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JH45 in Words and Pictures
October 2003. Attendees at NSCF tournaments can't help but be impressed by
the ubiquitous presence of Junior High 45 students at the trophy ceremony.
What they are witnessing is the success of a funded chess program
that begun in the late 1990s as a partnership between JH45 and the NSCF.
Program coordinator Cesar Solis lists the following as characteristic of this program:
- A highly involved, enthusiastic body of chess students and tournament competititors.
- The presence of an underlying chess culture that extends beyond the individuals
and the team to reach out to the parents and the surrounding community.
- Strong support by the administration, parents, and community.
- The integration of various ethnic groups in a low-income population.
- Chess as an alternative to drugs or violent behavior.
- An emphasis on the maintenance of high academic achievement as a prerequisite for
participation on teams and in State and National events.
- Sharing with the broader community, through literacy fairs, and programs at senior
centers, libraries and police precincts.
- Generational continuity. Continuing involvement and support of graduates who come back to participate
in tournaments as High School students.
Graduates come back to the school to help out in order to pay back what
they have received and and to express responsibility to the community that reared them.
Visit the following links to learn more about JH45 and this exciting program:
- An interview with Cesar Solis, JH45 Principal Joseph Solanto, and JH45 Chess Coach Felix Lopez.
- A history of JH45 participation in State and National chess events.
- A list of Community School District 10 Chess Teams tournament results for 2003.
- A pictorial history of the JH45 chess team.
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