King's Academy

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King's Academy
Floreat Scientia
Location
Madaba, Jordan Jordan
Information
Type Private, boarding
Religious affiliation(s) None
Established 2007
Headmaster John Austin
Gender Co-educational
Mascot The Lion
Website www.kingsacademy.edu.jo

King’s Academy (Arabic Translation: أكاديمية الملك) is an independent, co-educational private day and boarding school for students in grades 9 through 12 that opened its doors in August 2007 in Madaba-Manja, Jordan. It is named in honor of King Abdullah II of Jordan and seeks to fulfill His Majesty's vision of producing "a new generation of enlightened and creative minds".[1] King Abdullah attended high school at Deerfield Academy in the United States as there was no school of comparable standing in Jordan when he was a boy, but his son Crown Prince Hussein enrolled in the new school's second incoming class (2008). The new school's first headmaster, Dr. Eric Widmer, was a former headmaster of Deerfield.[2]

The primary language of instruction at King's Academy is English. Both Arabic speaking and non Arabic speaking students are required to study Arabic. The academy recently became a member of the G20 Schools group.[3]

Location and campus

The King’s Academy campus is unique in the Middle East. Designed by renowned Egyptian architect and Director of the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London Khaled Azzam, the campus and buildings are constructed on an extensive 575-dunum site (144 acres) and comprise some 33 major buildings. These include state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories and a 50,000-book library, a multi-faith spiritual center and garden, dormitories incorporating faculty family apartments, and a magnificent auditorium that will serve not just the school but the nation as well.

Athletic facilities

The athletic facilities include a semi-Olympic swimming pool, tennis, swimming pool, squash, handball and basketball courts, and cardio and weight training facilities. There is also an outdoor sports stadium, that includes a full-size football field, two additional football fields and a track.

King Abdullah II Spiritual Center

The King Abdullah II Spiritual Center is a non-denominational spiritual center that is available for use to all members of the school community, regardless of their religious preference. Both the indoor prayer room and the open-air courtyard are available for use at all times by students, faculty, staff and campus visitors.

The Abdul Majeed Shoman Auditorium

The Abdul Majeed Shoman Auditorium holds 700 people and is the location of both school and community events including, concerts, student recitals, and dance performances. Students and faculty members gather here for school meetings.

The HRH Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Adiministration Center

The HRH Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Administration Center opens its doors to visitors and campus residents alike, serving a variety of the community's needs. Prospective students and their families first become acquainted with the Academy through the Office of Admissions, located in the north wing of the building. During their time at the school, students find numerous resources, including the Office of the Headmaster and the University Counseling Office in the Al-Sabah Center.

The HRH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library

The HRH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library is designed to accommodate 50,000 volumes.[citation needed] The building is outfitted with wireless internet, reading tables and study spaces, including a circular reading room (Rotunda) that overlooks the campus.

Student body

The King’s Academy campus was built to accommodate 600 students, of which about 75 percent are boarding students. Boarding students can choose to be either week-day boarders (returning home for the weekend) or full-time boarders.

For the 2013-2014 academic year, 481 students were enrolled at the school, representing some 31 countries in the Middle East and around the world. Of these students, 45 percent are female and 55 percent are male.

The school draws students from diverse ethnic, geographic, religious and economic backgrounds, and between 15 and 30 percent of King’s Academy’s tuition revenue has been set aside for financial aid, in addition to an endowment fund for scholarships. Approximately 40% of students receive financial aid.

Academics

The school’s curriculum is based on the American Advanced Placement (AP) program. Students intending to attend a Jordanian university or gain certain professional licenses in Jordan can obtain a certificate of Tawjihi equivalency in lieu of taking the national Tawjihi examination. The primary language of instruction at King's Academy is English but the study of Arabic is required of all students, throughout their years at King's.

The academic departments at King's Academy are:

  • Communication, Rhetoric and the Literary Arts (Incorporating both English and Arabic)
  • World Languages
  • Physical and Life Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Computer Science
  • History and Social Studies
  • Ethics, Philosophy and Religion
  • Fine and Performing Arts.

The Academy is certified by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Council of International Schools (CIS), is a founding member of Global Online Academy (GOA), a member of the G20 Schools group, and is a Round Square School.

Co-curricular activities

All King's Academy students participate in three afternoons a week of a major co-curricular activity and one afternoon a week of a minor co-curricular activity. These activities include community service, yearbook, performing and visual arts, sports, the school newspaper (called The Rexonian) and Model United Nations.

Community service

Community Service is strongly encouraged. Students volunteer to help teach English to children, work with refugees, assist in clean-up projects and work with non-profit social service organizations on environmental, educational and social welfare issues. Each year a community service fair is held to encourage students to participate in community service programs during the summer months.

Sports

King's Academy has a strong focus on athletics as part of its co-curricular program. The school competes in both local and international leagues. Competitive sports offered during the 2013-2014 fall, winter and spring seasons include:

The school also offers a number of recreational programs, where students work to develop skills rather than compete against other schools. These include:

Board membership

International Advisory Board members:

  • His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan
  • His Royal Highness Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain
  • Her Royal Highness Princess Areej Ghazi

Board of Trustees

  • Karim Kawar (Chairman)
  • Ms. Randa Ayoubi
  • Dr. Amin Badr El Din
  • Mr. George Faux
  • Ms. M. Burch Tracy Ford
  • Mr. David Pond
  • His Excellency Mr. Bassem Salem
  • Mr. Peter Weinberg
  • Dr. John Austin, ex officio

Legal Counsel to the Board of Trustees

  • James F. Warren, Esq.

Round Square

In 2010, King's Academy became the first Arab school to gain full membership in global Round Square organization. The Round Square Conference of Schools is an association of more than 100 schools on five continents that allows students to travel across the world and participate in community service, exchange programs and adventruing. Since becoming a Round Square school, King's Academy has held three regional conferences and has been awarded the bid to host the 2014 International Round Square Conference.[4]

Arabic Year

In 2011, King's Academy initiated the Arabic Year at King's Academy (AY), which offers American and international high school students one year of intensive Arabic study, cultural immersion and experiential learning. The program provides AY students with two classes of intensive Arabic each school day as part of a standard load of college preparation courses.In addition, students enjoy extensive outings and trips throughout the historic and beautiful country of Jordan.

Global Online Academy

In 2011, King's Academy joined a consortium of leading independent schools across America as the founding members of the Global Online Academy (GOA). Of the 10 institutions to launch the GOA, King's is the only non-American member.

The GOA provides extensive, top quality online courses taught by some of the world's finest teachers. By utilizing technology in the classroom, students at member schools learn to communicate on a global scale while enhancing their creativity and versatility. It is also a platform for students of divers background to interact with one another as they explore and discuss global issues.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.kingsacademy.edu.jo/
  2. ↑ Paumgarten, Nick. "Our Far-Flung Correspondents: Deerfield in the Desert". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2012-08-09. 
  3. ↑
  4. ↑

External links

Coordinates: 31°45′12″N 35°50′53″E / 31.75325°N 35.848142°E / 31.75325; 35.848142

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