Tamika Henry, Principal of Sherwood Park Global Studies Academy, proudly shared her story on the impact of the Teresa Weatherall Neal Principal’s Fund grant on her school community.
The goal of the Sherwood Park Bengal Chess Club was to engage all K–6 scholars in strategic and intentional thinking while strengthening their critical thinking and social skills. We intentionally designed the club to be inclusive of all grade levels, and it proved to be a powerful tool for cognitive and social development.
The outcome was a resounding success. They had active participation from scholars from every grade level, and the level of engagement exceeded our expectations. Students not only learned the fundamentals of chess but also built confidence, patience, and peer relationships. By the end of the school year, many scholars were asking how they could continue playing chess during the summer months.
One scholar shared, “I never thought I would love playing chess so much,” while another excitedly said, “I didn’t know what chess was, but I love it!”
Given this enthusiasm, our next step is to explore expanding the program into the summer of 2026, ideally in partnership with the GRPS Summer School Ignite program.
“If we hadn’t seen this level of engagement,” said Henry, “we would have considered more targeted support for scholars unfamiliar with chess. Fortunately, the response confirmed that with the right support and encouragement, all students can thrive in a space that challenges them to think critically.”
