William Whyte in Winnipeg has been labelled by police as an area with high amounts of violent crime, but the community school is striving to bring out the best in its neighbours. 

Cinzia Caputo is entering her second year as principal of William Whyte, but it is her sixth year at the school and in the community. Police have labelled William Whyte as a high-risk area for violent crime, but that isn't what Caputo sees.

"I've been in this community going onto my sixth year and I feel perfectly safe," the principal says. "It is a vibrant community, it is a family community."

At the centre of that community is the school. William Whyte School, which has been around since 1914 with a new building being constructed in 1976, wants the school and families to work together to make the neighbourhood safe and educate the children in the area.

"The school is the centre of the community," said Caputo, noting that her door is always open to community members and family. "We're the heart of the William Whyte community."

That connection starts, Caputo says, with that invitation. There is a community room in the school that is meant for parents. They can grab a cup of coffee and resources for their family while there. Caputo has worked with local MLA's to build connections that can work with and help the parents who need it.

Julie Millar, the Director of Student Services with the Winnipeg School Division, says they are also running a School Resource Officer (SRO) program, which focuses on a proactive, community-based approach to policing, rather than being reactive. The officers work at building community relationships, through sports like volleyball and hockey, or through educational classes.

"Certainly, education is very important for our students," said Millar in regards to teaching students about negative influences such as drugs and alcohol.

If incidents occur inside the building, the SRO's will meet with the parents, the student, and the police if necessary, to work out a solution. 

"We're at the starting point, there is a lot of work to be done," admitted Principal Caputo.

Caputo knows that, which is why she openly invites those in the community to contact her and help her figure out what else they can do.

"I'm not exactly sure what's out there, there might be things I haven't thought of," she said. "There are so many things we aren't aware of." 

Schools offer kids a sense of belonging, and Caputo and Millar both believe William Whyte provides that and more.

"The school is the community," she said. "There is no real division between what's happening in the community and what's happening in the school."

Caputo says she will continue to make William Whyte Community School a beacon in the community.