Harlem Academy Chess Club & Team:
TEAM RECOGNITION:
NYS National Competitors
Program Vision:
Students in grades K-5 receive weekly instruction during the regular school day. Any student in kindergarten through eighth grade is invited to join the chess team, which meets after-school and participates in weekend tournaments throughout the year. From complete beginners to advancing tournament players, our goal is that all Harlem Academy players can experience both the joy & significant social/educational benefits of learning and playing chess. Our Harlem Academy Team will prepare for local and state competitions.
Our in-person programming will match players into groups based on skill, interest level & grade. This allows coaches to identify and create the right training environment for each player (complete beginner - advanced competitors).
ICN class groupings (subject to change based on program enrollment):
Kings: 1200+ USCF
Queens: 800+ USCF
Rooks: U800 (300-799 USCF)
Bishops: U300 players with an eye towards competition
Pawns: Kindergarten through 4th Grade, Introductory Coaching & Play
Program Schedule: Monday Chess Club & Team
Grade 2- 11:30 to 12:15 (45 min.)
Grade 4- 12:20 to 1:15 (55 min.)
Grade 1- 1:20 to 2:05 (45 min.)
Grade 3- 2:30 to 3:25 (55 min.)
Chess Club and Team- 3:30 to 5:00pm
If there's any scheduling concerns, please contact HarlemAcademyChess@gmail.com.
Each Harlem Academy Club & Team member will receive a team shirt
Every Harlem Academy student will receive a gold membership to www.chesskid.com.
Monday Chess Club & Team
Fall Monday 2025: September 8th - January 26th
(WE FOLLOW HARLEM ACADEMY SCHOOL CALENDAR: DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*)
September 9th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
October 6th, 27th
November 10th, 17th, 24th
December 1st, 8th, 15th
January 12th, 26th
Spring Monday 2026: February 2nd - June 1st
(WE FOLLOW HARLEM ACADEMY SCHOOL CALENDAR: DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*)
February 2nd, 9th, 23rd
March 2nd, 9th, 16th
April 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
May 4th,, 11th, 18th
June 5th
Chess Club and Team Details
Lateral movements will occur, as we experiment with class grouping and activities to identify the optimal training opportunities for our players. Players will be promoted throughout the season as coaches feel fit.
A high emphasis on participation, engagement and self-study will be placed on our team groups.
Harlem Academy will have a weekly opening meeting, where past week’s success is recognized, the upcoming events are emphasized and expectations and team spirit is reinforced.
Program leadership will ensure a single thread of Harlem Academy team spirit and standards in each class. Coaches will get to know each player in the program and be able to speak on each ones strengths and weaknesses as their relationship with the program evolves over time.
We want each player in our weekly training to feel connected to the program and enjoy pride in the program. Recognizing collective success is encouraged and serves as inspiration to players from all classes and groups.
* Even as we continue to grow our program and competitive team, there remains the opportunity for more social, less competitive play as well.
We will continue to welcome all students and find the right balance for each and every one. We want everyone to engage with the chess program at their comfort level, where the entire student body can enjoy the great benefits of this incredible game.
Enrollment: Harlem Academy's Chess Club and Team is open to all students with no additional cost to families but with the expectation that participants are fully and positively engaged in the weekly sessions and that they complete their independent chess practice. Students in Grades Kindergarten through 8 will have the opportunity to sign-up for chess at the start of the school year. Students in grades 1 to 4 will begin the year with their weekly chess class and then have the opportunity to move into the club after getting some skills and good practice habits established.
Meeting Logistics: Club and team players will be brought from homerooms to Chess Club at 3:30pm. (They will already have had snacks, so masks can stay on as we engage in a mixed grade activity.) The Chess Club will meet in the main building's Common Room (with windows on 111th Street) and have breakout space into the Library as needed. At 5:00 PM players will return to their respective classrooms for study hall and pick-up.
Club and Team Goals: A high emphasis on participation, engagement and self-study will be encouraged. The team will have a weekly opening meeting, where past week’s success is recognized, the upcoming events are emphasized and expectations and team spirit is reinforced. Coaches will get to know each player in the program and be able to speak on each one's strengths and weaknesses as their relationship with the program evolves over time. Lateral movements will occur, as we experiment with class grouping and activities to identify the optimal training opportunities for our players. Players will be promoted throughout the season as coaches feel fit. Even as we continue to grow our program and competitive team, there remains the opportunity for more social, less competitive play as well. Our goal is for each player to feel connected to the program and enjoy pride for both their individual and our collective success.
We will continue to welcome all students and find the right balance for each and every one. We want everyone to engage with the chess program at their comfort level, where the entire student body can enjoy the great benefits of this incredible game.
Additional Information: Each Harlem Academy program member will receive a team shirt and also a www.chesskid.com gold membership.
Team Competitions:
Our Harlem Academy Team will compete at Local & State competitions.
Contact Your Harlem Academy Coaching Team:
Email: HarlemAcademyChess@gmail.com