Dear Parents,
I know that there is a lot going on, but I need you to focus on a few
things and let me know where you are in the decision process.
Winter Camp
I have a number of kids signed up for camp already, but only 4
of them are from T. H. Rogers: my son Jim, Matthew Michaelides, Sarah Lew
and Chris Gay. I have also heard from the Kuncewicz's that they can not
come as they will be in Poland over vacation. My main goal for running
this camp is for our team to be on top of their game going into the
big Spring meets. I understand a number of folks will be out of town over
the holidays, that is fine. Just let me know, so I am not trying to hold
spots for team members who will not be coming. I still need to fill the
camp to pay for the facilities and the coaches. Remember that we give
financial aid as necessary. We do not want any child to be left out if
they want to come. You need only to talk to me. If you know you are
coming, please let me know by email, and get your registration materials
in right away.
December 4th
Team Tournament
This tournament is a week from tomorrow and is December's
"designated" event. I told Mr. Liptrap, that I thought I would be
bringing 4 teams, or 16 kids. As can be seen below, we have 12 signed up
so far. I also have 2 more who I think are going, but I would like final
confirmation. Folks, this is a very fun meet. I can take a lot more if
you tell me soon. Mr. Liptrap makes all of the trophies for these meets
and just needs to be able to judge how many to make. We owe it to Mr.
Liptrap to give him a reasonable count in a timely manner. This
tournament is unrated, the kids can form their own teams, or I will assign
them to a team. Sign up for the tournament is through me. So far, I have
the following committed to going:
| |
Name |
Grade |
| 1 |
Jim Jenkinson |
4 |
| 2 |
Ellen Xiang |
2 |
| 3 |
Evan Xiang |
K |
| 4 |
Matthew Michaelides |
6 |
| 5 |
Sofia Michaelides |
2 |
| 6 |
Matthew Resh |
6 |
| 7 |
David Nichol |
6 |
| 8 |
Spencer Shen |
5 |
| 9 |
Anderson Isdale |
2 |
| 10 |
Shantan Cheemerla |
5 |
| 11 |
Eleanor Gilbert |
2 |
| 12 |
Jacob Clements |
4 |
Maybe coming:
| |
|
Grade |
| 1 |
Elizabeth Kuncewicz |
6 |
| 2 |
Thomas Kuncewicz |
4 |
State Meet in
February and Supernationals in April
Folks, I know these
seem a long way off, and that you have time to decide later, but I need a
good indication as to the numbers who will be traveling to these meets.
The team rooms are already on sale for the April event. They will go on
sale for the February event any day now. It is hard for me to judge what
size room to get and how many coaches to bring when I don't know how many
folks to plan for. As I said before, our kids are strong enough to win
trophies in almost any section, if they just show up. None of the top
trophies will be a cakewalk, but they are capable of earning them. I
really want to take a full complement for each section to both meets. At
a minimum we need 16 kids: four K-1,
four 2nd-3rd graders,
four 4th and 5th graders, and four
Middle Schoolers. More is better. Lots more is lots better. If you talk
to any of the kids who went to this past weekend's meet, I think you will
hear it was really fun. They learned a lot going over their games with
the coaches and had a really good time playing in the team room with their
friends. There was a lot of camaraderie among the kids and parents
alike. Let me know what you are thinking either way.
If your child is new to the chess and the chess team, they can still
participate if they are interested. Except for the K-1 division, where
everyone is considered a beginner, both the State and National meets have
Novice and JV divisions. The kids can gain a lot of experience playing in
these, and move up a division the following year. Don't think that only
the top players in the club should be going to the events.
Thanks for your attention to these matters. Hope you all are having a
wonderful holiday.
Martha
|