Chess Club Seeks to Explore New Opportunities

As our 7-week chess club for elementary, junior high, and high school students draws to a close, we’re reflecting on the opportunity for growth each participant has experienced. Here are some highlights that have defined this year’s 3 sessions of Chess Club at the Academy for GOD:

Guest Appearance by Chess Master Rory: One of the most exciting opportunities of our club was the visit of Chess Master Rory from Duke University. His expertise and insights enhanced the value of our sessions. During his two visits, he not only provided instructive lessons but also engaged in a Simultaneous Play event, challenging all 25 members of our club simultaneously. While our students gave it their best shot, Chess Master Rory's skill proved formidable. Yet, the experience of playing against a master was invaluable and will inspire our players for years to come.

The St. Louis Chess Club conducted its own research in 2019-20 and found that:

• 72% of students say that learning to play chess has made them more confident when learning difficult material.

• 75% of students say that playing chess encourages them to challenge themselves more in the future.

Tailored Instruction for Varied Levels: Recognizing the diverse levels of experience among our players, we divided them into three groups. This allowed us to tailor our instruction to address specific tactics and strategies beneficial to each group. The youngest and least experienced group focused on endgames, mastering crucial scenarios like ladder mate and King and Queen vs. King mate. Meanwhile, the older and more seasoned players delved into openings, efficient piece movement, and understanding the concept of weak squares. This approach ensured that every student received instruction suited to their needs, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for learning.

Observable Growth and Improvement: Throughout the duration of the club, both club sponsors testified significant improvement in our students. This progress was most evident in their tournament performances, where we saw different winners emerge in our end-of-session tournaments. It's immensely gratifying to observe the healthy competition and growth among our students. Their dedication and enthusiasm for the game have been truly inspiring!

Looking ahead, our aspirations extend beyond the confines of our club. We envision establishing an official Academy for GOD chess team, enabling us to compete with other schools in Nashville and beyond. With the sustained interest and enthusiasm from our students, coupled with our ongoing connections with the Nashville Chess Club and its affiliated schools, we are confident that we are well on our way to realizing this goal. The journey doesn't end here; it's just the beginning of a new chapter in our chess adventures.

In conclusion, the close of our 7-week chess club marks the end of a chapter filled with learning, growth, and unity. From the excitement of facing a Chess Master to the satisfaction of witnessing our students' progress, every moment has been memorable. We look forward to new opportunities for our students to develop in the wonderful game of chess!

7 Facts about the Academy for G.O.D.

In 2021, the Academy for G.O.D. was recognized for some awards in the Nashville Scene's magazine. In the readers' poll awards of their yearly best issue, the Academy was included among the top 3 in the categories of Best Private School, Best Elementary School, Best Junior High, and Best High School. So what makes the Academy so special? Check out these 7 facts to learn a bit more about how we do education here at the Academy.   

1. Innovative Level System. Unlike traditional schools, we do not have the typical leveling system that puts students into grades. Instead, elementary students are grouped by generals, specifics, and focus levels. Every student has their own uniquities, and thus they may require more time in certain subjects than others. By grouping students like this, it provides fluidity between traditional grade levels, allowing students to learn at their own pace without feeling left behind.

Principal Castro teaches an SEL elective course to an upper elementary level class. Students are challenged to develop their social intelligence especially as peers and classmates together.

2. No Letter Grades.  Another big way in which the Academy is reshaping education is by doing away with letter grades in elementary. Young students are often unable to disassociate the grade on their work from being a grade on themselves. This can lead to unhealthy mindsets that can prohibit learning. Instead, the students are given benchmarks for each course they take, and then evaluated on how well they understand that aspect of the course topic. This keeps kids from stressing about grades too early, and instead allows them to better enjoy the learning experience. 

3. Students have Lead & Course Teachers. When a student is at the Academy, they are put in a class with similarly aged peers under a lead teacher. These lead teachers are responsible for overseeing the students' holistic education. However, the students also have course teachers who instruct on their areas of expertise, to ensure the students are receiving the best education possible. At a 14:1 average student-teacher ratio, the Academy is much lower than the state average. 

4. High School Academic and Creative Track for Graduating. A highly project-based track focused on development in the creatives is available to the high school students alongside the common academic track. This option is a special opportunity for students who are wanting to increase their knowledge and abilities in certain creative avenues. Upper-level courses like, “Directed Studies” and “Student Internship” allow older students to hone in a specific area of learning or skill set.

5. Variety of Online Education & Hybrid Options. If you feel like you are missing out because you are a bit too far away to send your kids to the Academy, then don’t worry. There are a number of options for online education, even allowing students to take individual classes a la carte. There is also a hybrid option for homeschool students who still want to receive some face-to-face learning. 

Elementary students enjoy recess before their lunch break. All elementary students receive three recess blocks every day at the Academy.

6. Exciting Courses. One of the ways the Academy implements its focus on holistic development is by offering courses on social and emotional intelligence. Along with this, new courses are routinely being developed based on the curiosity of the students. This keeps students excited and interested about learning as they are able to cater the education to meet the needs and interests of the students. 

7. Special Events and Extracurricular Activities  The Academy has a variety of fun extracurricular activities. Not only do they have great team sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball, but there are also a number of clubs for students who have other interests such as geo-caching, yoga, chess, or pokemon.