CARLISLE CHESS CLUB

Welcome to the web site of the Carlisle Chess Club of Carlisle, Massachusetts.

Program for the Carlisle School

The club offers students at the Carlisle School the chance to play chess, to increase their knowledge and appreciation of the game, and to develop good sportsmanship.

Besides being fun, research has shown that playing chess at a young age helps develop visualization, concentration, planning, and problem-solving skills. For this reason, chess is a standard part of the primary school curriculum in over 30 countries, and has been recommended by the current U.S. Secretary of Education.

The main activity of each session is playing chess. The children are grouped by skill level, and paired for games by adults. Children typically play 2-4 games during each meeting.

There are also short instruction periods during the hour, geared to the different levels of skill. And, each week, chess problems will be set out on this web site for interested children to solve at home.

More than 50 Carlisle School students are members of the club. More than 40 K-4 students generally attend the Friday morning meetings of the Club, while 8 to 10 students attend the Tuesday afternoon meetings of the club. Each session is typically also attended by many parents, either to help, or to observe. Parents are always welcome.

Next Session

Details (Elevator Version)

• Grades K through 4. Preschoolers may participate if accompanied by an adult. We will teach the rules of chess to children who do not know them. Children should be able to sit somewhat quietly and focus on a chess game. Register in advance. Fridays, 7:30 to 8:45 AM before school in the Dining Room. Fall (Sep-Dec), Winter (Jan-Mar) and Spring (Apr-Jun) Seasons.
• Grades 5 through 8. Meet on Friday afternoons.
• Funded by your donations. Parent volunteers needed.

Details (Long-winded Version)

• Who: The club is open to all Carlisle School students in Preschoolers may participate if accompanied by an adult. Parents must complete a Registration Form in advance.
• What: We will teach the rules of chess to children who do not know them. Children should be able to sit somewhat quietly and focus on a chess game.
• When: Grades K, plus preschoolers, meet before school on Fridays from 7:30 AM to 8:45 AM. At the end of the club session, the children will go to their classroom to start their school day. Grades 5 to 8 meet after school on Fridays.
• Where: The sessions are held in the Dining Room at the Carlisle School.
• Who else: The club is run by parent volunteers. We are aiming for one parent per six kids, which means a lot of parent volunteers are needed. The parents don't need to know how to play chess, though that helps. However, all adults present must have a CORI form on file with the Carlisle School. Note that CORI forms must be renewed every three years. Please check with the School office that your CORI form is on file and up-to-date. You can let us know that you are interested in volunteering on the registration form, or by sending email via our Contact Us email address.
• How: Participation in the club is free. However, the club is funded through donations, and a donation of $50.00 per child per year is suggested. We request that you make the donation on this website via Paypal, or have a check ready at the first meeting attended of the club.

  You can also help the club and the School when purchasing the chess books recommended on this site for your kids. When you click through to Amazon using the links on this site, and purchase a book (or any other item), Amazon will pay the Club a referral fee.

Registration

Because the club meets before and after school -- before the school officially assumes responsibility for the children -- we are required to have emergency contact and basic medical information readily available for all the children participating in the club. For this reason, the club cannot operate on a "drop-in" basis, and registration in-advance is required. You can do this simple registration for your child right on this web site. You can register your child at any time, even if the season has already begun. Start by clicking this link: Register Your Child.