St. Francis DeSales
Catholic School
January 25, 2008
Mark Simms visited Ms. Antonietta DeSantis' class at St. Francis
DeSales Catholic school to give a
presentation to the students. Mark talked about the themes of
courage and persistence to encourage the students to aim high
and follow their dreams. The class worked on murals to show
their thoughts about living and going to school in the
Jane-Finch area.
The students in Ms. Antonietta DeSantis' class have taken the
last 5 months working on the different studies with Jane and
Finch. Such examples include:
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A
lack of local employment opportunities.
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Insufficient attention paid safety
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Crime and perceived lack of safety/security;
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The need for better racial and socio-economic representation in
the development of programming;
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The concentration of low income housing in a small area;
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Continued reporting by the media of negative images coming from
the area, which further enhances the negative reputation.
About Ms. Antonietta DeSantis
 Antonietta DeSantis (Teacher) grew up in the Jane and Finch/Jane
and Wilson area all her life. She has grown to see the many
changes within the social conditions in the area. Ms. DeSantis
has seen friends lose there lives, and fall into substance
abuse. Although true, Ms. DeSantis has lived and tasted the real
essence of this community. She sees and advocates for the
goodness that Jane and Finch provides. She comes from an
Educational background of early childhood education, and a
Masters of Teaching from OISE/UFT. Her masters degree consisted
of the study of behavioral issues within communities, family,
children and schools. She published her Thesis in 2006 “Primary
and Junior Teachers Attitudes Towards Student Discipline
Problem: Effective Behavior Management Techniques in Inner City
Working Class Schools in Jane and Finch”. Ms. DeSantis has
taught in many diverse classroom settings, mostly in difficult
schools where she has worked with the inner passion that
“students come from many different situations; poverty, abuse,
isolation, and substance abuse-they have the right to learn, yet
we as teachers should encourage them to stop the negative cycle
and follow our dreams no matter what life throws at us”.
She was selected to teach at St. Francis DeSales to work with
this particular grade 8 class. From day one Ms. DeSantis
educated the students to move away from the negative attitudes
that society brings within there community, and work towards the
positive scene and make a difference within themselves, family
and school environments. These students have worked with the
food bank, Nursing homes, special education schools, and
fundraisers for the families who lost there loved ones from gang
related.
The students in this class, created murals that emphasized
having the right to fulfill there dreams with poetry, music, and
art...the love for Jane and Finch. The students state that
although these are the issues they face here in the area, they
love it, and they will move higher with a good education, good
job, and the right to make good decisions, with out violence.
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Photo Gallery
(Click on image to
enlarge) |
Shakayla & Lesley
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Jessica & Patricia
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Matthew & Obed
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Gustavo
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Nadia & Teresa
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Thianna & Angelica
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Holly
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Adam A., Adam Ap. & Daniel-Jordan
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Rachael & Ishmael
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Tomy
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Godofredo & Carlos
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Johnny, Andy & Andre
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Photos by Antonietta DeSantis |
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