practicing “Critical Thinking” because when two members are playing a game of chess, depending on what chess piece that one member made on a chess board, the second member would have to make a decision about where they could move their chess piece on a chess board. Seventh, in “The 4C’s” category members are practicing “Communication” because when two members are playing a game of chess, each member will communicate to each other if a member is making a suggestion to another member about where they could move their chess piece on a chess board if the one member is not sure where to move their chess piece on a chess board. Eighth, in “The 4C’s” category members are practicing “Collaboration” because two members need to work with each during a game of chess to understand why each member moved a certain chess piece on a chess board. Ninth, in “The 4C’s” category members are practicing “Creativity” because a member has to think about where they could move their chess piece on a chess board during a game of chess. Tenth, in the “Content Mastery” category members are practicing “Wellness” because they learn how to play chess as a way to sharpen their skills and a healthy outlet to socialize with like-minded students.

The Chess Club is engaging, and constantly helping Chess Club members how to play a game of chess. Fruit bars are provided to each of the Chess Club members if they would like one during each Chess Club meeting, and the Chess Club members eat their lunch while they play a game of chess. I have learned a lot during my year of playing chess!