Chess Team

Head Coach: Dr. Kevin Sevilla (USCF Candidate Master)

Parent Volunteer: Luis Salazar

Mission:

Queen of Peace Chess Academy will be an in-house chess program offered by Dr. Kevin Sevilla with the help of Luis Salazer (parent of QOP students Julietta and Marcelo) for Pre-K-8th grade. Kevin has more than 25 years of chess coaching experience training complete beginners to recent national champions (Aakash Jani K-1 National Champion 2022). The goal of the program is to give exposure of the game of chess to all QOP students, develop an educational after school option, and for those interested, a competitive team to represent QOP Academy at local and national tournaments. Annual summer camps will be offered as they were in Summer of 2022 as well.

Chess teaches kids logical thinking skills, emotional regulation in the face of defeat, as well as a long list of other cognitive development benefits that will help them in their schooling and life outside of the game. The team will have custom uniforms, chess equipment, etc. just like all other sports teams at the school. A supplemental online presence will highlight their achievements and increase exposure for the program.

Schedule:

1-3 days per week from when school gets out to 5pm.

Single day camps will be offered on school holidays for parents who need educational child care

All students will be required to join the United States Chess Federation so that they can compete in rated events, and all students will be required to create a paid Chess Kids Accountso that we can run events and offer instruction virtually. Private lessons and small group instruction will be offered outside of the standard after school times for those interested.