"Being part of the community. QA each year organizes a variety of events bringing together students, faculty, staff and the Parent Teacher Association"

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Facilities

The striking architecture of Qatar Academy buildings on the outside is matched on the inside with spacious classrooms, natural light and a sense of openness everywhere.

The Academy has the most advanced up-to-date facilities of any school in the country and competes with the very best in the world.
In this section ...

• Library
• Science Labs
• IT Teaching Labs
• Performing Arts
• Music
• Drama
• Auditorium
• Sports
• Cafeteria

Library

The three Libraries and Media Center at Qatar Academy welcome students, teachers, Education City patrons and parents, and provide support for their recreational and learning needs. In addition to more than 60,000 print and AV resources, the libraries provide access to an extensive list of electronic subscriptions and online resources. Full services are provided by qualified librarians in English and Arabic. As a member of Education City, Qatar Academy students and faculty have reciprocal access to resources from all onsite universities though Inter Library Loans. Parents are welcome to join any of the libraries as borrowing patrons.

The Early Years Library caters specifically for children in the grades from Preschool 3 to Grade 1, supporting the IB Primary Years Program. The centerpiece of this colorful library is a reading loft where children can climb to enjoy their books. The Majlis is another popular place to read. To complement the collection of picture and easy chapter books, the library holds a spectacular set of puppets, big books, AV resources and access to age appropriate online sites.

The Primary Library supports the inquiry based PYP needs of students from Grade 2 to Grade 5. As well as providing print resources, books and magazines for reading and research, the library lends CDs and audio playaways for story listening pleasure. Encyclopedias and age appropriate non fiction books are supplemented by online resources. Digi-Blue video cameras to create short movies and Digi-Blue microscopes for students to create science slideshows and videos are among the multimedia equipment available for students to use in the classroom. The Primary Library is continuing to build a specialized collection of resources focused on parenting issues. The Arabic collection has grown substantially, and caters for both Arabic first-language speakers, and for those beginning to learn Arabic as an additional language. The majlis provides comfortable seating and a warm atmosphere in this well-loved space in our school.

The Senior Library is housed in a beautiful facility and supports the MYP (Grades 6 - 10) and the DP (Grades 11 - 12) learning needs of students. With an AV viewing room, reference area, computer pods, reading area, work areas, and private study carrels, the library regularly hosts up to 5 classes at the same time. The library maintains subscriptions to more than 200 print magazines and periodicals in English, Arabic, French and Spanish. These are supplemented by over 30 electronic subscriptions and online services, including Discovery Education Streaming, Wikispaces and Elluminate. Supplementing the English language collection, the Arabic print collection is unrivalled. From this 21st century library, audio books, playaways, DVDs and e-books are available for loan.

The Media Center consists of personal computers, a variety of electronic equipment and qualified staff. Video and digital cameras, voice recorders and mobile computing carts, allow a teaching specialist to work with students and teachers to generate multimedia resources (photos, moving images and sound) to use in integrated classroom projects. Projectors and speakers make the four media labs an ideal area for creating and viewing student work.

Along with the media labs Qatar Academy has opened a Macintosh lab to support delivery of the new IB Film course. Through the implementation of the film course and the integration of multimedia in the classroom, students at Qatar Academy have access to a variety of 21st century technologies.

Science

Students graduating Qatar Academy are equipped with a firm foundation of scientific knowledge and skills so that they are scientifically literate, active participants and informed decision-makers on matters of scientific importance. As human endeavors increase our collective knowledge of science and spring up new applications, students will be faced with a potentially bewildering array of choices, and they must be prepared to make personal decisions based on a sound understanding on the impacts of science. Our students are able to use the scientific method to carry out their own investigations, and realize the limitations of the method, to analyze and evaluate data, and reflect on the suitability of the chosen method.

The science curriculum reflects an expectation of high standards of learning - not in terms of a vast body of knowledge, but rather in a coherent, sequenced set of concepts, principles, facts and theories - the ""big Stories"" of science - that underpins further understanding. With the well equipped science laboratories the curriculum focus is on teaching and learning for understanding, thinking critically, applying knowledge, investigating problems through the inquiry process and solving problems.

Teaching and learning is hands-on. Learning about abstract concepts must be made concrete by the use of modeling, and applications to real life situations. Science must be enjoyable and interesting if we are to nurture a life-long interest in the subject and subject matter. Wherever possible, science will be taught in a holistic way, so that the full range of sciences is considered when studying any particular unit of work. Teaching methodology is based on hands-on inquiry, supported by a range of collaborative and individual assignments.

Assessment must be an integral part of learning. Formative assessment provides feedback to the student on performance and how performance can be improved. Summative assessment takes place at the end of units of work, and is based on the objectives of the unit. A variety of assessment tasks and strategies are used to take into account different learning styles and intelligences of students.

