About the Club
The Ray School Chess Club serves the students of William H. Ray Elementary School, a fine public school in the Hyde Park section of Chicago’s South Side.  The club is run entirely by parent and teacher volunteers.

Chess is one of the most popular extracurricular activities at Ray. This year we have about 50 members who come to our weekly meetings on Mondays after school.  Our coaches for the 2006-07 season are Emil Sidky, Qing Dai, Jane Averill, and Brandy Keller.  

The chess club is open to all Ray students, but members have to be registered, and admission is subject to space.  We try to make room for every student who wants to join, and we usually succeed, but sometimes we fill up and have to maintain a waiting list for short periods.  If you're child is interested in joining the chess club, please get in touch with us. 

Goals and Activities
We provide a setting in which Ray kids can learn chess and play the game with their schoolmates.  The main purposes are fun and enrichment, though chess has also been shown to provide a host of cognitive and intellectual benefits. 

For kids who are more serious about chess and crave competition, we go to some of the many chess tournaments held in Chicago throughout the school year. Our kids have done well at these events. In February 2006 they took first place in the K-2 and K-4 categories at the Chicago Public School championships.  The year before Ray won the K-2 championship.
	Ray School chess coaches preparing next week's lessons.

I
Special thanks to . . . 

Cydney Fields, Dolores Lobbins , Maggie Jennings, Hannah Hayes and the Ray School PTA, Nancy Perovic ,  Jill Folan, Jane Averill, Duel Richardson of the University of Chicago ’s Neighborhood Schools Program, Jessica Greenfield, Lance Leong, Latina Tate, Ellen Maag,  Jennifer Wiley, Laura Ring.       

Help the Club
You can help the chess club by volunteering at chess club meetings after school.  Donations are also graciously accepted.  

Contact
Tom Panelas
tpanelas@eb.com
773-955-0122