Valley Forge Academy Qatar holds grand opening event

Valley Forge Academy Qatar (VFAQ) on Thursday held its grand opening at its state-of-the-art campus in Aspire Zone 2 in the presence of several dignitaries, including VFAQ functionaries and officials from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. A formal ribbon-cutting marked the opening and this was followed by a students' parade that demonstrated a colour guard posting the school's colours and class formations, and marching.
According to an official statement, VFAQ is the "first truly international American school for boys". It is a collaboration between Valley Forge Military Academy (VFMA) in Pennsylvania, USA, Valley Forge Academy, a Qatar-based educational group, who also owns Durham School for Girls Doha, and Aspire Zone, the home of the school’s new campus.
Valley Forge Academy Qatar will deliver an American curriculum while focusing on Qatari culture, Arabic language and Islamic teachings combined with physical excellence. Dr Paul Milward Lea IV, president of Valley Forge Academy Qatar, said: “This milestone event is an opportunity to formally welcome the founding families, their sons, and invited guests to the school facilities. We look forward to hosting those who attend to highlight both the personnel and facilities, which will help mould and support our young men.”
The founder of VFMA, General Milton G Baker, said the “young man entering life must carry with him a high sense of honour, a recognition of the value of patriotism, and a proper respect for discipline, law and order". “The administration, faculty and staff at Valley Forge Academy Qatar look forward to carrying this mantra forward coupled with Islamic studies, Arabic language and Qatari history as we look forward to the next 100 years and beyond. Both schools view their role and purpose as essential to a strong future with global citizens: Send us your boys: we will return to you a man,” Baker said.
The statement noted that the selection of the date of January 19 was purposeful. The date has special significance for VFMA in that it was the date when the corps of cadets moved to its present location after a devastating fire destroyed the original school less than 36 hours earlier. This single event tested the character and will of the young men enrolled at the new school and set the stage for the future. Now, after 94 years, VFAQ becomes the first new location that looks forward to preparing today’s young Qatari men for their future. Therefore, the opening on January 19 has significance and sets the stage for the future of VFAQ and the promise it brings as the new location is recognised.
With a total area of 420,000sq ft with a capacity of 1,700 students, VFAQ seeks to develop and produce Qatar’s leaders of tomorrow across many sectors, including business, social, academic, diplomatic, sports, research, engineering and education. It has as its guiding principles the five traditional cornerstones of academic excellence, personal motivation, physical development, character development and leadership, which have been associated with VFMA since its inception.
Strong emphasis is laid on physical excellence and extra-curricular activities, including golf, fencing, martial arts, STEM, E-sports, debating, music and theatre.