Science Labs

The science department is equipped with:

• six science labs used for Grades 6-12;
• two labs which are used solely for Grade 12;
• each lab is fitted with two networked computers and at least one fume cupboard;
• a data-logging room is equipped which has six networked computers to perform experiments with probes;
• a darkroom for light and photography experiments and teacher workspace between classes.

IT Teaching Labs

Qatar Academy takes a whole school approach to E-Learning and information technology. More information can be found in the E-Learning section of this website. As part of the development of standardized classrooms most are equipped with a laptop, digital projector mounted on the ceiling, digital camera and access to viable online resources for research and publication. All students, at an appropriate age, have access to an online wiki for digital portfolio creation, email accounts as well as other resources, including Atomic Learning online tutorials, Brain Pop, and United Streaming videos.

Senior School

The Senior School is working towards a 1:1 laptop program and has established laptop trolley carts to supplement access to mobile computing in some classrooms. There are also computer laboratories available for class bookings in the Media Suites and the MYP Technology area. In addition dedicated resources are available for special purposes such as science and film. Technology Instructional Facilitators are available to assist in classrooms.

Primary School

A major shift this year is the focus towards authentically embedding the use of technology tools into daily classroom learning in all subject areas. Technology Integration Facilitators plan with teachers and students to discover, learn and utilize technology resources for inquiry, language, literacy, math, art, PE and music. Technology and E-learning now occurs in more locations than just the computer rooms and libraries. The Primary School is continuing to expand its mobile computing program and has replaced most classroom desktops with new laptops for student use; with a close-to 2:1 student to laptop ratio in the upper grades. There is shared access to, computer rooms, libraries, digital microscopes and visual presenters.

Performing Arts

Senior school students learn about the basic principles and elements of art styles, art history and look at a variety of cultures including Qatari culture. Explore and experiment with various media, drawing and painting techniques and learn how to use equipment and media appropriately. All senior students are introduced to the idea of using a developmental workbook that will be added to each year.

In the Primary Art Program students create original artwork and express their own experiences visually. Students learn to see, think about and enjoy the process of studying artwork-their own work, their classmates' work, and work from around the world. Through frequent exposure to art, students become aware of the beauty of the world around us and develop an appreciation of art and design in everyday life.

Music

The Early Years music program provides the children with the opportunity to sing, play, listen to, move with and enjoy music. All the Children are encouraged to join in and be 'Risk Takers'. Through exposure to music the children become familiar with the building blocks of Music - Pitch, Tempo, Dynamics, Form, Beat, Rhythm, Duration and Timbre.

Through introducing to understanding and appreciating music, listening and appraising performances students can explore Orff instruments, and learn how to play music from other cultures. They will be given the opportunity to create music and show their musicianship, composing notes for melody, rhythm and harmony by writing on paper that will be played on piano and keyboard individually, by partner and by group.

Drama

Through a series of drama games, senior students learn and demonstrate group skills necessary for meaningful drama to take place. They study basic theatre terminology while learning to use space, movement and voice to communicate meaning without the use of a scripted text.

The Pre 3 and Pre 4 children do individual class performances once a year led by the classroom teachers and supported by the Music teacher. Kindergarten performs as a whole year group once a year. This year Kindergarten will be performing a musical.

Grade 1 - Grade 5 are involved in a variety of performance opportunities. After school music clubs coordinate with classes for musicals and variety shows. All children perform in class assemblies throughout the year.

Film

This year Qatar Academy is offering the new IB Diploma Film course. Through the study and analysis of film texts and exercises in film-making, the Diploma Programme film course explores film history, theory and socio-economic background. The course develops students' critical abilities, enabling them to appreciate the multiplicity of cultural and historical perspectives in film. To achieve an international understanding within the world of film, students are taught to consider film texts, theories and ideas from the points of view of different individuals, nations and cultures. The IB film course emphasizes the importance of working individually and as a member of a group.

Auditorium

The well tiered auditorium, with a fully-appointed stage has seating for an audience of approximately 250. With perfect acoustics and excellent sight lines, the auditorium provides an inviting setting for Qatar Academy events of all types.

Sports

The Academy has excellent facilities for the range of sports offered through the curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

• Olympic standard 50m swimming pool, complete with the latest electronic timing and scoreboard facilities and two training pools;
• multi purpose sports complex;
• tennis and squash rackets courts;
• weight training suite;
• running track;
• football pitch.

Cafeteria

Lunch is taken in the purpose built cafeteria for students and staff. The cafeteria provides a varied menu to ensure the students receive a balanced and nutritional meal.