Renaissance Knights

A nonprofit organization working with children to create the desire to succeed both in school and in life

School Programs

"...Renaissance Knights is a very professional and well structured organization.  The ease we were able to put our program in place is a testimony to your ability.  Our students are enjoying their participation and our hope is, with your help. we will continue to grow and flourish."

William Anderson

 Assistant Principal, Alphonsus Academy

In the 2006-2007 school year Renaissance Knights taught, inspired, and empowered more than 795 students at 26 schools in Chicago and the Suburbs.  Through our structured programs we unleash students positive potential by utilizing chess as a tool to improve their academic abilities, intellectual performance, and social skills.  Numerous studies have shown children who learn chess develops critical thinking skills, builds self-esteem and discipline, discourages impulsive action, teaches good sportsmanship, fosters leadership, and empowers children to succeed while having a great time in the process.

OUR PROGRAM

Renaissance Knights offers several exciting and fun programs for students in grades K-12. Sessions are customized for each school and location. School-funded and parent supported before school, lunch-time and after school instruction is available; we also offer in-class programs.  Renaissance Knights provides all the materials needed to learn and play chess, including a chess set for each child to keep.

Chess program – The chess teacher visits participating schools on a weekly basis for an hour long class. We divide students into groups according to skill, and provide each group a 20- to 30-minute lesson each day. The remainder of the session is devoted to practicing the lesson of the day, completing the worksheet, and playing chess. Some weeks will also include a mini tournament. Sessions are customized for each school. The number of classes per session can vary from six to 20 weeks.

HOW TO GET STARTED

Renaissance Knights makes it easy for you to provide chess to your students. We work out a custom schedule and price plan with each school. Then, our staff provides a Renaissance Knights flyer for approval within 24 hours. After the flyer is approved we print the necessary copies and deliver them to the school for distribution.

RENAISSANCE KNIGHTS TEACHERS

Renaissance Knights carefully selects the best chess teachers. Our instructors receive rigorous training so that your child can have a thorough, fun, and safe learning experience.  All our instructors undergo a thorough background check to include a fingerprint criminal history check. 

OUR CURRICULUM

Our adaptive chess program is designed for all levels of chess players. Children are classified as Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced.  The Curriculum we use has been developed by GrandMaster Lev Albert and GrandMaster Palatnik.  GrandMaster Palatnik is our senior consultant and senior trainer for our teachers.

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABE

Renaissance Knights offer low cost and free programs to Public Schools classified as Title I in the Chicagoland area.  In these schools, more than 60% of the students are eligible for free or reduced cost lunch (an indicator of socio-economic disadvantage).  The majority of these students are African-American or Hispanic, live in poor neighborhoods and attend schools that rarely offer extra academic assistance or extra curricular activities.  Our screening process allows use to carefully chose schools for this program based on their need and willingness to incorporate the program into the culture of the school. 

RENAISSANCE CHESS EDUCATION

Renaissance Knights newest program creates out-of-school opportunities for High School students in underserved communities.

Through our innovative Renaissance Chess Education program, Chicago High School students will develop important academic and life skills while training to teach younger children chess and officiate at tournaments. Renaissance Knights instructors will visit participating High Schools on a weekly basis to teach participants the fundamentals of chess, and trains them to teach chess to children and how to referee tournaments.

On a weekly basis, small groups of participants go to a local school, library or community center to teach chess to kids and officiate their games. Stipends are paid to recognize the value of their work, to show them that hard work gets rewarded in the workplace, and to encourage low-income teens--who would otherwise be obligated to work at low-wage, low-skill jobs--to participate. These teens then have the opportunity to work as interns at tournaments and at summer camps.

Through participation in this program students will learn a wide variety of skills while they gain self-confidence and begin to view their future with optimism and excitement.

WORKSHOPS

Renaissance Knights offers day or evening workshops from 2 to 6 hours in length.  These workshops are tailored to best meet the needs of the group.  The workshops can be held during the school day, after school, or on weekends.

CHESS CAMPS

Renaissance Knights operates multi-day chess camps throughout the Chicagoland area. during school breaks.  The camp days are typically 6 - 8 hours long but many camps also offer a half-day option.  Camps offer students the opportunity to learn in-depth with other campers at the same level while having a fun time.  Activities include lessons, mini-tournaments, simultaneous exhibitions, study famous games of Grandmasters, and students are awarded completion certificates. 

TOURNAMENTS

Renaissance Knights organizes and directs chess tournaments throughout the year and range from novice tournaments to the highly competitive Knights Quest series.  Many of our weekend tournaments are open to all Chicagoland children, not just those participating in our school-based programs.
 

Renaissance Knights tournaments provide students the opportunity to demonstrate the skills they have learned while building their confidence.  Tournaments motivate and encourage players to expect nothing less than mastery of the subject from themselves. In doing so, players develop their focus and concentration, deal with winning and losing in a safe environment, and experience the dynamics of teamwork. Thanks to generous sponsors, some of our tournaments are offered free of charge to competitors.

CHICAGOLAND SCHOLASTIC CHESS LEAGUE

Renaissance Knights is starting the Chicagoland Scholastic Chess League this school year.  The league will organize chess tournaments for both Chicago Schools and suburban schools once or twice a month beginning in October 2007. Through our program we will offer more opportunity for Chicago children to attend chess tournaments and promote competition between city and suburban schools. Tournaments will be open to K-12 grade students and will be individual/team competition.  This means players are paired as in an individual Swiss tournament, but the Top 4 players from each team are scored for team awards. Teams are comprised of students attending the same school. These tournaments will have a lot of individual prizes as well as team prizes. Also, these tournaments will be rated using the Chess Express Rating explained below.
 

TOURNAMENT RATING SYSTEM

Starting in the school year 2007/08 Renaissance Knights will be using two rating systems, US Chess Federation and Chess Express Rating (CXR).  The introduction is part of our effort to organize more chess tournaments for Chicago school students.  For the 2007/08 school year Renaissance Knights is providing free CXR membership to all competitors at our CXR rated tournaments.  CXR membership normally cost $5 for children and $12 for adults.

The benefit of using the CXR rating system is that CXR will rate tournaments with both CXR members and non-members (Only the CXR members will be rated) and the low cost for membership.  Providing rated tournaments for Chicago students raises the level of chess in Chicago.  Ratings are used to sort players into classes, and can be used to compare one player to another.  Ratings allow us to more accurately pair players to ensure competitors compete on an even basis.

In order to get a rating, all you need to do is play in a "CXR rated event".

Please contact Sheila Heiser at 773-844-0700 / s.heiser@renaissanceknights.org for more information our programs