Month: August 2024

Information from Coach Sal

Hello, dear Parents!

The Knight School chess trial class is today.

Coach Sal wanted to share the following information about the program:

Welcome to The Knight School at Marimont Montessori! Here are the top ten things parents should know when their child is enrolled in chess:

1) The Knight School follows closely with the schedule of your school! If your school is not in session, chess does not occur as we have no key to your school!  If you attend after-school chess and your school dismisses early, there will be no after-school chess (we still don’t have a key to your school). See attached calendar for details.

2) The Knight School is a network! By enrolling in The Knight School, you also get access to our online 3pm CT Saturday chess tourneys, which are exclusive to our own students. You can learn more about the Saturday tourneys right here: https://splatterday.theknightschool.com/ If you’d like your child to participate in this free benefit of enrollment, just reply to this email asking for your custom credentials, which have already been pre-made for you and are ready-to-go.

3) The Knight School billing is simple! Billing is always automated, always simple, and always all-inclusive. The Knight School asks that you pay the semester tuition in advance, or you may opt to make equal payments over the months of the semester, which renews automatically in January unless we are otherwise instructed. These payments are not monthly tuition payments, however, they are equal installments that spread out the semester tuition plus the supply fee (for the chess board, t-shirt, bracelets, replacement chess pieces, and the semester-ending tournaparties).  As a result, the installment payment remains the same each month regardless of the number of weeks in any given month. At the end of the school year, you must re-enroll to keep your spot for the next school year.

4) The Knight School follows a nation-wide curriculum! Our colorful TactixBands are more than just a fun thing to collect—each one signifies that your child has mastered a different chess tactic or lesson! Click here: https://www.theknightschool.com/curriculum to learn more. As a bonus, we also have companion parent tutorials to go along with each lesson! Check those out right here: https://www.theknightschool.com/parent-tutorials.  

5) The Knight School offers an advanced class! At any point that you feel your child is ready for the next level, send me an email, and I will direct you toward our Austin-area city-wide “Varsity” advanced class where the brightest and most experienced kids from our different classes across the greater Austin area come together online to learn and play against the most challenging opponents their age.

6) The Knight School has a consistent discipline policy! All the kids are informed on day one that the first time they have to sit out for bad behavior, they are asked to sit out about one minute, and it is not a big deal. The second time they are asked to sit out, it is always twice as long as the first. The third time the child is asked to sit out results in the need to talk to the parents. Any child asked to sit out three times twice in one year will be asked to spend some time away from chess.

7) The Knight School has fun Social Media pages and Newsletters! One way we stay in touch is that The Knight School emails out our newsletter, The Knightly News, several times per year to every enrolled family. If you want to see the Knight School Community in interactive mode on a more regular basis, just follow one of our Social Media pages (linked at the bottom of this email under my signature), which have weekly updates and announcements, funny anecdotes from class, and great current pictures.

8) The Knight School has a revolutionary supply policy! The Knight School prides itself on world-class customer service and one element of this is that all enrolled kids get their own USCF chess set, pieces, board, and tote that is theirs to keep. Another benefit is the free replacement pieces for life policy; any child who is missing a chess piece just grabs what they need from the extra piece bag under the “Big TV” in the classroom. Actually, in The Knight School everything is replaced for free, even boards and bags and shirts. New families should expect to receive their chess bags and T-shirts by their fourth week of chess or sooner! If for whatever reason you lose something or don’t have something, just send me an email letting me know!

9) The Knight School has even more to offer! Want to learn about our summer programs? Check out our summer page right here: https://www.theknightschool.com/summer-chess-camps. How about private lessons? We have those too! Learn more here: https://www.theknightschool.com/private-chess-lessons. Want a fun, The Knight School chess-themed scavenger hunt to work on from home? Check out the “Kids Corner” right here: https://www.theknightschool.com/chess-kids-fun. Still have questions?  Check out our website’s FAQ page right here: https://www.theknightschool.com/faq

10) The Knight School has a dedicated Austin-Area Head Coach! My job is to make sure you and your child have a smooth and excellent experience in chess class. My number is (512) 843-2190, and my email is sal@theknightschool.com.  Email or call me whenever you have a question or idea; I always enjoy talking with my chess moms and dads and I will be prompt in my attention to any concern you might have.  

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