The P.S. 70 chess team didn’t make it to Texas because our principal, Ms.Kerry Castellano, refused to let Mr. Alejandro take his championship chess team to Texas this weekend.

In the end, the parents and the students picked principle over their principal. They backed their chess coach all the way.

Parents of 10 of 13 members of the renowned P.S. 70 Bronx chess team have decided to forgo this weekend’s grade national championships in Houston, Texas because the school’s principal is barring their coach.

This Wednesday, at an early-morning protest in front of the school, parents said the decision to keep their children home was a heartbreaker, but that the long time coach Jonathan Alejandro merited their support.

“We only want to go if Mr. Alejandro goes,” said 9-year-old Emely Herasme.

Today, the students that refused to go to Texas without their chess coach had a big celebration in our chess room to honor their decision to support their coach. They ate pizza, ice cream, cookies and drinks while they watched the movie”Knights of the South Bronx” which was based on our school’s chess program..

We had a ball this afternoon in the Bronx. Our spirits are in Houston, Texas.

Make no mistake that we are united together. We picked principle over the principal. We are very proud of our decision.

Knights of the South Bronx

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Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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