Continuing to Connect

OPEN TO ALL BETH EL KIDS IN GRADES K-5

A Note from Rob Baker, Beth El parent:

Dear Beth El Parents,

Welcome to the new 2018-19 school year!!  As the coordinator for the Beth El Chess Club, I want to share details for our plans in the upcoming year.

Our chess club will continue after a very successful first year. Chess has been shown to improve math and critical thinking skills at secular school. It is also a nice way for our kids to spend more time having fun with their Jewish friends at Beth El.

Our instructor, Silvio Rosato, is a very experienced chess teacher. I first met him when he taught our son as a kindergartener at Purchase Elementary School.  He is very good at engaging elementary school aged children.  

We have two classes. The younger section is for Kindergarten to 2nd grade, which meets Sundays from 11 am to 12 pm. The older section is for 3rd to 5th grade, and meets Sundays from 12 pm to 1 pm.  On days in which there is Ruach (for Kindergarten to 2nd grade) for the younger group and Chaverim (for 3rd to 5th grade) for the older group, chess will start 1 hour and 15 minutes later for each group to allow participation in these events (i.e., 12:15 pm start-time for Kindergarten to 2nd graders and 1:15 pm start-time for 3rd to 5th graders).

The cost will be $200 for eight classes payable on the first day of class directly to the instructor in cash. I encourage you to do some research on the cost of group chess lessons for kids so you realize this is a very competitive rate. We have the Department of Youth and Family Engagement to thank for that by providing space and administrative support at no cost.  We ask for one parent in the younger group to sign up and act as an assistant to help the instructor keep the kids focused once per session. The older kids do not require any parent assistant.

The dates for chess are: 

9/30, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/04, 12/02, 12/09, 12/16.  The dates for delayed start days are: 10/21 and 12/9.  1/6 will be a makeup day in case of inclement weather closure.

Last year, our younger section had six students whom I believe all plan to continue; the older section had four students whom I hope will all continue.  Admission will be on a first come, first served basis. If we get oversubscribed, we will attempt to hire a second instructor, but I can make no promises.  Please let me know if you have any questions about the program and confirm your interest to me as soon as possible  at nreyedoc@aol.com. I plan to be at the Religious School orientation on Sunday, September 23 if parents want to ask me any questions.

Thanks,

Rob Baker

nreyedoc@aol.com