From The Harlem News, December 11, 2008

By Georgia Sauer

You won’t see the high octane, Mad Hatter rush of the holiday season at Harlem Academy, an academically rigorous independent elementary school for children whose aptitude for success in higher education might otherwise go unrealized.  Head of school Vincent A. Dotoli is specific on how the holidays are celebrated at the school, which he founded with a first grade five years ago, adding a grade a year to what will be eighth grade in 2011.

Time and resources will not be spent on parties, treats, or other non-curriculum based events, but on service learning projects where, for the fifth year, the children participate in a giving experience instead of a “getting” experience, having fun along the way.  The first grade decorates a community tree; the second grade conducts a toy drive of non-technological gifts such as books, games and puzzles which will be given to families with AIDS; the third grade leads a coat drive; the fourth grade collects change used for supplies for a school in Africa; and the new fifth grade will start a tradition of a canned food drive.

The community tree best exemplifies the spirit of the holiday at Harlem Academy.  There are no objects on the tree like mittens or hats to give away; instead, the tree acts as a reminder that you can give gifts without spending money, such as the gift of a compliment, of play or friendship, of helping, of a written note.  At a weekly community meeting, the children discussed why they would give a gift to someone they didn’t know, answering that there are people less fortunate who need help; it feels good to help; and some day we may need help.

Dotoli’s emphasis on academics, even during this normally hectic time of year, works well.  The children have classroom and school-wide conversations about giving to  others and their service projects, honing their verbal communication and public speaking skills; they become well-versed on their class project through research; they design and publish flyers to display at the school.

Angela Bailey, a second grade teacher who recently led the community meeting on giving, said, “The holiday   program here makes children less selfish.  Their first reaction might be, ‘My mom is poor – how can I give what I don’t have myself.’  But when we teach them that giving doesn’t just mean objects, but volunteering, helping, then they start understanding.“