Chess Club At Valley Stream North

Are you interested in after school activities but sports just aren’t your thing? Maybe you are competitive, but lack interest in physical activities, well look no further! Chess club provides the competitiveness you’ve been looking for while also establishing a calm and friendly environment to simply wind down and play. Mr. Lepanto, 7th and 8th grade social studies teacher here at North High School, is the advisor for chess club, and you can believe me when I say he will make your chess-playing experience worth the while! I had an opportunity to speak to Mr. Lepanto about chess club, and this is what he had to say.

Why did you start chess club?

Mr. Lepanto: “Kids were expressing interest in a club that is fun but are not sports and so we brainstormed chess and asked if I would do it.” 

What do you hope to accomplish? 

Mr. Lepanto: “I wanted students to have a environment where they could socialize, have fun, relax, and forget about some of the pressures they have. I’m hoping that many of them will make new friends for the club, we want them to grow as chess players because it is a game of strategy and considering your next move before you make it. I’m hoping that they will be able to play against other member of the same levels and have tournaments. Eventually, it would be great if we could play against other schools.”

Did you play chess growing up? 

Mr. Lepanto: “Yes I did, I played chess with my uncle.”

What is the atmosphere of your chess club like?

Mr. Lepanto: “Very fun, a cool atmosphere actually, that’s what’s cool about it. Very fun and sometimes, intensely competitive, and there are always games between two people that just met.”

Why do you think students should join?

Mr. Lepanto: “They should join for the reasons mentioned before, so they can have fun, socialize, meet new people, and perhaps most importantly, disconnect from electronics.” 

What are some challenges you faced in starting the club? 

Mr. Lepanto: “There were challenges, we needed to find enough members to justify the school letting us start it. We needed to submit a proposal to the principal. Students were required to meet with her to discuss the proposal of the club and as an advisor, I was expected to run the club successfully for one year.”

Who are typical members of the club and how do you attract new ones?

Mr. Lepanto: “There are members of the club who have varied interests and abilities. We attract new members through the club fair and other students hear about it through members.” 

If you have any questions regarding Chess Club, feel free to reach out to Mr. Lepanto through Teams chat or email.