* Focus on Arabic language and Islamic values * Boys-only campus in Aspire Zone set to open in August
Valley Forge Academy Qatar, described as the "first truly international" American school for boys, has announced the details of its "unique educational offering and state-of-the art campus".
The new school opening comes as a collaboration between Valley Forge Military Academy in the US, Valley Forge Academy, a Qatar-based educational group that also owns Durham School for Girls Doha, and Aspire Zone, the home of the school’s new campus.
A press conference was held recently in Doha in this regard, where the speakers were Natalie A Baker, chargé d’affaires of the US embassy in Qatar; Colonel Stuart B Helgeson, president of Valley Forge Military Academy and College; Saad Ibrahim al-Mohannadi, chairman of the Board of Directors, Valley Forge Academy Qatar; and Clare Sharp, Lower School principal, Valley Forge Academy Qatar.
Baker said, "I am grateful for the invitation to be here and celebrate the opening of Valley Forge Academy in Qatar. From the embassy, we warmly welcome increased American educational ties in Doha, and this opening represents one more way in which our countries are linked. 2022 is an exciting year for US-Qatar relations, as it marks 50 years of a strong partnership between our two countries, including mutually beneficial co-operation in education."
Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania, USA, has almost 100 years of heritage and has a proven track record in creating some of the world’s most prominent leaders since 1928, including senior government officials, professional athletes, as well as many successful Qatari graduates, a press statement notes.
Colonel Helgeson said, “Since the beginning, our education has been built on five cornerstones: Academic Excellence, Leadership, Character Development, Physical Development and Personal Motivation. These five cornerstones have application to all individuals who seek something more. Those who embrace them recognise leadership isn’t just a word and isn’t given – but earned.”
Valley Forge Academy Qatar will build on this heritage, and its students will benefit from a governance overlap and shared co-curricular programmes with Valley Forge Military Academy USA, driven by its educational philosophy of the five cornerstones.
Al-Mohannadi said, “Our partnership with Valley Forge Military Academy in the US (with whom we share similar visions to educating young men) to establish the Valley Forge Qatar campus aims at bringing yet another opportunity for young men in Qatar to have access to the best American curriculum built on a solid foundation. This entails establishing the Arabic language, Islamic and Qatari values as a foundation and using the Valley Forge cornerstones and Pennsylvania State educational curriculum as the educational framework, enabling a world-class educational opportunity for the young men of Qatar. This new vision on education supports Qatar’s vision for its youth, to grow into responsible men that will create a prosperous, successful future for Qatar, the region and the world at large.”
On its state-of-the-art campus in Aspire Zone 2, Valley Forge Academy Qatar will deliver an American curriculum while focusing on Qatari culture, Arabic language and Islamic teachings combined with physical excellence.
Valley Forge Academy Qatar "fosters an ambition to create Qatar’s leaders of tomorrow in business, social, academic, diplomatic, sports, research, engineering and education. It pursues this goal by providing a holistic learning environment to prepare its graduates to become educated and disciplined citizens of character", the statement explains. The school’s unique programmes in STEM activities, sports, e-Sports, academic competitions including Debate Team and Model UN, and Music and Theatre contribute to the growth of its students outside the classroom.
Sharp added, “The Valley Forge conviction is that developing boys into young men of character requires a holistic approach: mind, body and soul. The Academy’s aim is to produce young men who will contribute positively to society, with the habits of respect for all cultures, compassion, self-discipline, imagination, flexibility and resilience, sound judgement and moral courage.”
Moreover, through focus on extensive athletics programmes, the school helps students become physically fit young men ready to compete in all aspects of life. To foster this physical and creative development, the new campus will host an indoor swimming pool, racquet facilities, a high-tech gaming arena, and a fully functional theatre.
The Valley Forge Academy Qatar new campus in Aspire Zone 2 is set to open in August 2022 with the "world’s finest and most capable teachers, and state-of-the-art educational and recreational facilities to support the school’s vision to be a holistic learning environment, where students learn both inside and outside the classroom". The curriculum will emphasise independent and collaborative learning as students will be taught to value lifelong discovery and knowledge acquisition. The curriculum will be delivered using both innovative digital technologies and proven traditional teaching techniques.
The Academy will prioritise local culture, religion, and language. Arabic and Islamic culture and religion will be an integral part of how Valley Forge Academy operates and will be woven into the school’s fabric. All students will be exposed to Arabic from PreK to begin to build the foundations for linguistic fluency in Arabic and English. Cross-curricular co-ordination will ensure that all Valley Forge Academy students understand and appreciate Islam’s role and values in Qatar, as well as the broader regional and global cultures.
