Source: WBL Newsletter from Hugo Van Dyke, Bridge in Schools Coordinator; photos from Blake Schwartzbach
This year the number of WBL bridge programs in DC and Maryland schools increased by two schools. In total, we have about 80 students under the age of 18 playing bridge in schools!
Our programs have been established in middle schools, high schools, public schools, charter schools and private schools. We are pleased to reach all types of schools in the DC area. We had some exciting firsts this year- programs at Richard Montgomery and McKinley Tech burst on the scene. They joined programs at Wilson and West Education Campus that were in their second year and going strong.
Our oldest programs are Sidwell Friends and Walter Johnson whose programs are thriving. We had three inter-scholastic competitions this year, in addition to the regular programming. At our most recent event, students from Thomas Jefferson of Northern Virginia crossed over the Potomac to go head to head with our students.
Thanks to Mark Lavine & Barry Lieberman for hosting the games!
A pair from Woodrow Wilson took home 1st place at our largest competition in December. A pair that consisted of one student from Thomas Jefferson and one student from Richard Montgomery defeated the competition in May and Walter Johnson students claimed victory in June. With champions coming from a diverse group of schools, you know that our volunteer teachers are training their competitors well.
Special thanks to Jane Dolkart, Pat Mitchell, Adam Gann, Blake Schwartzbach, Leslie Jessell, Jim Metzger, James Berry, Shaheda Sultan, David Handwerker, Christopher Goldthwait, Paul Block, Andrew Jacknain and Suzanne Abrams for spreading enthusiasm for this great game to younger players in the area.
Looking ahead, we have engaged St. Andrews, DC International, Washington Latin
and Roosevelt about potential programs for next year and are certainly not looking to stop
there.
We need your help to expand to any school in the Washington area. Please email
our coordinator Hugo Van Dyke at WBLbridgeinschoolscoordinator@
