story by Madeline Paul

With the 2017-18 school year starting, now is the perfect time to get involved in the many extracurricular programs Jeff High offers.

JHS houses several regionally/state ranked teams, including the Chess Team. In the past year, the team has been ranked No. 1 in the Louisville Metro area, and competed at both state and national championships.

Although differing from the Chess Team — which is reserved for advanced players — the JHS Chess Club is welcome to all students, regardless of level of expertise. This program offers the opportunity for growth within both the club and the school. Research has shown that playing chess increases problem-solving skills and other brain functions.

“The strict rules of chess requires you to think out of the box,” chess team member Thomas Beimrohr said. “I’ve found myself thinking of common problems in my life through new eyes, often finding better ways to get through them.”

Interested in joining? Chess Club meets in room C113 at 2:35 p.m. every Thursday.