The new school opening comes as a collaboration between Valley Forge Military Academy in the US, Valley Forge Academy, a Qatar-based educational group that also owns Durham School for Girls Doha, and Aspire Zone, the home of the school’s new campus.
A press conference was held recently in Doha in this regard, where the speakers were Natalie A Baker, chargé d’affaires of the US embassy in Qatar; Colonel Stuart B Helgeson, president of Valley Forge Military Academy and College; Saad Ibrahim al-Mohannadi, chairman of the Board of Directors, Valley Forge Academy Qatar; and Clare Sharp, Lower School principal, Valley Forge Academy Qatar.
Baker said, "I am grateful for the invitation to be here and celebrate the opening of Valley Forge Academy in Qatar. From the embassy, we warmly welcome increased American educational ties in Doha, and this opening represents one more way in which our countries are linked. 2022 is an exciting year for US-Qatar relations, as it marks 50 years of a strong partnership between our two countries, including mutually beneficial co-operation in education."
Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania, USA, has almost 100 years of heritage and has a proven track record in creating some of the world’s most prominent leaders since 1928, including senior government officials, professional athletes, as well as many successful Qatari graduates, a press statement notes.
Colonel Helgeson said, “Since the beginning, our education has been built on five cornerstones: Academic Excellence, Leadership, Character Development, Physical Development and Personal Motivation. These five cornerstones have application to all individuals who seek something more. Those who embrace them recognise leadership isn’t just a word and isn’t given – but earned.”
Valley Forge Academy Qatar will build on this heritage, and its students will benefit from a governance overlap and shared co-curricular programmes with Valley Forge Military Academy USA, driven by its educational philosophy of the five cornerstones.
Al-Mohannadi said, “Our partnership with Valley Forge Military Academy in the US (with whom we share similar visions to educating young men) to establish the Valley Forge Qatar campus aims at bringing yet another opportunity for young men in Qatar to have access to the best American curriculum built on a solid foundation. This entails establishing the Arabic language, Islamic and Qatari values as a foundation and using the Valley Forge cornerstones and Pennsylvania State educational curriculum as the educational framework, enabling a world-class educational opportunity for the young men of Qatar. This new vision on education supports Qatar’s vision for its youth, to grow into responsible men that will create a prosperous, successful future for Qatar, the region and the world at large.”
On its state-of-the-art campus in Aspire Zone 2, Valley Forge Academy Qatar will deliver an American curriculum while focusing on Qatari culture, Arabic language and Islamic teachings combined with physical excellence.
Valley Forge Academy Qatar "fosters an ambition to create Qatar’s leaders of tomorrow in business, social, academic, diplomatic, sports, research, engineering and education. It pursues this goal by providing a holistic learning environment to prepare its graduates to become educated and disciplined citizens of character", the statement explains. The school’s unique programmes in STEM activities, sports, e-Sports, academic competitions including Debate Team and Model UN, and Music and Theatre contribute to the growth of its students outside the classroom.
Sharp added, “The Valley Forge conviction is that developing boys into young men of character requires a holistic approach: mind, body and soul. The Academy’s aim is to produce young men who will contribute positively to society, with the habits of respect for all cultures, compassion, self-discipline, imagination, flexibility and resilience, sound judgement and moral courage.”
Moreover, through focus on extensive athletics programmes, the school helps students become physically fit young men ready to compete in all aspects of life. To foster this physical and creative development, the new campus will host an indoor swimming pool, racquet facilities, a high-tech gaming arena, and a fully functional theatre.
The Valley Forge Academy Qatar new campus in Aspire Zone 2 is set to open in August 2022 with the "world’s finest and most capable teachers, and state-of-the-art educational and recreational facilities to support the school’s vision to be a holistic learning environment, where students learn both inside and outside the classroom". The curriculum will emphasise independent and collaborative learning as students will be taught to value lifelong discovery and knowledge acquisition. The curriculum will be delivered using both innovative digital technologies and proven traditional teaching techniques.
The Academy will prioritise local culture, religion, and language. Arabic and Islamic culture and religion will be an integral part of how Valley Forge Academy operates and will be woven into the school’s fabric. All students will be exposed to Arabic from PreK to begin to build the foundations for linguistic fluency in Arabic and English. Cross-curricular co-ordination will ensure that all Valley Forge Academy students understand and appreciate Islam’s role and values in Qatar, as well as the broader regional and global cultures.