Children now have chess program

St. Mary School recently launched a chess club for elementary students in second through fifth grade.

The inaugural meeting saw 18 chess players gather together to learn the game and play to their ability.

Parent volunteers, Brendan Mullane and Carol Brinks, both played the game growing up. They stressed the educational values and benefits of playing chess. Aside from developing cognitive skills, chess advances social skills, such as alternating turns, following rules, learning fair play, self-respect and respect for others, understanding different perspectives and developing empathy.