Home

Greetings to Chess Coaches and Chess Parents from Polk Scholastic Chess!

Don't forget - Championship Chess Tournament is this Saturday, March 7, 2020!

Click here to find out the player's sections. Note: the list has been revised based on your inputs.

CORONA VIRUS UPDATE:  As you all may know, we have a health emergency after a few presumptive corona virus cases were found in Florida. We have been monitoring the government / school board directives closely and we hope this crisis doesn't impact our county and tournament schedule.

To reduce risks of infections, here are a few things we can easily do as parents:

1. Let us have this tournament as much physical contact free as practically possible (specifically no "Hi-5" and handshakes - before, during or after the games). This can be applied to parents and volunteers also.

2. Provide your child with a small bottle of hand sanitizer and paper towels, which they can use frequently (if they are not allergic). If as many families as possible brought extra paper towels and a small bottle of hand sanitizer for their own personal use, that would go a long way in protecting all of us.

3. Wash hands as frequently as possible with soap and water.

4. If you or your child are sick, stay home.


Further, according to the CDC website, there are no vaccines to prevent corona virus disease, but we can take some common sense precautions (and instruct the kids) like:
•    Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
•    Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
•    Stay home when you are sick, or if you have any Symptoms of COVID-19: fever, cough and shortness of breath.
•    Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
•    Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
•    CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
•    Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.


Tournament Schedule: The players should be checked-in desk at our tournament hall latest by 8:30 am - our front desk team has school-wise lists of all players. We will plan to start the announcements by 8:15 am so that we can start the games faster. Like previous years, unless we have emergencies like the hurricane, we will have four (4) games. We have tentatively planned to complete the games by around 2:30 pm, and start the Trophy Awards thereafter, but will keep you updated via our Twitter feed. Lunch break will be around 12:00 noon.


TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Downtown Bartow is hosting the Bloomin’ Arts Festival this weekend, and we expect to have a few road closures. Please check the City of Bartow traffic advisories, plan your alternate routes and time schedules accordingly. Start a few minutes early so as to make it to the hall by 8:30 am.


COACHES: Mandatory Result Slips: Please print the result slips for Guppy and Primary division players today so your team can use them during the games.


(Note: Players must have played 12 of the 16 rounds to qualify for the Championship)

All of the tournaments will be Game 30. Check-in latest by 8:30 am at the registration desk.

The venue for the tournaments will be the Bartow Civic Center. Click here for the Bartow Civic Center Google map.

More information on the tournaments will be sent in my next email!

For COACHES:

1. All of the tournaments will be Game 30.
2. Please complete your paperwork on the Coaches Corner (on our website) so we can submit it to the school board. Please register online (no mailing required this year for your forms - we are going green one step at a time!)
3. We encourage you to study our chess manual online, and explain the rules to the kids.


For PARENTS:

Vendors: We have a few vendors at our tournament including food vendors. The vendors pay a fee so they can advertise at our tournaments and help us by keeping our registration fees low. We also have non-compete arrangement with them so no two vendors would compete for exactly same service or food on site. Please refrain from your business promotion activities unless you are registered with Polk Scholastic Chess. Contact Ms. Arlene Gable if you are interested in becoming a vendor at our tournaments.

Volunteers: We need parent volunteers at the front desk - you are welcome to join our volunteer family.
Food: There will be a few options for food at the tournament site. Additionally, there are also a few restaurants and fast food places within 10 minutes drive from the venue.
 
Chairs: Feel free to bring your chairs, tables and canopies.
 
Weather: Please check the weather reports and have your kids dressed appropriately.

Twitter: Sign up if you haven't already for our Twitter feeds @PolkChess for tournament announcements, rounds and updates.

Safety: Please help us to keep our kids safe, by supervising them and also help keep the Civic Center property safe. Students that are not properly supervised by you (all day) will not be allowed to compete in PSC tournaments or rounds. No grills and No Pets please - we do not want any accidents with any of the kids..

NO SMOKING POLICY: Please help us maintain our tournament premises smoke free, alcohol free and drug free. We strongly need parent involvement to make this happen for our kids.


Look forward to a wonderful new chess season and meeting you all soon!

Thank you for your continued support and participation.

Board Members
Polk Scholastic Chess