From Sarah Kuperus, 1st grade parent:
Sometimes, the timing of certain opportunities feels almost too perfect. That’s exactly how I felt when the elementary school’s Chess Club started up just as my son, Hudson, began showing a real interest in learning the game.
Hudson had been dabbling in chess at home, asking questions about how each piece moves, trying out short games with me, and even watching YouTube videos to learn opening strategies. But as any parent knows, there's only so much we can do to feed that curiosity at home. That's why the launch of Chess Club couldn't have come at a better moment.
Since joining, Hudson has not only deepened his understanding of the game, but he’s also had the chance to play with other kids his age and at his skill level. This has been such a valuable experience for him — not just in terms of learning strategy, but in developing perseverance and sportsmanship. It’s one thing to play a casual game with a parent; it’s another entirely to face off with peers who are equally eager to win and learn.
A huge part of the club’s success is thanks to Coach Austin McMurtrie. His encouragement, patience, and enthusiasm have made a big impact. He fosters an environment where kids feel comfortable trying new moves, learning from their mistakes, and celebrating each other’s progress. It’s been wonderful watching Hudson come home after each session excited to tell us what he learned or how a game went.
As a parent, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your child grow in confidence and find joy in learning. I’m so grateful to the school and to Coach Austin for offering this opportunity to our kids. Chess Club has truly been a game-changer — in more ways than one.
Hudson’s Perspective (1st grade):
Hi! My name is Hudson Kuperus, and I’m 7 years old. I’m in the Chess Club at my elementary school, and it is so much fun!
I really like playing chess with other kids. Sometimes I win, and sometimes I don’t, but it’s always exciting. The competition makes it even more fun. I like trying to think ahead and coming up with smart moves.
We get to use something called a ChessKid Gold Membership, which is super cool. I can play chess online and learn new tricks and strategies. It even has fun lessons that help me get better. I like playing at home too, not just at school!
Mr. Austin is our chess coach, and he’s really nice. He gives me good ideas on how to play better and tells me what I can work on.
I even got to play in a real tournament! It was awesome and made me want to play even more. I can’t wait for the next one!
Chess Club is one of my favorite things at school. I hope we have it every year because I want to keep learning and playing. I love Chess Club!
From Kris Sellars, 4th grade parent:
It’s been a full year since I first sat down with Ms. Hervey and discussed the idea of having a chess club at the elementary school. The excitement that we both shared was contagious. We looked at different options that were quite costly. Coach David McMurtrie continued the chess club at the Hinckley Community Building during the first ¾ of the school year. When he mentioned that his son, Coach Austin (a recent HBR grad), was going to start a chess club at the elementary school, we felt like we hit the jackpot. Then, our incredibly generous PTO equipped the new chess club with 10 brand new chess board sets!
To watch this program grow in such a short amount of time is inspiring. On average there are around 26 students attending chess club each week! I can’t wait to see how these kids grow as they move on to middle school and then on to high school. These kids will be a force of nature and ready to compete as a team. Coach David and Coach Austin are an amazing father and son combination who are investing their time three days of the week and for the love for the game to teach these kids skills through fun games. There’s a reason why the club is sitting at around 26 kids attending every Tuesday and Thursday. I encourage any parents who read this who have a child who loves games, thinking strategically, enjoys math, competing, or who wants to have a fun learning experience, to come join the fun and explore the world of chess with a great coach. Life skills are taught through the game of chess and these kids are welcoming the challenge with smiles on their faces and rook’s in their hands. Is your kid ready? It’s your move. Checkmate!
Andie’s Perspective (4th grade):
Chess club is really fun! There’s so many people there to play chess. There’s usually a race for the leaderboard for Chess Kids. There are a lot of different grades. There are kids from every grade- like Hudson in 1st, 3rd graders like Maggie and Eva in kindergarten. Coach Austin is fun and he’s really nice. He walks around and helps people with puzzles. In the middle of chess games, we have to find the right move. I think I do about 100 of those, could be more, could be less! Kids play games against each other. There’s always stuff going on. It’s crazy! It’s fun! It’s chaos. And I love it!
