Hi Parents—

 

Thanks for coming to the National Tournaparty! Wow, this will be a very fun weekend and we are so honored to host your genius.

 

Here is all the information you need to know:

 

Dr. Brooks is in charge, and his number is (205) 332-5233, but as a true educator, he basically never checks his phone during class time. The front office switchboard is checked and manned at all times during the weekend by Coach Donna and that number is (205) 746-4953. Call or text anytime!

 

Wear a TKS shirt every day, but do not bring a chess set to Nationals. We will use pristine new TKS chess sets.

 

Consider coming with a chess friend from your home city if possible. But keep in mind that only kids who were enrolled in 2025-2026 TKS chess classes or a child who has already enrolled in fall 2026-2027 chess classes may attend the National Tournaparty.

 

When you enroll, your information automatically populates our attendance phone app and roll will be taken each day right as we start; if your child is absent or late, we are going to call you to be sure your genius is safe! All participants wear lanyard nametags which are collected at end of day. This way an absent child is very conspicuous and we call and track them down immediately.

 

The National Tournaparty is a drop-and-go event. However, parents are welcome to stay for all five weekend sessions, but please stay back as to not communicate with your child/invalidate a national championship tournament chess game, which will result in your child resigning the game and dropping from that tournament, which looks like them calmly tipping their king over, shaking hands with their opponent, giving the opponent all their beads, walking away with you, and then giving you a very upset and very stern lesson that you never understood until right that second about the strictness of chess tournament rules!

 

Also, all our coaches are background-checked many times over in their home cities, by the TKSA front office and also by multiple school districts, but we are very aware that parents are not background-checked, so that is another reason for parents to be sure to either drop and go (preferred) or to hang way back. Our 30 City Coaches from across the nation will be in attendance and are extremely protective of our students, so be ready for that!

 

There will be eight Awards Ceremonies scattered throughout the weekend for our various tournaments. If a child wins a medal, they should wear that medal at all times throughout the weekend. The final Awards Ceremony will occur at 11:50 Sunday morning, and parents are welcome to attend that standing in the back.

 

 All participants are invited to spend 15 minutes in our “knight in shining armor” suits, playing chess in the tournaments looking exactly like a knight. This is an opportunity open to all enrolled parents who sign up for one of our timeslots. Enrolled parents will receive an email May 1 with tons of information and a sign up link for the knight in shing armor option. Photo opportunity! Fun!

 

Sunday morning will be our final and biggest tournament, the one that crowns the Overall National Champion. At that Sunday-morning National Grade-level TournaParty event, parents are asked to please bring one contribution for “JunkFood Mountain.” Typically, parents bring one bag of chips, one box of donuts, one pack of Capri Suns, one plate of cookies, etc. Whether you are that parent who brings “a wheelbarrow full of Skittles” or that parent who brings “a carrot,” we welcome your contribution! So, if you are going to need a bowl, etc., please pack that in your suitcase. Many parents make chess-themed treats, and there is--NOT kidding--a weighty, impressive national championship JunkFood Mountain medal presented at the final Award Ceremony to the parent who makes the most impressive chess contribution to JunkFood Mountain. Go for it! The kids love this.

 

For the safety of all the children, no child can enroll/attend without a parent/guardian reading and agreeing to the following:

 

I agree that, with the exception of the three times listed below, the supervision of my child at all times during Nationals weekend will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

 

The Knight School will supervise children inside our coach-attended Tournament Hall Friday 1-5, Saturday 9-5, and Sunday 9-noon.​ Parents/guardians are fully responsible for children at all other times, including:

 

The Friday, Saturday, and Sunday walk from the parking lot to the check-in table inside the Tournament Hall. Please remain with your child until you see them physically touch the check-in table. Then, TKS staff will be responsible for your child until dismissal, which is done by a parent coming up to the crowd of kids sitting crisscross applesauce and "eyeballing" their kids, which will then release that child. All kids remain on the floor until claimed by their parents. 

 

The Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after-camp walk from the parent area inside the Tournament Hall to the parked car in the parking lot.

 

Any activity at the hotel pool. The Friday night pool gathering from 7-9 is just a suggestion, not a sanctioned event that is scheduled and supervised by The Knight School. No TKS Coaches will attend this event.

 

Any activity in the greater Jacksonville area, including airports, major league ballparks, or any other area attractions. Exploring beautiful Florida is unscheduled and unsupervised by The Knight School. 

 

By clicking the waiver button on the registration page, you are agreeing to all the above terms.

 

Thanks! We are excited to see you in St. Augustine Florida!

 

Dr. Brooks

National Executive Director

The Knight School