Good News In Schools

Jonesboro HS Chess Team players are ranked below according to demonstrated playing strength at tryouts (#1 being strongest):

1. Tuan Nguyen: 12th

2. Ayana Colbert: 10th

4. Jeremy Hendrix: 12th

5. Darian Alston: 9th

Alternate: Arjumand Parham: 12th

The team has participated in serious competition for the past two years and continues to do well at both the state and national levels. The Royal Knights of JHS are recognized by the Georgia Chess Association as the 4th ranked team in our state. Nationally, the Royal Knights are recognized by the United States Chess Federation as being in the top 20% of our rated division.

For the past two years, the team has been under the instruction of Mr. Charleton Moncrief, a strong Chess player who lives in the community. To supplement his instruction, the team members are required to pay for and set up a Chess Magnet School account online (www.chessmagnetschool.com). This online teaching tool allows students to study chess at home after they are finished with their other responsibilities. The video projector in the JHS chess room is also used in the instruction process along with 4 student computers with the online chess training access. In this way, instruction is differentiated for every student regardless of their level of chess mastery. The coach can go online and monitor each student's progress through the Magnet curriculum. Correct and incorrect answers to chess puzzles are recorded and allow the coach to give each team member customized instructional support as needed. The support provided includes subject-specific assignments, supplement previous instruction, print progress charts and graphs showing student progress through the curriculum and strength of play. Also available are printable lists of specific subject areas that show the student's performance in each area.

Last year the chess club was divided into two parts: the club and the team. The idea of the "club" was for casual players who played for nothing more than sheer enjoyment. The idea of the "team" was to separate out from the club those students who wanted rigorous instruction in preparation for serious tournament competition. This year there are also split responsibilities for the Royal Knights Chess Club among 4 teachers and the chess coach -- a governing body known as the Advisory Council. The club has constructed and passed its nine page club constitution that details the requirements and responsibilities of both students and leaders.

In a surprising turn of events this year, almost 30 applications were received from students (6 of which were girls -- a historic first!) begging to be in the chess club or on the chess team. The team’s constitution requires every applicant to have a good discipline record complete with all passing grades on the current academic record. Those whose grades fall below a C are immediately put on suspension from chess until the grade is passing again. After tryouts this year, Jonesboro High School went into the record books as being the first High School in Clayton County to have a black female in the top team rankings and who is also listed as a rated player (as per the US Chess Federation). As interest continues to build among the girls, advisors will consider the possibility of adding a girl’s chess team as an organized and recognized part of the Royal Knights Chess Club.

The Jonesboro High Chess Team advisor and coach is Mark McPherson. He approached Principal Carl Jackson with the idea and worked out a budget that would purchase the needed supplies along with a curriculum aligned with the state's requirements. The team operates solely on individual volunteers and support from donations and fundraisers such as the chess tournament. The Royal Knights Chess Team has so far inspired the creation of a chess team at Mt. Zion High, the Perry Center and Mundy's Mill High.