Instructor: Levon Altounian (2002-present)
Assisting instructors: Masters Leo Martinez (2002-2003) and Nirosh Silva (2004-2005)
Castlehill Country day School has been one of the most successful Arizona schools for the past decade. It is partially attributed to the school administration’s great support for their chess team and the chess club and their efforts to make chess the main after-school activity on the campus. For years, the chess club also enjoyed unprecedented team bonding between parents and students. The school chess club won an Arizona State Championship in some division every year since 2001. On numerous occasions, students won Individual and Team State Grade and State Champion titles back to back in the same year. The year 2003 marked the highest achievement: The title of 2003 National Elementary Championship. Many students who graduated or changed schools continue being top contenders at the State and National Championship level. Chess is currently a part of the school curriculum for all K-1 students.
