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Jack Weeks introduces Sisters
to chess Every fourth-grader in Sisters schools learns chess, thanks to Jack Weeks. Chess wasn’t part of the upbringing of a boy born in the Little Sweden logging camp in the Cascade Mountains about 70 miles west of Sisters, where his father worked in the woods and drove trucks. “I probably couldn’t have spelled chess when I was a kid,” Weeks said. “I stumbled onto chess in 1972 at the age of 35.” Weeks shared that discovery with many Americans who were enthralled by the epic Cold War world championship competition between Soviet master Boris Spassky and the American chess genius Bobby Fischer. “I became fascinated with what that was all about,” he said. “Something about that game just connected with me.” Weeks was then in the midst of what would be a 30-year career as a guidance counselor in Tigard School District middle and elementary schools. He discovered that, as a self-taught, late-starting player, he wasn’t going to set the competitive chess world on fire. But he could do something else that merged two of his passions — engaging kids and chess. “I kind of found that my forte — because I was dealing with kids — was maybe to teach chess to kids,” he said. “I used it as a counseling tool.” He started teaching children with disabilities. They responded to the game. Kids who had trouble reading could often grasp chess and the confidence they gained from learning an “intellectual’s game” gave them a boost in their efforts to succeed in school. Soon, Weeks’ chess instruction spread through all of Tigards’ schools and Weeks’ students even won state championships. When he retired, Weeks wanted to satisfy “a 20-year yearning” to settle in Sisters, but he had a hard time convincing his wife Liz to uproot from Tigard and cross the mountains. That is, until their daughter in Bend told them she was going to have their first grandchild. “Within six months of that announcement being made we had money down on this place,” Weeks said, referring to his home in the Timber Creek neighborhood overlooking Whychus Creek. Practically as soon as he got here, Weeks approached Sisters Elementary School Principal Jan Silberman about establishing a fourth-grade chess program. So much for retirement. “I always got along well with kids,” Weeks reflected. “I wouldn’t dare to venture why, other than that I have great respect for them. I get great satisfaction out of being with kids. Maybe chess is my excuse.” Weeks soon became a regular fixture at Sisters Elementary School, where he teaches each fourth grade class to play chess and, with help from community donations, provides each student with a chess set with a roll-up vinyl board. The program, now in its fifth year, has caught on. Many students continue playing through middle school and they have seen some success in competitions. This spring, Weeks took a middle school team to Central Oregon regional competition, which the Sisters players won. Six went on to take individual honors at state competition, where they were going up against all the best youth chess players in the state. Middle schoolers Canyon O’Neal and Brandon Pollard took third- place trophies. Jack and Liz Weeks are models of active retirement, especially enjoying travel. Jack is an avid cyclist and a voracious reader. Weeks plans to continue instilling a love for chess in Sisters youngsters. “Just about every kid really loves it,” he said. “They really do.” And they love Mr. Weeks, too. Return to Extraordinary Sisters.
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