St. Rocco kicks off new round of after school opportunities

Johnston Sun Rise ·

The students at St. Rocco School now have the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the traditional school day hours.

The school recently kicked off a new session of after school enrichment activities.

“We have started a multi-age basketball program, a Friends of Jesus prayer group, an art instruction class and an arts and crafts program, a chess program for grades five through eight, as well as dance and band programs for all grades,” Principal Lorraine Moschella said. “We just finished up with cross country and we have soccer and intramural sports as well.”

The new programs, which started this month, will run through December, and then in January a new session of programming will begin.

The chess club specifically comes at a time when the blockbuster Disney and ESPN movie, “Queen of Katwe,” has just been released. The biographical drama is based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, a young Ugandan girl living in the slums who learned the game of chess and competed in the World Chess Olympiads.

“Chess is a game of strategy that really enhances a lot of skills,” Moschella said. “It touches on things like pattern recognition, critical thinking, creativity, abstract thinking, and overall reading and math skills. It really enhances a student’s sense of self-esteem as well. Thirty nations worldwide include chess as a crucial part of their curriculum, and I am so glad we can offer it to our students here, and I am glad that Mr. [Michael] DiMichele has agreed to run the club because we have had a great response. Almost two-dozen students have signed up for it.”

For more information about the after school programs, contact St. Rocco School.