More than 300 students from St. Clair Catholic schools across Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent tested their skills of problem solving, abstract reasoning, pattern recognition and strategic thinking, as they competed against each other in chess tournaments.
“In every chess game, players are faced with challenges and problems that they have to solve,” says Chris Vaillant, a French as a Second Language teacher with St. Clair Catholic and convenor of the tournaments. “Chess is a tremendous learning tool, which helps students to develop many skills, most especially how to focus on a task before them.”
In the Sarnia tournament, approximately 250 students from 12 schools across Sarnia-Lambton competed in the 34th annual tournament, held at Holy Trinity Catholic School. Because of the success of the annual event, this year it was expanded to include a tournament in Chatham, where about 90 students participated in a tournament at Monsignor Uyen Catholic School.
“I want to say a special ‘thank you’ to our coaches,” says Mr. Vaillant. “These tournaments, and the enriching experience they provide to our students, would not be possible without their efforts!”
The winning school teams were:
Sarnia-Lambton Tournament
Primary (Grades 1-3): École St-Thomas d’Aquin
Junior (Grades 4-6): St. Philip, Petrolia
Intermediate (Grades 7-8): St. Matthew, Sarnia
Overall Girls’ Team: Gregory A. Hogan, Sarnia
Chatham-Kent Tournament
Primary: Christ the King, Wallaceburg
Junior: Monsignor Uyen, Chatham
Intermediate: Monsignor Uyen, Chatham
Overall Girls’ Team: Christ the King, Wallaceburg
