KINGSTON SCHOOLS BRIDGE PROGRAM

"CREATE ENTHUSIASM WITH A VARIETY OF TEACHING APPROACHES."

UNESCO recommends teaching bridge in schools because, under the guise of a game, the children learn to concentrate, to memorize, and finally to reason. " Menton European Bridge Championships Daily Bulletin"

VALUES OF BRIDGE AS RELATED TO ONTARIO MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM

Improved memory work.

Enhanced communication skills.

Improved concentration.

Reasoning.

Improved memory work.

Enhanced communication skills.

Improved concentration.

Reasoning.

Justification.

Simple to increasingly complex problems to master and to solve.

Work with others to solve problems.

Challenges.

Search for patterns.

Building of personal values.

Use variety of materials and concrete objects.

Game provides immediate rewards (trophies, prizes, recognition).

Support system available for those having difficulty.

Connections between everyday situations for math use.

Reading required.

Listening required.

Getting along with others a necessity.

Talking and discussing.

Reviewing and revising plans.

Thinking of alternatives.

Constructing arguments to justify reasoning.

Deductive reasoning.

Conjectures.

Data management.

Probability.

Number sense.

Numeration.

Some classroom teachers have remarked, too, on the value of having students stick at one activity for two full hours. In case of grade eights, this helps to prepare them for longer class periods in high school, which may be twice as long as in elementary school.

KINGSTON AREA SCHOOLS BRIDGE PROGRAM:

American Contract Bridge League’s Education Foundation provides:

	A free bridge textbook for each participating student and teacher;
	Free decks of playing cards;
	Course equipment and teaching materials;
	A free T-shirt for each participating student;
	A free classes-ending tournament trophy for the winner;
	A bridge teacher. THERE IS NO CHARGE TO SCHOOLS.

School provides:

	Students for the lessons;
	Location for the lessons to be held.
	Support for annual Schools Brdge Field Day - if held = second Wednesday in June.

Students agree:

	To attend bridge classes, unless directed otherwise by classroom teacher.
	To maintain a respectful and safe bridge table attitude.
	To advise classroom teacher should bridge interfere with regular school work.
	To advise telephone number (unless special security risk involved) and birth dates.

The Bridge Centre at Frontenac Mall and Kingston Area Schools Bridge Program provide:

	Liaison between schools and ACBL for course necessities;
	Opportunities for interested students to play bridge;
	Pizzas and soft drinks for the classes-ending tournament;
	Loan of card tables if school has nothing suitable for bridge;
	Opportunities for students to play in events offering scholarship prizes;
	Subsidies for successful youth players to World bridge events - students have had expenses paid trips to U. of Rhode Island, Prague, Poland and Hungary during recent years.

Format:

1.	The Introductory Club Series lessons require eight two-hour periods plus approximately two hours for a tournament.
2.	Students who are interested enough and whose school teachers approve are offered a follow up Intermediate Diamond Series of similar duration and another trophy.
3.	There is a Bridge Schools Field Day in early June to determine an Area School Bridge Champion. Students require parental and teacher approval for this.

What has worked best is a full class with the classroom teacher present. The school newsletter states that Mr/Ms class will enjoy bridge as Mathematics, Logic and Life Skills (or even English for French Immersion classes.) Then, there is no administrative work (approvals from home to stay during lunch hour or after school, no rounding up kids on bridge days, etc.) Many teachers who have tried this carry on with the second course, as well. However, whole classes have received the Club Series and selected students only have followed up with the Diamond Series, sometimes during regular class time, and sometimes during lunch hour plus one hour enrichment time.

Bridge’s Expectations:

That some children like the game enough to continue to play it; that students experience the full enjoyment by being allowed and, indeed, encouraged to play in the ½ day Bridge Schools Field Day near the end of the school year. As with other sports (yes, bridge is a Mind Sport) pupils seem to be really excited about playing against and meeting students from other schools.

More Information

Available from Ed O'Reilly, Bridge Centre at Frontenac Mall (613) 541-0034. (For more info visit our contact page.)

AMBASSADOR HOTEL AWARD
KINGSTON AREA SCHOOLS BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Schools in the Kingston area get together at the Bridge centre at Frontenac Mall every June for a Bridge Schools Field Day.

BRIDGE SCHOOLS CHAMPIONS

	2005		CHLOE CONNORS (King's Town College) - CONNOR DALGLEISH (St. Paul Catholic School)
	2004		ALANA BAKER - MEGAN GOODBERRY (Holy Family Catholic School)
	2003		KEITH NANTAU - NOLAN TAYLOR (John XX111 Catholic School)
	2002		DUSTIN GARRETT - NICHOLAS OOMENS (Holy Name Catholic School)
	2001		IAN BURGE - ERIC NACSA (Rideau Public School)
	2000		IAN BURGE - ERIC NACSA (Rideau Public School)
	1999		JEAN-FRANCOIS DOSTALER - GUY MENARD (Marie Riviere High School)
	1998		MARK DONOVAN (Frontenac High School) - MATTHEW MASON (Holy Cross High School)
	1997		ANDREW HAYDON - MATTHEW MASON (Frontenac High School)

BRIDGE SCHOOLS B* FLIGHT CHAMPIONS
(*Players who have taken Schools Bridge Beginning Course only)

	2005		CHLOE CONNORS (King's Town College) - CONNOR DALGLEISH (St. Paul Catholic School)
	2004		ANDREW MOORE - DYLAN VANHOOSER (Holy Name Catholic School)
	2003		SARAH BHROMSUWAN - ALICIA KENNY (Archbishop O’Sullivan Catholic School)
	2002		SEAN HANNAH - ROBERT GOODBERRY (Holy Family Catholic School)
	2001		MIKE VEENENDAAL - NEVILLE WHITTY (Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School)
	2000		KRISSY MARTIN - BRANDON RICHMOND (Selby Public School)
	1999		IAN BURGE - CAMERON GALE (Rideau Public School)
	1998		not available
	1997		not available

Kingston Bridge is grateful for the continued support of area youth bridge by the Ambassador Convention Resort, Bridge Baron 18 (Great Games Products), Avi Poriah Consulting (Nepean, Ontario), Unity Savings and Credit Union, and McDonald's.